WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of State released its 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report:
“Each year the State Department is required to submit its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, a crucial diplomatic tool in our efforts to end the scourge of human trafficking globally, by June 30th. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration delayed sending this report to Congress for the second year in a row and took well over a year to even nominate an ambassador to lead the Office to Combat and Monitor Trafficking in Persons.
“The Biden Administration’s continued delayed action and correspondence with Congress on this important issue has led us to believe it is not serious about combatting human trafficking. Congress remains committed to providing the tools and resources to help end human trafficking, including the 2022 International Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), which received bipartisan support in committee and now awaits a floor vote before the full Senate.
“It’s time the Biden Administration recommit to the fight to end human trafficking. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to take up the 2022 TVPRA as soon as possible.”
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