- Federal appropriations advocacy with key congressional subcommittees and the Office of Management and Budget. Working with ATEST, Verité helped develop recommendations for programs to combat trafficking in key federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The purpose of the TVPA, passed by Congress in 2000, is to protect victims of human trafficking, prosecute perpetrators, and prevent further trafficking. This landmark legislation is set to expire, and Representatives Chris Smith (NJ) and Karen Bass (CA) have introduced a bill for its reauthorization. Verité, along with other members of ATEST, have provided feedback on the bill and made recommendations on ways to strengthen the U.S. response and ensure that necessary resources and programs are available to eradicate the problem of human trafficking.
- End the Exception Campaign. Verité has been supporting the work of the End the Exception Campaign to amend the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and abolish forced labor in prisons. The campaign has endorsed a joint resolution introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) and Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA) to remove the last vestige of slavery in the U.S. Constitution. Our work with the campaign’s legislative advocacy and education committees supports our vision for a nation where all people are free from slavery and involuntary servitude.
- As core member of the Tariff Act Advisory Group (TAAG), Verité promotes strong, smart enforcement of the U.S. government’s ban on the importation of goods made in whole or in part with forced labor. We also support those advocating for similar trade bans in other countries so we eventually have a global trading system that prohibits the trade in forced labor-tainted goods.
- Verité continues to be a frequent contributor to policy and civil society debates and projects related to legislation and regulations proposed around the world to require or otherwise promote effective human rights, labor, and/or sustainability due diligence and remediation in global supply chains.
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