ATEST LHHS Appropriations Letter for FY 2018

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March 21, 2017

The Honorable Tom Cole, Chairman
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

The Honorable Roy Blunt, Chairman
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

The Honorable Patty Murray, Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

 

Dear Chairmen Cole and Blunt and Ranking Members DeLauro and Murray:

On behalf of the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) and the undersigned organizations, we thank you for your leadership in the fight to end child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking, and we appreciate your efforts to pass legislation to curtail these practices and provide resources to the federal agencies who are engaged in combating these issues. We are writing to seek your assistance in funding several programs related to child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking in the FY 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

The number of trafficking victims identified significantly exceeds the availability of services at the Departments of Education (ED), Labor (DOL), and Health and Human Services (HHS). These key departments must be given the resources to combat this horrific crime if we are to better prevent future exploitation and identify victims earlier. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (P.L. 113-4), and its subsequent authorizations provides authority and authorizes funding for DOL and HHS to serve victims of trafficking, most especially children. In addition, the Department of Education through the nation’s school system is integral to the identification of child trafficking victims and homeless children and youth and must be engaged further on this issue.

ATEST recommends robust funding and accountability for DOL, HHS, and ED programs to fulfill the highest priority mandates of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). With your leadership, DOL, HHS, and ED will document the trafficking problem and deter future trafficking, as well as provide significant services to assist trafficking victims.

Department of Labor

  1. DOL: International Labor Affairs Bureau

We request $103,500,000 for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the Department of Labor (DOL/ILAB). ILAB is responsible for implementing Section 105(b)(2) of the TVPRA of 2005 (P.L.109- 164) and Section 110 of the TVPRA of 2008 (P.L.110-457). Funding provided would allow ILAB to fulfill its Congressional mandates and ensure staff is able to travel to the countries with which it has partnered. Specifically, we request $27,000,000 for the administration of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, $59,000,000 for the Child Labor and Forced Labor program, $10,000,000 for the Workers’ Rights program, and $7,500,000 for program evaluation.

DOL/ILAB is an essential part of the U.S. Government’s international response to forced labor, human trafficking, and child labor. ILAB’s mandates include vital work that is trafficking-specific but also encompasses a range of related policy areas that touch on key elements of partnership, prevention, protection and prosecution, such as child labor, international labor diplomacy, and international economic affairs, and labor-related trade policy. The existence of a robust and expertly staffed entity within the USG foreign policy establishment that sits outside of the diplomatic constraints of the State Department and focuses particularly on worker rights is of inestimable value to the USG’s ability to tackle both human trafficking and related underlying structural causes and key areas of vulnerability.

Through highly respected research, grant-making, and policy development work, ILAB has provided the critical tools and framework to ensure the protection of the world’s most vulnerable workers. The agency’s collaboration with the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security in reporting the findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor report pursuant to Section 142(c) of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 represents a well regarded body of knowledge for other USG agencies, civil society and the general public to understand where risks are present. These reports that identify cases of goods made with forced labor, child labor, and forced or indentured child labor, are crucial and necessary tools in the USG counter-trafficking mission and must therefore be maintained and strengthened. More resources must be allocated towards the ILAB to ensure that its “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor,” mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, is as strong, accurate, and comprehensive as possible. DOL/ILAB also needs funds to support field-based programs that find solutions to forced labor, trafficking, and the worst forms of child labor. Programs initiated by DOL/ILAB often serve as models for scaling up by the private sector, governments, and civil society.

This funding initiative will ensure that the TVPRA mandates are adequately fulfilled, and in doing so will advance Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking for the Child Labor and Forced Labor program efforts to accomplish related monitoring and reporting under the Farm Bill and Trade and Development Act mandates. These requirements include critical reporting and assessment tools to better evaluate the nature and scope of human trafficking and forced labor in the United States and around the world.

Proposed Report Language:

The Committee recommends $103,500,000 for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs to implement Section 105(b)(2) of the TVPRA of 2005 (P.L.109-164) and Section 110 of the TVPRA of 2008 (P.L.110-457), of which   $27,000,000 shall be for the administration of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs,  $59,000,000 shall be for the Child Labor and Forced Labor program, $10,000,000 for the Workers’ Rights program, and $7,500,000 for program evaluation.

