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Smith Leads Floor Debate on Six International |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Congress worked to wrap up its business before the upcoming Christmas holiday, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) led a busy night of debate on the floor of the House of Representatives. Smith, who was charged with controlling the floor debate on seven international relations bills, has announced that he would be seeking the chairmanship of the International Relations Committee upon the retirement of sitting Chairman, Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL). Smith led floor debate on two bills that he authored: the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (HR 972) and a bill to provide funding to the Department of State (HR 4436). The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 strengthens the nation’s current trafficking law (also authored by Smith) and authorizes new funds for investigation and prosecution of domestic trafficking within the “Five years ago, when Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the United States assumed a leadership role in combating the modern day slavery known as human trafficking,” said Smith who was the author of that landmark trafficking law (Public Law 106-386). “By passing the 2005 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, Congress will give law enforcement the ability to continue liberate the unfortunate women and children who are forced into this horror.” The second Smith-authored bill that will be debated on the floor is HR 4436, which provides funding and authorities to the Department of State. This bill provides for US participation in the “The Smith’s bill also addresses key personnel issues which will strengthen the Department of State’s ability to manage its people and resources. HR 4436 increases the maximum post-differential and danger pay allowance that may be given to Foreign Service Officers of the Department of State to 35% of base pay, bringing it in line with allowances offered to USAID personnel. “We rely on the foreign service and diplomatic corps to be the face of
Smith also led floor debate on four other bills, including: H Con Res 294, which calls on the international community to condemn the Laogai (which is a system of forced labor prison camps in the People’s Republic of China); H Res 409, which condemns the Government of Zimbabwe’s demolition of homes, businesses, and religious buildings; For additional information about Representative Chris Smith and his efforts on behalf of global human rights, please visit http://www.house.gov/chrissmith/ | ||
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For Immediate Release: December 14, 2005 Contact: Brad Dayspring (202) 225-3765 |
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