Ask AI
Bill114th CongressFiled Jan 22, 2015International Affairs
H.R. 514

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary passed house without amendment (Jan 26, 2015)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking of the Department of State will be more effective in carrying out duties mandated by Congress in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and can do so without an increase in either personnel or budget, if: (1) the Office status is changed to that of a Bureau within the Department; and (2) the Office is headed by an Assistant Secretary with direct access to the Secretary of State, rather than an Ambassador-at-Large.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to change the status of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to that of the Bureau to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress:

  • detailing for each current Assistant Secretary of State position the exact title and length of designation as Assistant Secretary, and whether that designation was legislatively mandated or authorized and, if so, the relevant statutory citation; and
  • whether the Secretary intends to designate one of the Assistant Secretary of State positions as the Assistant Secretary of State to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and the reasons for that decision.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to prohibit subsequent inclusion for more than one consecutive year on the special watch list of countries whose compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking is full, partial, or insignificant if the country:

  • was included on the list for four consecutive years after enactment of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, and
  • was subsequently included on the exclusive Tier 3 list of countries not making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with such standards.

States that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for diplomatic and consular programs to carry out this Act.

What just happenedJan 27, 2015

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4](R-NJ)Sponsor
13 cosponsors5 D8 R
Read on Congress.gov
13cosponsors2committees10actions5subjects
  1. Jan 27, 2015IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  2. Jan 26, 2015FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jan 26, 2015FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H539-540)

  4. Jan 26, 2015Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H539-540)

  5. Jan 26, 2015FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 514.

  6. Jan 26, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H539-542)

  7. Jan 26, 2015FloorH30300

    Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  8. Jan 22, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  9. Jan 22, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  10. Jan 22, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House without amendmentJan 26, 201581

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking of the Department of State will be more effective in carrying out duties mandated by Congress in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and can do so without an increase in either personnel or budget, if: (1) the Office status is changed to that of a Bureau within the Department; and (2) the Office is headed by an Assistant Secretary with direct access to the Secretary of State, rather than an Ambassador-at-Large.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to change the status of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to that of the Bureau to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress:

  • detailing for each current Assistant Secretary of State position the exact title and length of designation as Assistant Secretary, and whether that designation was legislatively mandated or authorized and, if so, the relevant statutory citation; and
  • whether the Secretary intends to designate one of the Assistant Secretary of State positions as the Assistant Secretary of State to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and the reasons for that decision.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to prohibit subsequent inclusion for more than one consecutive year on the special watch list of countries whose compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking is full, partial, or insignificant if the country:

  • was included on the list for four consecutive years after enactment of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, and
  • was subsequently included on the exclusive Tier 3 list of countries not making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with such standards.

States that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for diplomatic and consular programs to carry out this Act.

Introduced in HouseJan 22, 2015

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking of the Department of State will be more effective in carrying out duties mandated by Congress in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and can do so without an increase in either personnel or budget, if: (1) the Office status is changed to that of a Bureau within the Department; and (2) the Office is headed by an Assistant Secretary with direct access to the Secretary of State, rather than an Ambassador-at-Large.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to change the status of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to that of the Bureau to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress:

  • detailing for each current Assistant Secretary of State position the exact title and length of designation as Assistant Secretary, and whether that designation was legislatively mandated or authorized and, if so, the relevant statutory citation; and
  • whether the Secretary intends to designate one of the Assistant Secretary of State positions as the Assistant Secretary of State to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and the reasons for that decision.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to prohibit subsequent inclusion for more than one consecutive year on the special watch list of countries whose compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking is full, partial, or insignificant of any country that:

  • was included on the list for four consecutive years after enactment of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, and
  • was subsequently included on the exclusive Tier 3 list of countries not making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with such standards.

States that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for diplomatic and consular programs to carry out this Act.

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act — Informed