II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 519 

To prohibit individuals charged with or convicted of human trafficking or 

drug trafficking offenses committed near the border of the United States 

from receiving Federal benefits. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 

Mrs. BLACKBURN (for herself, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mrs. BRITT, Mr. BRAUN, 

and Mr. ROUNDS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To prohibit individuals charged with or convicted of human 

trafficking or drug trafficking offenses committed near 

the border of the United States from receiving Federal 

benefits. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL BENEFITS FOR 

4 HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AND DRUG TRAF5 FICKERS. 

6 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 


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•S 519 IS

1 (1) the term ‘‘covered trafficking offense’’ 

2 means a human trafficking offense or a drug traf3 ficking offense for which any portion of the course 

4 of conduct constituting the human trafficking of5 fense or drug trafficking offense occurred at an 

6 international border of the United States or within 

7 the territorial waters of the United States; 

8 (2) the term ‘‘drug trafficking offense’’ means 

9 any Federal offense that includes as an element of 

10 the offense the distribution of a controlled substance 

11 (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Sub12 stances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)); 

13 (3) the term ‘‘Federal benefit’’— 

14 (A) means the issuance of any grant, con15 tract, loan, professional license, or commercial 

16 license provided by an agency of the United 

17 States or by appropriated funds of the United 

18 States; and 

19 (B) includes any retirement, welfare, So20 cial Security, health, disability, veterans, public 

21 housing, or other similar benefit; and 

22 (4) the term ‘‘human trafficking offense’’ 

23 means an offense under— 


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•S 519 IS

1 (A) section 1581, 1583, 1584, 1589, 1590, 

2 1591, 2251A, 2421, 2422, or 2423 of title 18, 

3 United States Code; or 

4 (B) section 274(a) of the Immigration and 

5 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324(a)). 

6 (b) PROHIBITION ON BENEFITS.—An individual who 

7 is indicted for, charged in an information with, or con8 victed of a covered trafficking offense shall be ineligible 

9 for any Federal benefit. 

10 (c) TERMINATION OF PROHIBITION FOR INDIVID11 UALS NOT CONVICTED.—If, for each covered trafficking 

12 offense with which an individual is charged, the charge 

13 is dismissed or the individual is found not guilty of the 

14 covered trafficking offense— 

15 (1) the ineligibility of the individual for any 

16 Federal benefit under subsection (b) shall terminate; 

17 and 

18 (2) the Federal Government shall pay to the in19 dividual any pecuniary Federal benefit that was not 

20 paid to the individual because the individual was in21 eligible for the Federal benefit under subsection (b). 

Æ 


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