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Bill113th CongressFiled Jun 6, 2013International Affairs
H.R. 2283

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Jul 23, 2014)

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking of the Department of State will be more effective in carrying out duties mandated by Congress in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and can do so without an increase in either personnel or budget, if: (1) the Office status is changed to that of a Bureau within the Department; and (2) the Office is headed by an Assistant Secretary with direct access to the Secretary of State, rather than an Ambassador-at-Large.

(Sec. 4) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to change the status of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to that of the Bureau to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress:

  • detailing for each current Assistant Secretary of State position the exact title and length of designation as Assistant Secretary, and whether that designation was legislatively mandated or authorized and, if so, the relevant statutory citation; and
  • whether the Secretary intends to designate one of the Assistant Secretary of State positions as the Assistant Secretary of State to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and the reasons for that decision.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to prohibit subsequent inclusion for more than one consecutive year on the special watch list of countries whose compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking is full, partial, or insignificant if the country: (1) was included on the list for four consecutive years after enactment of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, and (2) was subsequently included on the exclusive Tier 3 list of countries not making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with such standards.

(Sec. 7) States that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for diplomatic and consular programs to carry out this Act.

What just happenedJul 24, 2014

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4](R-NJ)Sponsor
111 cosponsors51 D60 R
Read on Congress.gov
111cosponsors2committees12actions1related bills5subjects
  • Referred in SenateJul 24, 2014
  • Engrossed in HouseJul 23, 2014
  • Introduced in HouseJun 6, 2013
  1. Jul 24, 2014IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

  2. Jul 23, 2014FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jul 23, 2014FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6730)

  4. Jul 23, 2014Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6730)

  5. Jul 23, 2014FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2283.

  6. Jul 23, 2014FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6730-6733)

  7. Jul 23, 2014FloorH30300

    Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Jun 26, 2014Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

  9. Jun 26, 2014Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  10. Jun 6, 2013IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

  11. Jun 6, 2013IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  12. Jun 6, 2013IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedJul 23, 201436

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking of the Department of State will be more effective in carrying out duties mandated by Congress in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and can do so without an increase in either personnel or budget, if: (1) the Office status is changed to that of a Bureau within the Department; and (2) the Office is headed by an Assistant Secretary with direct access to the Secretary of State, rather than an Ambassador-at-Large.

(Sec. 4) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to change the status of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to that of the Bureau to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress:

  • detailing for each current Assistant Secretary of State position the exact title and length of designation as Assistant Secretary, and whether that designation was legislatively mandated or authorized and, if so, the relevant statutory citation; and
  • whether the Secretary intends to designate one of the Assistant Secretary of State positions as the Assistant Secretary of State to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and the reasons for that decision.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to prohibit subsequent inclusion for more than one consecutive year on the special watch list of countries whose compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking is full, partial, or insignificant if the country: (1) was included on the list for four consecutive years after enactment of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, and (2) was subsequently included on the exclusive Tier 3 list of countries not making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with such standards.

(Sec. 7) States that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for diplomatic and consular programs to carry out this Act.

Introduced in HouseJun 6, 2013

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking of the Department of State will be more effective in carrying out duties mandated by Congress in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and can do so without an increase in either personnel or budget, if: (1) the Office status is changed to that of a Bureau within the Department; and (2) the Office is headed by an Assistant Secretary with direct access to the Secretary of State, rather than an Ambassador-at-Large.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to change the status of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to that of the Bureau to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary of State.

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act — Informed