Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) will chair a congressional hearing of the U.S. Helsinki Commission in Washington on Monday, May 23, to examine labor trafficking during troubled economic times. 

    The hearing follows an international conference on May 18 focused on human trafficking with U.S. Ambassador-at-Large Luis C. deBaca of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and other officials. The ambassador will also testify at Smith's hearing Monday.

    British actress Julia Ormond will join officials from the U.S. State Department and Labor Department to testify before the Helsinki Commission on human trafficking, modern day slavery disproportionately and negatively affecting poor nations. Chairman Smith, author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), organized the hearing, which includes a focus on business policies that may impact the problem.

    For information on the May 18 international hearing click here. To read a copy of the Congressman's address at the international hearing May 18, click here.

    Julia Ormond is known for her stellar performances opposite such co-stars as Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, as well as many other films and television productions. She founded the non-profit foundation on trafficking Alliance to Stop Slavery and End Trafficking (ASSET).

    The May 23 hearing, entitled “Labor Trafficking in Troubled Economic Times: Protecting American Jobs and Migrant Human Rights,” will focus on illegal and unethical business practices that abuse the system, preference migrant over domestic labor, and contribute to human trafficking and forced labor.  Issues to be addressed will include how unfair business practices contribute to an increased reliance on migrant labor, and how the US government can educate potential migrants of their rights to prevent trafficking and other abuse.

Who:     

Helsinki Commission Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and other commission members; Ambassador-at-Large Luis C. deBaca, U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; Gabriela Lemus, Ph.D., of the U.S. Department of Labor and Representative to the Senior Policy Operating Group on Trafficking in Persons; Nancy A. Donaldson, Washington Director, International Labor Organization; Neha Misra, J.D., Senior Specialist Migration and Human Trafficking, Solidarity Center; Julia Ormond,  Founder of ASSET, ex- Goodwill Ambassador to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

When:            

Monday, May 23 at 2 p.m.

Where:

2172 Rayburn House Office Building (on first floor)