First District Representative Bryan Steil’s first bill proposal could have international effects.
The Janesville Republican announced his Exposing the Financing of Human Trafficking Act Tuesday afternoon, which would require foreign governments to report the money generated in their countries by forced labor in order to receive foreign aid from the United States.
The U.S. currently requires Trafficking in Persons reports from other countries to detail their efforts to fight human trafficking. Steil’s bill would expand that to include efforts to disrupt the illicit financing that results.
He’s worked with local law enforcement officials including Janesville Police Chief David Moore, Rock County Sheriff Troy Knutson and Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell, who were all present for Steil’s announcement in Janesville.
He says his bill has bipartisan support, which includes second district representative Mark Pocan, and Steil hopes he can get the bill passed by the end of the congressional session.