  1. DOL: Employment and Training Administration

We encourage the Employment and Training Administration in the Department of Labor to review all employment readiness, training and other discretionary programs and revise program guidance as needed to explicitly include eligibility for trafficking victims where possible as per Sec. 107(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (P.L. 106-386).

Furthermore, we recommend that the Department integrate training to identify potential signs of trafficking and referral options as a regular activity for State Farmworker Monitor Advocates, and during the provision of relevant services to particular at-risk populations, including through the Youth Build, Job Corps and Reentry Employment Opportunity programs.

Lastly we encourage further development of the initial pilot project to support networks of service providers that the Department of Labor undertook in collaboration with HHS and DOJ as part of the implementation of the Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States. Labor trafficking affects both US Citizens and Foreign Nationals working across many industries in the United States, most commonly domestic work, agriculture, manufacturing, janitorial services, hotel services, construction, health and elder care, hair and nail salons, and strip club dancing. DOL needs the resources to protect and support victims, particularly with much needed skills training and job placement services, as well as providing referrals to shelter, medical care, mental health services, legal services, and case management.

The U.S Advisory Council on Human Trafficking highlighted the need to provide access to employment and training programs to all survivors of human trafficking. In their inaugural report, released in 2016, the Council noted: “Survivors of human trafficking can find it difficult to live financially independent. Career development programs help survivors become self-sufficient and provide for their families. When survivors are employed, it positively affects their lives and prevents dependence on public benefits.”

Proposed Report Language:

The Committee encourages the Employment and Training Administration to increase access and eligibility to employment and training services for survivors of all forms of human trafficking as required by Sec. 107(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (P.L. 106-386). The Committee also encourages the development and integration of training to identify potential signs of trafficking and referral options as a regular activity for State Farmworker Monitor Advocates, and during the provision of relevant services to particular at-risk populations, including through the Youth Build, Job Corps and Reentry Employment Opportunity programs. The Committee also encourages the Department to continue and expand its pilot initiative to develop and support networks of service providers in collaboration with HHS and DOJ.

Department of Health and Human Services

  1. HHS: Administration for Children and Families (ACF) — Office of Trafficking in Persons

We are excited that HHS ACF established the Office of Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), underscoring the importance of coordinating the human trafficking efforts across ACF. ACF works directly with all victims of human trafficking – men, women, children, LGBTQ, foreign nationals and domestic clients – stressing the need to have an office that is responsible for guiding principles and best practices.

We request funding for OTIP to fully staff this office. We applaud ACF for taking this important step in creating a more coordinated and collaborative model to better assist all victims of human trafficking. We look forward to working with OTIP’s new staff to ensure victims receive the benefits and resources they need to recover and build a new life.

Proposed Report Language:

Within the funds provided, the Committee encourages ACF to hire sufficient FTEs to support the newly established Office of Trafficking in Persons and coordinate trafficking efforts across ACF.

  1. HHS: ACF — Victim Services

We request $32,000,000 for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to make significant strides toward serving victims of trafficking and fulfilling the mandate of the distinct sections of the TVPRA:

  • To identify and serve foreign national victims (TVPRA of 2005, Sec. 301(2));
  • To create specialized case management programs to assist U.S. citizens (TVPRA of 2008, Sec. 213).

In 2015, 863 victims were identified and certified as in need of comprehensive, trauma-informed, gender specific services, an 872% increase since 2002. Though the number of victims has significantly increased, funding for these programs has not kept up and remains insufficient to meet victims’ needs. We support the Department’s decision to include legal services within the comprehensive services available to victims. We encourage ACF to use a portion of these increased funds for legal services for victims.

While the prevalence of human trafficking is difficult to determine, there are some indicators of the scope of the problem. For example, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified more than 31,000 potential human trafficking victims since 2007. Yet, HHS and its grantees have been able to serve less than 900 foreign national survivors annually. Each year since the passage of TVPA, HHS funding has had to serve an increasing number of survivors with the same resources. For example, in FY 2015, the federal government issued 623 certifications to foreign adults and 240 eligibility letters to foreign children, an increase from 530 for adults and 219 for children in FY 2014 and an increase from 406 adults and 114 children in FY 2013. Since HHS has needed to serve increasing numbers of victims with the same level of funding, service periods for some clients are only as long as four months. This short service period challenges a survivor’s ability to recover and to participate in criminal prosecutions, which can often last as long as two years.

