I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8706 
To amend the Act of March 4, 1913 to establish the Bureau of International 
Labor Affairs within the Department of Labor, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 30, 2020 
Mr. DESAULNIER (for himself and Mr. WALBERG) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in ad-
dition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Act of March 4, 1913 to establish the Bureau 
of International Labor Affairs within the Department 
of Labor, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bureau of Inter-
national Labor Affairs Authorization Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
The Act of March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 736, chapter 
141; 29 U.S.C. 551 et seq.), is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 12. BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BUREAU OF INTER-
NATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within 
the Department of Labor a Bureau of International 
Labor Affairs (referred to in this section as the ‘Bu-
reau’). The Bureau shall include offices to carry out 
functions related to— 
‘‘(A) trade and labor affairs; 
‘‘(B) child labor, forced labor, and human 
trafficking; 
‘‘(C) international relations and economic 
affairs; and 
‘‘(D) other functions and activities as des-
ignated by the Secretary of Labor. 
‘‘(2) DEPUTY
UNDERSECRETARY.—The Sec-
retary of Labor shall appoint a Deputy Undersecre-
tary for International Affairs to head the Bureau. 
The Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs 
shall continue to carry out all duties assigned to the 
Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs as 
of the day before the date of enactment of the Bu-
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reau of International Labor Affairs Authorization 
Act of 2020 and other duties and functions, as ap-
propriate, to fulfill the mission of the Bureau. 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Bureau 
on and after the date of enactment of the Bureau 
of International Labor Affairs Authorization Act of 
2020 shall include the responsibilities and functions 
of the Bureau on the day before the date of enact-
ment of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs 
Authorization Act of 2020, and include all of its per-
sonnel, assets, authorities, liabilities, and other re-
sources, including representational funds, required 
to support such functions. 
‘‘(4) MISSION.—The mission of the Bureau 
shall be to— 
‘‘(A) promote a fair global playing field for 
workers and businesses in the United States 
and around the world by enforcing trade com-
mitments, strengthening international labor 
standards, and combating international child 
labor, forced labor, and human trafficking; 
‘‘(B) assist trading partners, through tech-
nical assistance and capacity building, in im-
proving working conditions, combating child 
labor, forced labor, and human trafficking, rais-
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ing living standards, and protecting the ability 
of workers to exercise their internationally rec-
ognized labor rights to promote a fair global 
playing field for workers and businesses in the 
United States and trade partner countries; 
‘‘(C) support negotiations, conduct moni-
toring, and administer, and engage in enforce-
ment of, labor commitments in trade agree-
ments and preference programs; 
‘‘(D) hire and designate labor attaches to 
serve at United States diplomatic and consular 
posts to assess working conditions, advance 
worker rights, address the workplace exploi-
tation of children and other vulnerable popu-
lations, and serve as authoritative experts on 
labor policies and practices; 
‘‘(E) carry out representational activities, 
research, and other functions as designated by 
the Secretary of Labor; and 
‘‘(F) implement the duties and responsibil-
ities assigned to the Department of Labor 
under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), the Trade and 
Development Act of 2000 (19 U.S.C. 3701 et 
seq.), the United States-Mexico-Canada Agree-
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ment Implementation Act (Public Law 116– 
113), and other Acts, and Executive orders, as 
appropriate. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, 
AND
COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of Labor may utilize funds 
made available to the Bureau to administer or operate 
international labor activities and provide bilateral and 
multilateral technical assistance by or through contracts, 
grants, cooperative agreements, and other arrangements 
to carry out the mission and functions set forth in this 
section. 
‘‘(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall 
submit to Congress on an annual basis a report on the 
activities of the Bureau during the previous year, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(1) activities to prevent forced and child labor; 
‘‘(2) support for trade agreement monitoring 
and enforcement activities; 
‘‘(3) the location and activities of labor at-
taches; and 
‘‘(4) the use of funds for contracts, grants, co-
operative agreements and other funding arrange-
ments.’’. 
Æ 
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