[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2349 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2349
To assist trafficking survivors who lack government issued
identification in accessing air travel, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 18, 2023
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To assist trafficking survivors who lack government issued
identification in accessing air travel, 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 ``Jimmy Deal Trafficking Survivors
Assistance Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
Transportation Security Administration.
(2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
(3) Airport.--The term ``airport'' has the meaning given
the term ``air carrier airport'' in section 47102 of title 49,
United States Code.
(4) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' has
the meaning given the term ``severe forms of trafficking in
persons'' in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
(5) Responsible party.--The term ``responsible party''
means an individual who is eligible under the policies of the
relevant airline to pick up a minor at the destination airport.
(6) Service provider.--The term ``service provider'' means
a non-profit organization that provides services to individuals
who are victims of human trafficking, including--
(A) emergency services, such as shelter, food,
clothing, and transportation;
(B) case management or wrap-around services;
(C) mental health care or other medical services;
and
(D) legal services.
(7) TSPoC.--The term ``TSPoC'' means a Trafficking Survivor
Point of Contact designated under section 3.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS TO ASSIST TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS WITH
AIR TRAVEL.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall at each airport where the Administration conducts
screening of passengers and property in accordance with section 44901
of title 49, United States Code--
(1) establish the position of Trafficking Survivor Point of
Contact; and
(2) designate as TSPoC an individual who--
(A) is an employee of the Administration; and
(B) holds the position of passenger support
specialist within the Administration.
(b) Duties.--A TSPoC shall--
(1) liaise and establish relationships with service
providers; and
(2) upon a request made via TSA Cares or direct contact by
a service provider that is eligible to receive assistance under
section 4, provide air travel assistance as described in
section 4.
(c) Training.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the
designation of a TSPoC under subsection (a), such TSPoC shall
review training materials on human trafficking, trauma-informed
approaches to working with survivors of sexual assault or
violence, and post traumatic stress disorder made available by
the Department of Homeland Security, including any such
training materials made available on a website of the
Department.
(2) Prior training.--The review of training materials
required by paragraph (1) shall be in addition to any prior
training provided by the Administration.
(d) Online Information.--Not later than 30 days after the
designation of a TSPoC under subsection (a), the airport at which such
TSPoC is stationed shall publish on a publicly available website of the
airport--
(1) the contact information of the TSPoC;
(2) information on the services provided by the TPSoC; and
(3) the processes for engaging such services, including
information about TSA Cares.
SEC. 4. AIR TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
(a) Identification Assistance.--At the request of any service
provider that is eligible to receive assistance under this section and
is arranging air travel for an individual who is a survivor of human
trafficking who does not have the identification documents necessary
for air travel, a TPSoC shall--
(1) provide to such service provider information regarding
the process by which the Administration will attempt to verify
the identity of such individual when the individual arrives at
the screening checkpoint;
(2) assist the service provider or the individual with the
submission of a formal request for travel assistance via TSA
Cares; and
(3) act as a liaison between the National Vetting Center,
other personnel of the Administration involved in the vetting
process, and the individual to ensure that the individual--
(A) understands the vetting process; and
(B) is treated in a trauma-informed manner.
(b) Eligible Non-Profit Service Providers.--A service provider
shall be eligible to receive assistance under this section, if such
service provider has provided to the TSPoC--
(1) not fewer than 30 days prior to submitting a request
for assistance under this section, information with respect to
such service provider, including--
(A) the name of the service provider;
(B) the physical address of the main office or
principal place of business of the service provider;
(C) the telephone number of the service provider;
(D) the website, if available, of the service
provider; and
(E) the employer identification number of the
service provider; and
(2) confirmation that the service provider--
(A) is actively assisting an individual who the
service provider, in the professional judgment of the
service provider, has reasonably determined to be a
survivor of human trafficking;
(B) has assessed the travel needs of the
individual;
(C) has or will purchase an airline ticket for the
individual, if necessary;
(D) has arranged for a family member of the
individual, a representative of a service provider, or
another individual to meet the individual at the
destination airport;
(E) with respect to any minor receiving assistance
from such service provider, is aware of and will comply
with all relevant airline policies regarding travel for
unaccompanied minors, including by--
(i) paying any fees required by such
airline; and
(ii) ensuring that a responsible party
greets the minor at the arrival gate of the
destination airport; and
(F) will assist the individual in providing to the
National Vetting Service any available information or
documentation necessary to verify the identify of the
individual.
(c) Travel Procedures.--
(1) Arrangements prior to departure.--If the Administrator
permits an individual who is a survivor of human trafficking to
travel by air--
(A) the TSPoC shall contact the TSPoC at the
destination of the individual to arrange for such
individual to be greeted by the TSPoC, or a designee,
at the destination airport; and
(B) on the date of the departing flight of the
individual, the TSPoC, or a designee, shall accompany
the individual--
(i) through all security screenings at the
airport; and
(ii) at the request of the individual, to
the departure gate of the flight.
(2) Arrival at destination airport.--Upon the arrival at
the destination airport of an individual whose travel was
arranged under paragraph (1), the TSPoC, or a designee, at such
airport shall meet the individual at the arrival gate and
accompany the individual to a representative from a service
provider in the receiving community, a family member of the
individual, or such other individual designated by the
applicable service provider.
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