WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), the author of our nation’s two laws aimed at combating modern-day human slavery, hailed today’s appointment of John Miller as the first Ambassador-at-Large for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

"The elevation of the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Director to that of Ambassador-at-Large underscores the high priority the US government and the Bush Administration is giving to our efforts to aggressively combat the crime of human trafficking and to aid the victims of this human rights horror, most of whom are women and children," Smith said.

"The new ambassadorship is a sign to the entire global community that the U.S. considers human trafficking a gross abuse of human rights and will do everything in its power to stop these organized criminals both at home and abroad," he added.

Smith has tirelessly championed efforts to eliminate human trafficking. In fall 2000, the President signed into law Smith’s Victims of Trafficking Protection Act (HR 3244), a statute that for the first time gave U.S. authorities explicit tools and powers to prosecute traffickers and provide safe haven, shelter and other assistance to the victims, mostly women.

In December, President Bush signed into law a second Smith trafficking bill (HR 2620), which expanded and enhanced the original trafficking policy by strengthening law enforcement tools and increasing funding for programs aimed at helping trafficking victims.

Sec 6(b)(1) of Smith’s second law, the Victims of Trafficking Protection and Reauthorization Act, mandated the elevation of the position of Director of the Trafficking Office to the rank of Ambassador-at- Large.

"A US Ambassador-at-Large for combating human trafficking will be in the best position to help identify, isolate and pressure offending countries," Smith said.

"As Director, John Miller has been vital in persuading many of our allies to crack down on traffickers in their own countries. As an Ambassador, he will be able to reach more international leaders, make an even stronger case for joining the fight against trafficking, and, in the end, help save even more women from this cycle of abuse."