Proposed Report Language:

The Committee recommends $32,000,000 for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to implement the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (P.L.113-4) through grants to non-governmental organizations working in communities around the country providing victim service programs for victims of severe forms of trafficking, of which $16,000,000 shall be for foreign national victims and $16,000,000 for U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident victims of severe forms of trafficking.

  1. HHS: ACF — The National Human Trafficking Hotline

We request $2,500,000 for the Administration of Children and Families to support the National Human Trafficking Hotline (formerly known as the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline). The NHTH is authorized by Section 107(b)(1)(B) of the 2000 TVPRA as amended (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(ii)).

The NHTH is a national, toll-free hotline, available to answer calls, online tips and email queries from anywhere 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hotline is used to collect tips on human trafficking cases, connect victims with anti-trafficking services in their area, and where appropriate report actionable tips to law enforcement. The NHTH provides its services to both domestic and foreign victims of human trafficking, and was recently funded by the amounts appropriated to the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the level of $1,500,000 for FY 2016.

Funding to the NHTH is insufficient to meet the growing call volume. Since 2007, it has received reports of over 31,659 cases of human trafficking in the United States, comprising one of the largest available data sets on trafficking in the country. In 2016, reports of human trafficking cases in the United States to the NHTH jumped 37%, reaching a record 7,572 cases in 2016. The Hotline also received 26,727 calls last year, up 22% from 2015. In addition, there was a 25% spike in calls coming specifically from survivors. The NHTH provides assistance to victims seeking shelter, case management, and legal services. The NHTH also collects and provides valuable data on the prevalence of victims in the United States, as well as on human trafficking trends. To better assist in the identification of victims and access to services, we request $2,500,000 for the NHTH.

Proposed Report Language:

The Committee recommends $2,500,000 to the Administration for Children and Families to support the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) as authorized by section 107(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the 2000 TVPRA as amended (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(ii)).

  1. HHS: ACF — Runaway and Homeless Youth Act

ATEST is requesting a total of $165,000,000 for the ACF to implement the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, originally part of the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act and last reauthorized by the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-378), in order to prevent trafficking, identify survivors, and provide services to runaway, homeless and disconnected youth.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act provides vital services to runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth. This modest investment has laid the foundation for a national system of services for our most vulnerable young people who are at risk of becoming or have already been victims of exploitation and trafficking, abuse, familial rejection, unsafe communities, and poverty. ACF has been involved with monitoring, reporting on and consulting with other government agencies regarding Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) programs. These programs provide homeless and victimized youth with hope, safety, healing, and opportunities for a new life through: emergency shelters, family reunification when safe, aftercare, outreach, education and employment, health care, behavioral and mental health, transitional housing, and independent housing options. This support achieves the following successful outcomes for youth: 1) safe exit from homelessness and hopelessness; 2) family reunification and/or establishment of permanent connections in their communities; 3) education, employment and sustainable independence; and 4) prevention of human trafficking. Further, these programs are often best positioned to prevent trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation and provide early identification of victims of these crimes.

Proposed Report Language:

The Committee recommends $165,000,000 for the Administration of Children and Families to implement the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, originally part of the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act and last reauthorized by the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008 (P.L.110-378) as follows: $150,000,000 to increase the capacity of programs that serve runaway and homeless youth to address human trafficking ($130,000,000 for the Consolidated Runaway, Homeless Youth Programs and $20,000,000 for Prevention Grants to Reduce  Abuse of Runaway Youth), $5,000,000 to increase capacity and provide training for service providers to identify and serve exploited and trafficked youth, and $2,000,000 to conduct the National Study on the Prevalence, Needs and Characteristics of Homeless Youth.

