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Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2008

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Official summary

Version 35 · Passed Senate amended · Oct 1, 2008

Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to grant U.S. courts additional extraterritorial jurisdiction over criminal offenses involving peonage, slavery, sales of persons into involuntary servitude, forced labor, trafficking in persons, and sex trafficking of children if: (1) the alleged offender is a national or permanent resident of the United States; or (2) the alleged offender is present in the United States, irrespective of the nationality of such offender.

Prohibits U.S. prosecution of an alleged trafficking offender who is prosecuted by a foreign government whose jurisdiction is recognized by the United States, except upon the approval of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] · D–IL

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Judiciary Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. Received in the House.

  3. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  4. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  5. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  6. The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

  7. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10388-10390; text of measures as reported in Senate: CR S10389)

  8. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 903.

  9. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  10. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  11. Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

  12. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  13. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1703 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1703 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1703 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1703 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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