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Read. Follow. Verify.Funding Requests for Anti-Trafficking and Forced Labor Enforcement (FY2023)
Record date · January 1, 2023
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What This Bill Does
The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) has submitted a formal request to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for $107.9 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2023. These funds are intended to bolster Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to combat human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and the importation of goods produced by forced labor.
This request outlines specific funding priorities for federal agencies that enforce trade laws and investigate human trafficking, which directly impacts the resources available for victim support services and the inspection of imported goods for forced labor violations.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Customs and Border Protection
The agency would receive $20 million in additional funding to increase enforcement of forced labor import prohibitions.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The agency would receive $87.9 million in total funding for investigations, victim services, and personnel.
Human trafficking victims
The proposed funding aims to increase the availability of specialized victim witness coordinators and support services.
Key Facts
- ATEST requests $20,000,000 for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enforce Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 regarding forced labor imports.
- ATEST requests $54,400,000 for ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for investigations, training, and victim services.
- Within the $54.4 million ICE request, $15,700,000 is designated for forced labor investigations.
- Within the $54.4 million ICE request, $20,000,000 is designated for Victim Witness Coordinators.
Show all 10 facts
- ATEST requests $33,500,000 for the ICE Office of Victims Assistance.
- The $20 million for Victim Witness Coordinators is intended to hire 5 additional specialized coordinators.
- CBP issued 36 Withhold Release Orders (WRO) since 2015, including 7 WROs and 2 Findings in fiscal year 2021.
- CBP estimated that 2021 enforcement actions prevented nearly $500 million in forced-labor goods from entering the U.S.
- ICE HSI reported 2,360 human trafficking arrests in fiscal year 2021, a 35% increase from 2020.
- The request cites the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act as a new mandate requiring additional CBP resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total amount of funding requested by ATEST?
What will the requested funds for Victim Witness Coordinators be used for?
Why does CBP need more funding according to the report?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceLobbying Activity
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of Sargent & Greenleaf, Inc.
2023
“Issues relating to procurement of secure doors.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of Sargent & Greenleaf, Inc.
2023
“Issues relating to procurement of secure doors.”
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Increased Focus on Forced Labor Enforcement
The document highlights a significant shift toward using trade enforcement (Section 307) as a primary tool to combat human trafficking, evidenced by the closure of the 'consumptive demand' loophole and new mandates like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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