I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5975 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide mandatory minimum 
terms of imprisonment for certain trafficking offenses, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 
Mr. WALKER (for himself, Mr. WEBER of Texas, and Mrs. ELLMERS of North 
Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide mandatory 
minimum terms of imprisonment for certain trafficking 
offenses, 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 ‘‘Bettering Resources 
in Guarding from Human Trafficking Act of 2016’’ or the 
‘‘BRIGHT Act of 2016’’. 
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SEC. 2. MANDATORY MINIMUMS FOR CERTAIN TRAF-
FICKING OFFENSES. 
(a) PEONAGE.—Section 1581(a) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘or impris-
oned not more than 20 years, or both’’ and inserting 
‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five years and not 
more than 20 years’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘or im-
prisoned for any term of years or life, or both’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five 
years’’. 
(b) VESSELS FOR SLAVE TRADE.—Section 1582 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or 
imprisoned not more than seven years, or both’’ and in-
serting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five years and 
not more than seven years’’. 
(c) ENTICEMENT INTO SLAVERY.—Section 1583 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘, imprisoned 
not more than 20 years, or both’’ and inserting ‘‘and 
imprisoned for not less than five years and not more 
than 20 years’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘, imprisoned 
for any term of years or for life, or both’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five years’’. 
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(d) SALE INTO INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE.—Section 
1584(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘or impris-
oned not more than 20 years, or both’’ and inserting 
‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five years and not 
more than 20 years’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘or im-
prisoned for any term or years or life, or both’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five 
years’’. 
(e) SEIZURE, DETENTION, TRANSPORTATION
OR 
SALE
OF SLAVES.—Section 1585 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or imprisoned not 
more than seven years, or both’’ and inserting ‘‘and im-
prisoned for not less than five years and not more than 
seven years’’. 
(f) SERVICE ON VESSELS IN SLAVE TRADE.—Section 
1586 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘or imprisoned not more than two years, or both’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than one year and 
not more than two years’’. 
(g) POSSESSION OF SLAVES ABOARD VESSEL.—Sec-
tion 1587 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘or imprisoned not more than four years, or 
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both’’ and inserting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than one 
year and not more than four years’’. 
(h) TRANSPORTATION
OF SLAVES FROM UNITED 
STATES.—Section 1588 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘or imprisoned not more than 10 
years, or both’’ and inserting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less 
than five years and not more than 10 years’’. 
(i) FORCED LABOR.—Section 1589(d) of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘, impris-
oned not more than 20 years, or both’’ and inserting 
‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five years and not 
more than 20 years’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘, im-
prisoned for any term of years or life, or both’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five 
years’’. 
(j) TRAFFICKING WITH RESPECT
TO PEONAGE, 
SLAVERY, 
INVOLUNTARY
SERVITUDE, 
OR
FORCED 
LABOR.—Section 1590(a) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘or impris-
oned not more than 20 years, or both’’ and inserting 
‘‘and imprisoned for not less than five years and not 
more than 20 years’’; and 
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(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘or im-
prisoned for any term of years or life, or both’’ and 
inserting ‘‘and imprisoned for not less than 5 
years’’. 
(k) UNLAWFUL CONDUCT WITH RESPECT TO DOCU-
MENTS IN FURTHERANCE OF TRAFFICKING, PEONAGE, 
SLAVERY, 
INVOLUNTARY
SERVITUDE, 
OR
FORCED 
LABOR.—Section 1592(a) of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) Whoever knowingly destroys, conceals, removes, 
confiscates, or possesses any actual or purported passport 
or other immigration document, or any other actual or 
purported government identification document, of another 
person— 
‘‘(1)(A) in the course of a violation of section 
1581, 1583, 1584, 1589, 1590, or 1594(a); 
‘‘(B) with intent to violate section 1581, 1583, 
1584, 1589, or 1590; or 
‘‘(C) to prevent or restrict or to attempt to pre-
vent or restrict, without lawful authority, the per-
son’s liberty to move or travel, in order to maintain 
the labor or services of that person, when the person 
is or has been a victim of a severe form of traf-
ficking in persons, as defined in section 103 of the 
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, 
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shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less 
than one year and not more than five years; or 
‘‘(2) in the course of a violation of section 
1591, or with intent to violate such section, shall be 
fined under this title and imprisoned for not less 
than 5 years and not more than 10 years.’’. 
Æ 
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