I am deeply troubled by the recent turn of events in the Senate as the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill is debated. Initially, I was encouraged to see the Senate Finance Committee pass the No Fast Track for Human Traffickers amendment when it approved the current TPA legislation, the Congressional Bipartisan Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.
The No Fast Track for Human Traffickers amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), received overwhelming bipartisan support and stipulates that the United States cannot enter into formal trade agreements with countries that the State Department identifies as Tier 3 in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. This means our trading partners have to take direct action to address labor and sex slavery within their borders. I applaud the amendment for valuing human life, dignity and ethical business practices over profit. This type of action signals to me that bipartisan work being done on human trafficking–including Senate approval of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act and the House’s passage of 12 human trafficking bills—is rooted in an ethical and moral commitment to human dignity that can be included in all legislation.
{mosads}Will ethical and moral concerns be upheld by the senators, or might this end up being just lip service? I raise this question because I am disturbed that corporate lobbyists and the Obama administration are now working to push the Senate to water down or completely strip the Menendez amendment. As written, the amendment complicates the finalization of the Trans-Pacific Partnership because Malaysia, one of the 12 governments negotiating the multinational trade agreement, is classified as a Tier 3 country in the U.S. State Department’s TIP Report. Instead of advancing international humanrights,willwe see the Senate disregard high standards for U.S. trading partners, to ensure access to cheaper manufacturing? Are cheap products from unscrupulous governments worth more to us than ending modern-day slavery?
As a Sister of Mercy, I have committed my life to standing in solidarity with persons who are vulnerable and suffering. Last month, I joined Marlyn Capio-Richter, a remarkable Filipina woman who survived human trafficking, and Fr. Shay Cullen, a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Columban priest, on Capitol Hill to deliver testimonyat a congressional briefing on human trafficking. I’ve also been encouraged listening to Pope Francis condemn this crime against humanity and cry out for each of us to eliminate slavery. I pray that all senators continue to demonstrate their moral commitment to this issue and preserve the Menendez amendment in the TPA legislation.
Christensen, a Sister of Mercy for 53 years, advocates on social justice issues. She is also a core member of the U.S. Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking and a member of the Coalition against Human Trafficking sponsored by the Western Missouri U.S. District Attorney’s Office.