•HRES 691 IH 
allows violence against such people to be used with impu-
nity even where slavery is nominally illegal; 
Whereas slavery thrives in situations of conflict, social disrup-
tion, political chaos, and economic crisis; 
Whereas the traffic in human beings is third only to the traf-
fic in drugs and weapons in generating profits for orga-
nized crime worldwide; 
Whereas between 800,000 and 900,000 of the world’s slaves 
are estimated to be trafficked across international bor-
ders each year, of whom between 14,500 and 17,500 are 
trafficked into the United States each year; 
Whereas research indicates that slavery is present in most 
countries and that slavery affects those—especially 
women and children—who are most vulnerable and have 
less social and economic power in their communities; 
Whereas education and economic empowerment, especially of 
women and girls, have proven to be the most powerful 
preventative measures to combat slavery; 
Whereas slavery is a global crime and is integrated into the 
global economy, and it therefore requires a global ap-
proach for its eradication and increased public education 
for all citizens; 
Whereas goods made by slaves feed into the global economy 
and enter the markets of the United States in violation 
of United States laws; 
Whereas anti-slavery non-governmental organizations, labor 
organizations, consumer organizations, and United States 
industry, working with Members of Congress, have devel-
oped a multi-sector approach to eradicate slavery from 
the product supply chains of goods which prevents slavery 
from entering United States homes; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:22 Feb 22, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR691.IH
HR691
cchase on PROD1PC60 with BILLS
•HRES 691 IH 
Whereas the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in 
Persons of the Department of State coordinates United 
States activities in the global fight against modern-day 
slavery; 
Whereas Ambassador John R. Miller, appointed in 2004, 
serves as the first United States Ambassador-at-Large in 
the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Per-
sons; 
Whereas, in September 2005, the United States levied sanc-
tions on Burma, Cambodia, Cuba, the Democratic Peo-
ple’s Republic of Korea, and Venezuela for failing to 
meet the minimum standards for combating human traf-
ficking as outlined in the Trafficking Victims Protection 
Act of 2000, and determined that Ecuador, Kuwait, and 
Saudi Arabia are eligible for such sanctions; 
Whereas, on January 10, 2006, George W. Bush stated in his 
address upon signing H.R. 972, the Trafficking Victims 
Protection Reauthorization Act, that ‘‘America has a par-
ticular duty to fight this horror because human traf-
ficking is an affront to the defining promise of our coun-
try. . . . America is a compassionate and decent nation, 
and we will not tolerate an industry that preys on the 
young and the vulnerable. The trade in human beings 
continues in our time and we are called by conscience and 
compassion to bring this cruel practice to an end.’’; 
Whereas former Attorney General John Ashcroft organized 
educational conferences for local law enforcement agents 
to recognize incidents of human trafficking when they en-
counter it; and 
Whereas Anti-Slavery Day will be observed on February 27, 
2006: Now, therefore, be it 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:22 Feb 22, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR691.IH
HR691
cchase on PROD1PC60 with BILLS
•HRES 691 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Anti-Slav-
ery Day; 
(2) requests that the President issue a procla-
mation calling on the people of the United States to 
observe Anti-Slavery Day with appropriate cere-
monies, programs, and activities; and 
(3) encourages the Department of State to in-
crease cooperation with foreign governments to com-
bat slavery, provide legal protections to victims of 
slavery, and provide social services to assist in repa-
triation, family reunification, and exit from slavery. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:22 Feb 22, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR691.IH
HR691
cchase on PROD1PC60 with BILLS