Department of Education

  1. ED: Grants to Local Education Agencies, Title I

We request $2,000,000 for the Department to develop additional education materials regarding all forms of child trafficking, including sex and labor trafficking, to assist and train educators to identify potential victims and help educate youth on prevention of child trafficking. The Department of Education interfaces with approximately 50 million elementary and secondary school children each year. The Department is in a unique position to identify victims of sex and labor trafficking and prevent the victimization and exploitation of those children who might be susceptible to this crime. The Department of Education has released an excellent preliminary guide for educators on ways to identify and help prevent child trafficking in schools. Educators are in a unique position to recognize the signs of child abuse and trafficking and must have the tools in order to successfully report potential victims or identify children who are at risk. The Department has also partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services on discrete projects, including social media awareness campaigns such as the #WhatIWouldMiss campaign. While the Department has been able to accomplish a great deal without any dedicated federal resources, in order to achieve meaningful and lasting change, the Department must have funding dedicated to the prevention of child trafficking. As such, we also request that the Department undertake a study to examine the appropriate role of educators and the education system in preventing, identifying, and supporting child trafficking victims. The outcome of the study should inform the development of a model curriculum on the prevention of both sex and labor trafficking. The Department should consult stakeholders, including educators, NGOs, and the Survivor Advisory Council on the development of materials, the study, and the curriculum guidelines.

Proposed Report Language:

The Committee directs the Department of Education to develop educational materials regarding all forms of child trafficking, including sex and labor trafficking, to ensure that educators are aware of how to identify and treat all types of trafficking, and to undertake a study to examine the appropriate role of educators and the education system in preventing, identifying, and supporting child trafficking victims.

  1. ED: McKinney-Vento Act Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program

We are requesting $85,000,000 to implement the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program (EHCYP), as authorized by section 722(d)(3) of the McKinney-Vento Act as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (P.L 114–95).

The EHCYP removes barriers to the enrollment, attendance, and opportunity for success for homeless children and youth; all of whom are at high risk of human trafficking. The EHCYP is effective in addressing youth homelessness. With the support of EHCYP grants, local education agencies have provided identification, enrollment and transportation assistance, as well as academic support and referrals for basic services. The EHCYP has given homeless children and youth the extra support they need to enroll and succeed in school.

Unfortunately, the resources directed to child and youth homelessness programs have not been sufficient in recent years. In the 2013-2014 school year, public schools identified a record 1,360,747 homeless children and youth – an 7% increase over the previous year and 100% increase since 2006-2007. The recently enacted ESSA increased the authorized funding for the EHCYP to $85 million, the first increase since FY 2010. However, only 22% of school districts receive support through the EHCYP in any given year. As a result, homeless children and youth are under-identified and continue to face significant barriers to school enrollment and continuity.

Homeless children and youth are particularly at risk for human trafficking. Under the McKinney-Vento Act’s EHCYP, all school districts are required to designate a homeless liaison, who proactively identifies homeless children and youth and connects them to vital services like food, housing, and clothing. Under the Act, school districts are also required to provide transportation to stabilize the educational experiences of homeless students. Because all school districts – even those in communities without youth shelters — must designate a liaison for homeless students, schools are uniquely positioned to identify youth who are being trafficked, or are at risk of being trafficked, and provide connections to services. Yet many liaisons are designated in name only and lack the time and the training to carry out their duties. This lack of capacity is particularly severe in light of the increase in student homelessness. Increasing funding for the EHCYP will support a dedicated infrastructure within the nation’s public schools to identify and serve children and youth who are at very high risk of human trafficking.

Proposed Report Language:

The Committee recommends $85,000,000 for U.S. Department of Education to fully implement the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth programs (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) to increase the capacity of public schools to identify and serve homeless children and youth, who are at a high risk for human trafficking.

As a champion of the victims of child labor, forced labor, and sex trafficking, you understand the complexities of these issues and the resources needed to respond to these problems. We have carefully vetted our requests to reflect the priorities of the community, focusing on the most important and effective programs. We thank you for your consideration of these requests and your continued leadership in fighting to end child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. If you have any questions, please contact Melysa Sperber, ATEST Director, at [email protected] or (631) 374-0749.

