NYC Gazette

Santos Cosponsors Bill to Protect Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling 

(May 26th, 2023, Washington, DC): Congressman George Santos (NY-03) cosponsored the “Protecting Federal Funds from Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act of 2023, AKA H.R. 3638, which seeks to Director of the Office of Management and Budget to require the disclosure of violations of Federal law concerning human trafficking or alien smuggling, and for other purposes.

“The turmoil at the southern border has undoubtedly bred a lucrative industry for heinous cartels and their illicit human trafficking operations,” said Rep. Santos. As it stands, migrants are paying thousands of dollars to be smuggled into America through the unsecured border. The Biden Administration provides federal tax-payer funding to NGOs to indiscreetly shelter, purchase airplane tickets, and provide instructions on how to get through TSA without proper ID, along with how to enroll children into school once they reach their destination. This is thoughtless and dangerous. We need to ensure that taxpayer dollars are preventing human trafficking and smuggling, not encouraging it.”

Background on H. R. 3638 (courtesy of Rep. Gooden’s website):

• This legislation directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to require nonprofit organizations receiving federal funds to certify they are in compliance with federal laws related to human trafficking, alien smuggling, fraud, bribery, or gratuity and have not been convicted of an offense under section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324). 
• This bill imposes penalties on organizations that fail to submit the required certification or are found to have violated federal laws.
• The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax exemptions for organizations that fail to meet the certification requirements or are determined by the Director of OMB to have violated federal law. Such organizations may reapply for tax-exempt status after one year. 
• The Secretary of Homeland Security is required to develop a written strategy and best practices guide for nonprofit organizations to ensure compliance with federal law and to detect, deter, and report human trafficking and alien smuggling.
• The Secretary must also publish information on nonprofit organizations' compliance with federal and state laws related to human trafficking and alien smuggling on the Department of Homeland Security website.

Original source can be found here.