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 United States. According to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will provide $361 million over the next two years to combat trafficking.

    “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 Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Center, or “REDI” Center in Singapore. This provision will allow the US government to detail HHS infectious diseases experts to the Center to work with their Asian counterparts, by providing training and research to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks and bioterror attacks such as avian flu and SARS. 

    “The REDI Center will help to prevent the spread of pandemic flu and other epidemics at home and abroad,” said Smith. “It will play a vital role in protecting American citizens from avian flu and other deadly viruses.” 

    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 America to people from other cultures who may never set foot on American soil,” said Smith. “Providing them with adequate resources to perform their duties in a secure environment strengthens our overall diplomatic efforts.”

    “In a meeting with members of Congress today, Secretary Rice said that the State Department faces many challenges in getting experienced staff to go to conflict areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Smith. “HR 4436 enables the State Department to increase and adequately compensate foreign service officers who must operate in dangerous and difficult environments.” 

    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; H Con Res 238, which honors the victims of the Cambodian genocide that occurred between 1975-1979; and H Con Res 312, which urges the government of the Russian Federation to withdraw or modify legislation that restricts nongovernmental organizations in that country.