07.22.04

Cantwell Hails Confirmation of Ambassador John Miller

Cantwell asked Minority Leader Daschle to speed his confirmation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) praised the Senate's confirmation of former Rep. John Miller to be Director of the U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking. The post carries the rank of Ambassador at Large. Earlier today, Sen. Cantwell had asked Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) to speed Miller's confirmation, and work to approve his nomination before the Senate adjourns for its August recess.

"I'm glad the Senate has acted to confirm John Miller as Ambassador at Large to address the growing problem of human trafficking," Cantwell said. "Mr. Miller brings his vast experience, compassion, and dedication to human rights with him to this daunting problem, and his ability to serve this nation goes without question. I look forward to continuing to work with him on this issue."

Cantwell, who has introduced a bill to curb the abuse of so-called "mail order brides," recently met with Miller to discuss the issue of human trafficking.

In a little over a year, Miller has raised the profile of human trafficking considerably. J ust last month, the Department of State released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, a sobering look at the current state of human enslavement around the globe, which estimates that between 800,000 and 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually, many of them women and children forced into the commercial sex trade. Furthermore, an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States, alone.

Miller, a Republican, represented Washington state in Congress from 1984 to 1992. During his tenure in the House, Miller served on the International Relations Committee, among other committees, and was a member of the Human Rights Caucus.

The text of Sen. Cantwell's letter follows:

July 22, 2004 The Honorable Tom Daschle Minority Leader 509 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Daschle:

I am writing to ask for your assistance to ensure the swift confirmation of John Ripin Miller of Washington state to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking. While Mr. Miller currently serves as the Director of the Office, his recent nomination and subsequent confirmation to the post will carry with it the rank of Ambassador at Large, as required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act passed and signed into law during the 107 th Congress. It is my fervent hope that we confirm Mr. Miller before we adjourn for the August recess.

Mr. Miller's ability to serve this nation goes without question. From 1984 to 1992, he served with distinction as a congressman from Washington state. During his tenure in the Congress, Mr. Miller served on, among other committees, the International Relations Committee and was a member of the Human Rights Caucus. Mr. Miller brings this vast experience, compassion, and dedication to human rights with him to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking. He was sworn in as the Director on March 3, 2003.

In a little over a year's time, Mr. Miller has raised the profile of human trafficking considerably; and, as you are aware, just last month, the Department of State released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report. A sobering look at the current state of human enslavement around the globe, the report estimates that between 800,000 and 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually, many of them women and children forced into the commercial sex trade. Furthermore, an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States, alone.

The Report uses a three-tier ranking system to monitor the efforts of countries around the world to address the incidence of human slavery. A country receiving a tier three rank reflects that the country does not comply with minimum standards to combat trafficking as set forth in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Governments of countries in tier three face certain sanctions, whereby the U.S. may withhold non-humanitarian, non-trade-related assistance. If countries do not receive such assistance, the U.S. may withhold funding for educational and cultural exchange programs.

Potential consequences for a country's failure to comply with provisions of the TVPA may take effect beginning in fiscal year 2005, which is why it is imperative to confirm Mr. Miller today and not wait until September or, worse yet, January. A large part of Miller's job as director consists of traveling to foreign countries, where he meets with non-governmental organizations and government and embassy officials. Going into these regions with the rank of Ambassador promises to give Mr. Miller considerably more leverage in negotiating with tier three country officials about the need to undertake certain remedial measures to comply with the dictates of the TVPA or truly face the threat of a loss of U.S. aid.

It is not only with other nations that the rank of Ambassador will lend to Mr. Miller's credibility in negotiations, but with other U.S. departments, as well. If a country is put in a tier three category and is threatened with a loss of U.S. aid, there will undoubtedly be department heads that will work to see that non-humanitarian or non-trade-related assistance is not withheld. The threat of, or truly, withholding aid is the strongest negotiating tool we have to bring nations into conformity of the principles laid out in the TVPA and cannot be compromised. If there are departments that begin seeking waivers of the use of this tool, Mr. Miller will need as much negotiating power as possible, and it is by ensuring he has the rank of Ambassador that will make all of the difference.

Much has been done in the way of recognizing the degree to which men and, particularly, women and children are being trafficked across borders and forced into servitude or the sex trade. However, with this recognition comes the solemn duty of this nation to do something to frustrate the efforts of those who traffic in persons. The best thing that we can do now is confirm Mr. John Miller as the first Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking with the rank of Ambassador at Large, and I ask that we do that today.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell U.S. Senator