What This Bill Does
This bill blocks people charged with human trafficking or drug trafficking crimes that happened near the U.S. border from getting federal benefits. If someone is charged with one of these crimes, they lose eligibility for federal help. The ban ends if the charges are dropped or the person is found not guilty.
Who It Affects
Individuals charged with human trafficking or drug trafficking offenses at or near U.S. borders and territorial waters. Federal agencies that distribute benefits. The federal government, which must repay benefits owed if charges are dismissed.
Key Provisions
• People charged with human trafficking or drug trafficking crimes that occurred at the U.S. border or in U.S. territorial waters become ineligible for all federal benefits immediately (Sec. 2(b)).
• Federal benefits include grants, contracts, loans, professional licenses, commercial licenses, retirement benefits, welfare, Social Security, health benefits, disability benefits, veterans benefits and public housing (Sec. 2(a)(3)).
• If all charges are dismissed or the person is found not guilty, the ineligibility ends and the government must repay any federal benefits that were withheld (Sec. 2(c)).
• The law applies to human trafficking offenses under specific federal criminal codes and immigration law violations related to smuggling (Sec. 2(a)(4)).
• Drug trafficking offenses covered by this law must include distribution of a controlled substance as a required element of the crime (Sec. 2(a)(2)).
What Changes
Federal agencies must deny all federal benefits to anyone charged with these crimes until charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted. The government must restore and pay back any benefits owed once charges end.
Important Definitions
"Covered trafficking offense" means human trafficking or drug trafficking crimes where part of the crime happened at the U.S. border or in U.S. territorial waters (ocean territory belonging to the U.S.).
"Federal benefit" means money, licenses, or help from the U.S. government, including retirement, welfare, Social Security, health care and housing assistance.
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1116
To prohibit individuals charged with human trafficking or drug trafficking
offenses committed near the border of the United States from receiving
Federal benefits.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 21, 2023
Mrs. CAMMACK (for herself, Mr. CRENSHAW, and Mr. DESJARLAIS) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Accountability
A BILL
To prohibit individuals charged with human trafficking or
drug trafficking offenses committed near the border of
the United States from receiving Federal benefits.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Taxpayer Fund-
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ing of Traffickers Act’’.
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SECTION 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL BENEFITS FOR
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HUMAN
TRAFFICKERS
AND
DRUG
TRAF-
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FICKERS.
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(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section—
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•HR 1116 IH
(1) the term ‘‘covered trafficking offense’’
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means a human trafficking offense or a drug traf-
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ficking offense for which any portion of the course
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of conduct constituting the human trafficking of-
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fense or drug trafficking offense occurred at an
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international border of the United States or within
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the territorial waters of the United States;
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(2) the term ‘‘drug trafficking offense’’ means
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any Federal offense that includes as an element of
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the offense the distribution of a controlled substance
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(as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Sub-
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stances Act (21 U.S.C. 802));
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(3) the term ‘‘Federal benefit’’—
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(A) means the issuance of any grant, con-
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tract, loan, professional license, or commercial
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license provided by an agency of the United
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States or by appropriated funds of the United
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States; and
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(B) includes any retirement, welfare, So-
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cial Security, health, disability, veterans, public
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housing, or other similar benefit; and
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(4) the term ‘‘human trafficking offense’’
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means an offense under—
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•HR 1116 IH
(A) section 1581, 1583, 1584, 1589, 1590,
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1591, 2251A, 2421, 2422, or 2423 of title 18,
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United States Code; or
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(B) section 274(a) of the Immigration and
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Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324(a)).
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(b) PROHIBITION ON BENEFITS.—An individual who
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is indicted for or charged in an information with a covered
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trafficking offense shall be ineligible for any Federal ben-
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efit.
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(c) TERMINATION
OF PROHIBITION.—If, for each
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covered trafficking offense with which an individual is
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charged, the charge is dismissed or the individual is found
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not guilty of the covered trafficking offense—
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(1) the ineligibility of the individual for any
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Federal benefit under subsection (b) shall terminate;
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and
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(2) the Federal Government shall pay to the in-
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dividual any pecuniary Federal benefit that was not
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paid to the individual because the individual was in-
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eligible for the Federal benefit under subsection (b).
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Æ
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