Sen. Franken Lauds President Obama for Implementing His Bipartisan Proposal to End Human Trafficking by Government Contractors
At Senator's Urging, President Announces Prevention, Accountability, Enforcement Efforts
Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) praised President Obama for implementing his proposal to end human trafficking by government contractors operating abroad. While the federal government has a zero tolerance policy, investigations have found that human trafficking by federal contractors working abroad is still a serious problem.
"The United States shouldn't contract with operators who participate in human trafficking - we should be doing everything we can to stop this crime against humanity everywhere it happens," said Sen. Franken. "Our laws already prohibit this horrendous practice, and no government contractor should ever engage in it. I want to thank President Obama for taking this important step in the fight to end human trafficking."
In March, Sen. Franken, along with Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), introduced the End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act, which would address the problem of human trafficking by government contractors by enhancing prevention, accountability, and enforcement efforts. More information on that legislation is available here.
Today, in an executive order, the president issued new rules implementing many of the provisions contained in the End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act. More information on the order is available here.
