WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris, a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery and restore freedom to survivors, issued the following statement today after the Senate reauthorization of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017. The bill includes a amendment authorizing funding for anti-trafficking efforts.
Keeli Sorensen, Polaris’s Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, said:
“On June 14, the Senate passed the reauthorization of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017 (NDAA), which included a provision authorizing funds to combat human trafficking. The amendment, long championed by Senator Bob Corker, would create an annual authorization of $37.5 million for the Department of State to support global efforts to eradicate modern slavery. This funding would be a welcome addition to the very limited resources currently available to fight this crime globally. Notably, Polaris’s support for this provision is predicated on the presumption that this funding will be in addition to existing State Department programs to combat modern slavery while protecting existing funds for development, humanitarian, democracy and human rights programs, which are essential for addressing root causes of modern slavery and violence. Polaris encourages House Leadership and the House Armed Services Committee to support this provision addressing modern-day slavery by including it in the final version of the NDAA.”
