Bill Summary
The "Ensuring Accountability and Dignity in Government Contracting Act of 2025" aims to enhance oversight and compliance regarding human trafficking in government contracting.
Key provisions include:
1. **Compliance Plan and Certification**: Contractors must provide a compliance plan and certify adherence to anti-trafficking laws at the time of contract certification and upon request. They are also required to report any incidents of trafficking-related activities by themselves or their subcontractors during the contract period.
2. **Monitoring and Investigation**: If an incident is reported, the Inspector General is mandated to investigate the circumstances and any corrective actions taken. If a contractor acknowledges wrongdoing and has taken appropriate actions, this will be communicated to the relevant agency officials, who can suspend payments until compliance is achieved.
3. **Reporting Requirements**: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is tasked with reporting to Congress on the feasibility of amendments to further strengthen compliance assessments, streamline reporting processes, and ensure that contracting personnel receive necessary anti-trafficking training.
Overall, the legislation seeks to strengthen the government's ability to prevent trafficking in its contracting processes and to ensure accountability among contractors.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Ensuring Accountability and Dignity in Government Contracting Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Increased Accountability for Contractors**: The legislation requires government contractors to implement more stringent compliance plans and certification processes. This means that contractors must actively monitor their operations and report any trafficking-related activities to the relevant authorities. As a result, workers involved in government contracts may benefit from improved workplace conditions and protections, as companies will need to ensure they do not engage in or support trafficking.
2. **Enhanced Reporting Mechanisms**: The bill mandates that designated representatives of grant or contract recipients must report any trafficking incidents they observe. This could empower whistleblowers within organizations to come forward without fear of retribution, leading to a culture of transparency and accountability. It may also provide victims of trafficking with more avenues for reporting their situations, potentially aiding in their rescue and recovery.
3. **Investigation and Remediation Processes**: The legislation establishes a clear process for investigating reports of trafficking and holds contractors accountable for taking appropriate corrective actions. If a contractor fails to address trafficking concerns, they may face suspension of payments or other penalties. This enforcement mechanism could deter contractors from engaging in unethical practices, leading to a reduction in trafficking incidents and better protection for vulnerable populations involved in government contracting.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1036 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1036
To provide for modifications to ending trafficking in government
contracting, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2025
Mr. Valadao (for himself, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, and
Mr. Magaziner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for modifications to ending trafficking in government
contracting, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Accountability and Dignity
in Government Contracting Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO ENDING TRAFFICKING IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING.
(a) Compliance Plan and Certification Requirement.--Section 1703 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (22 U.S.C.
7104a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ``upon request'' and
inserting ``at the time each certification required under
subsection (a) is made and upon request''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Incident Reporting.--If, after a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement is provided or entered into, the duly designated
representative of the recipient determines that the recipient,
subcontractor or subgrantee, or agent of the recipient or of a
subcontractor or subgrantee has engaged in any of the activities
described in section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)) during the term of the grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement, the representative shall promptly submit to the
relevant contracting or grant officer a report that describes the
circumstances relating to such activities and the remedial actions
taken to address such activities.''.
(b) Monitoring and Investigation of Trafficking in Persons.--
Section 1704 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2013 (22 U.S.C. 7104b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting after the first
sentence the following: ``In the event that a duly designated
representative of the recipient submits a report described in
section 1703(e), the Inspector General shall conduct an
investigation of the activities and remedial actions described
in the report.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``If the rationale for not completing an investigation includes
that a recipient acknowledged the activity occurred and has,
according to the Inspector General, taken appropriate
corrective action to remediate it, the Inspector General shall
notify the head of the executive agency that awarded the
contract, grant, or cooperative agreement and the relevant
agency suspension and debarment official.''; and
(3) in subsection (c)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``, as amended by section
1702,'' and inserting ``or failed to take
appropriate corrective action to address such
activities,''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, suspend payments
under the grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement until the recipient has taken
appropriate remedial action,'' after
``debarment official'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (D), (E), and
(F) as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively.
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET REPORT.
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit
to Congress a report on the feasibility of--
(1) amending section 1703 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (22 U.S.C. 7104a), as
amended by section 2(a) of this Act, to require contracting
officials, including those at the Department of Homeland
Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of State,
and the United States Agency for International Development, to
assess compliance of contractor anti-trafficking plans for
product and service categories and geographic locations that
Federal agencies identify as higher risk for human trafficking;
(2) streamlining agency reporting required by Federal
trafficking victims protection laws to promote efficiency while
meeting congressional information needs; and
(3) requiring Federal agencies, such as the Department of
Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of
State, and the United States Agency for International
Development, to track and report whether contracting personnel
have taken anti-trafficking acquisition training explaining
their responsibilities to combat human trafficking.
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