Sincerely,

Adrian Dominican Sisters Portfolio Advisory Board

AIDS Alabama

Ann Weinman, Retired Judge

Benedictine Sisters of Chicago

Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition

Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrison-Crawford Counties

California NOW

Catholic Health Initiatives

Center for the Human Rights of Children, Loyola University Chicago

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers

Central Valley Justice Coalition

Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM)

Changing Destinies Ministry

Chicago Benedictines for Peace

Children’s Advocacy Institute

Church Women United in New York State

Civil Society

Coalition Against Trafficking & Exploitation

Coalition for Juvenile Justice

Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)

Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking

Community Youth Services

Congregation of Holy Faith

CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action

Daughters of Charity

Daughters of Charity – Province of St. Louise

Dignity Health

Dominican Sisters of Hope

Douglas County Human Trafficking Task Force

Durham County Task Force Against Child Sexual Exploitation

ECPAT-USA

Edmund Rice International

ENC Stop Human Trafficking Now

Episcopal Diocese of New York Task Force Against Human Trafficking

Equinox Domestic Violence Services

Franciscan Action Network

Freedom From Exploitation, Inc.

Freedom Network USA

Free the Slaves

Freedom United

Futures Without Violence

GenerateHope

Genocide Watch

Girl Up

Global Rights for Women

GoodWeave International

HEAL Trafficking

Healthy Teen Network

Holy Family Convent

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters – USA- Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

Hope for San Diego

Horizons Cambodia

Human Trafficking Search

Humans for Justice

IF Hummingbird Foundation

Illinois Women Religious Against Human Trafficking

Illinois Collaboration on Youth

Illinois Women Religious Against Human Trafficking

Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program

Indiana Youth Services Association

International Council of Jewish Women

International Institute of Buffalo

International Justice Mission (IJM)

International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF)

International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA)

Jewish Child Care Association (JCCA)

Jewish Women’s Theater

Justice for Families

Justice in Motion

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee of St. Louis and Associates

Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

Law Offices of Laura J. Snoke

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Life 107 Ministries

LifeWay Network

Loma Linda University Church

Love146

Loving Arms, Inc.

Loyola University Modern Slavery Research Project

Mark P. Lagon, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; former Ambassador-At-Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Maternal and Child Health Access

Mercy Investment Services

Mosaic Family Services

My Life My Choice

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

National Black Justice Coalition

National Center for Victims of Crime

National Council of Jewish Women

National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)

National Network for Youth (NN4Y)

National Runaway Safeline

National Safe Place Network

Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies

New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment

On Eagles Wings Ministries

Pacific Survivor Center

Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association.

PeterCares House

Polaris

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Presbyterian Church (USA) Washington Office of Public Witness

Project IRENE

Project Oz

Rabbinical Assembly

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO – Stop Trafficking

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Province

Religious of the Sacred Heart, Redwood City, CA

Religious Sisters of Charity

Ruth Ellis Center

Safe Horizon

Salvatorian Advocacy for Victims of Exploitation Inc.

School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province Human Trafficking Committee

School Sisters of St. Francis

SchoolHouse Connection

SeraphimGLOBAL

Shared Hope International

Sisters of St. Francis

Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco, CA

Slavery Today Journal

Society of the Holy Child Jesus, American Province

Solidarity Center

St. Mary of the Lake Human Trafficking Working Group

StandUp For Kids National

Temple Isaiah Abolition of Human Trafficking Initiative

Thai Community Development Center

The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart

The Healing Center

The Human Trafficking Prevention Project at the University of Baltimore School of Law

The Lifeboat Project, Inc.

The National Crittenton Foundation

The United Methodist Church, Church and Society

There Is Hope For Me, Inc.

Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children

Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment

Truckers Against Trafficking

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking

U.S. Fund for UNICEF

U.S. National Committee for UN Women

Union for Reform Judaism

Union of Presentation Sisters, USA Province

United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

United Way Worldwide

Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, U.S. Province

Verité

Vida Legal Assistance Inc.

Vital Voices Global Partnership

Washington University School of Medicine

WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Wisconsin Association for Runaway Services

Womankind

Women of Reform Judaism

Worker Justice Center of New York, Inc.

Worksafe

Xaverian Brothers

YouthCare

YWCA NorthEastern NY

Zoë Ministries, Inc.

 

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ATEST is a U.S.-based coalition that advocates for solutions to prevent and end all forms of human trafficking and modern slavery around the world. ATEST member organizations include: Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), ECPAT­USA, Free the Slaves, Futures Without Violence (FUTURES), International Justice Mission, National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), National Network for Youth (NN4Y), Polaris, Safe Horizon, Solidarity Center, Verité, and Vital Voices Global Partnership. ATEST is a project of Humanity United Action.