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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 549 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 549

    Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding modern-day slavery.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 3, 2006

  Mr. Santorum (for himself, Mr. Pryor, Mrs. Dole, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
    Martinez, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

             December 9 (legislative day, December 8), 2006

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding modern-day slavery.

Whereas the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) 
        states that the Declaration of Independence recognizes the inherent 
        dignity and worth of all people and states that all men are created 
        equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, 
        including the right to be free from slavery and involuntary servitude;
Whereas the United States outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude in 1865, 
        recognizing that those evil institutions must be abolished;
Whereas, in the 21st century, as many as 27,000,000 people are suffering as 
        slaves throughout the world and in the United States;
Whereas an estimated 800,000 persons are trafficked across international borders 
        each year;
Whereas an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 victims are trafficked into the United 
        States each year;
Whereas approximately 80 percent of victims are female and an estimated 40 to 50 
        percent of victims are children;
Whereas many of the victims are trafficked into the international sex trade, 
        which includes sexual exploitation of persons involving activities 
        including prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, and other commercial 
        sexual services;
Whereas modern-day slavery also includes bonded labor, forced labor, forced 
        marriage, chattel slavery, and child labor;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services states that human 
        trafficking is the second largest criminal industry worldwide;
Whereas traffickers use threats, intimidation, manipulation, coercion, fraud, 
        shame, and violence to force victims into modern-day slavery;
Whereas a trafficker may be a family friend, someone well-known within the 
        community, someone in law enforcement, or a member of an organized 
        criminal network;
Whereas traffickers capitalize on areas of conflict and post-conflict, 
        transitioning states, sudden political change, economic collapse, civil 
        unrest, internal armed conflict, chronic unemployment, widespread 
        poverty, personal disaster, lack of economic opportunity, and natural 
        disasters;
Whereas traffickers prey upon the vulnerable, ethnic minorities, and people 
        without citizenship;
Whereas modern-day slavery thrives because of its high profitability and minimal 
        risk due to little rule of law, lack of enforcement, and corruption of 
        law enforcement institutions;
Whereas populations vulnerable to trafficking are growing due to the rising 
        numbers of orphans in developing countries due to civil conflicts and 
        the HIV/AIDS pandemic;
Whereas the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases poses a 
        global threat and creates a particular challenge for victims of modern-
        day slavery involved in the international sex trade;
Whereas the loss of family-support networks due to modern-day slavery 
        contributes to the breakdown of societies;
Whereas trafficking has a negative impact on the labor market in countries and 
        perpetuates a cycle of poverty;
Whereas trafficking brutalizes men, women, and children, and exposes them to 
        rape, torture, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, 
        violence, dangerous working conditions, poor nutrition, drug and alcohol 
        addiction, and severe psychological trauma from separation, coercion, 
        sexual abuse, and depression;
Whereas organized criminal groups, gangs, document forgers, brothel owners, and 
        corrupt police or immigration officials funnel trafficking profits into 
        both legitimate and criminal activities;
Whereas modern-day slavery strips human beings of dignity, respect, and hope for 
        their future; and
Whereas no country or people are immune from the effects of modern-day slavery: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the abolition of modern-day slavery should be a 
        priority of the United States foreign and domestic policy;
            (2) the United States should continue to bring together 
        governments, international organizations, nongovernmental 
        organizations, and individuals to form a comprehensive 
        coalition to fight modern-day slavery;
            (3) the Federal Government should continue to expand 
        protection and legal options for victims of modern-day slavery;
            (4) the abolition of modern-day slavery should be 
        prioritized at the 2007 Group of 8 (G-8) Summit in Germany; and
            (5) the trade policy of the United States should reflect 
        the commitment of the United States to freedom for all people.
                                 <all>
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