SAMPLE LETTER to Send to Your Representative and Senators

SAMPLE LETTER to send to your Representative and Senators

(Use your organizational or individual letterhead)

Name of Representative Date

United States House of Representatives
Address

Name of Senator

United States Senate

Address

Dear (Representative/Senator),

I am writing as a representative of (name of organization) to urge you to co-sponsor S.1968/HR 3226, the Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act of 2015.The bill was introduced on a bipartisan basis by Representatives Maloney (D-NY) and Smith (R-NJ) in the House, and by Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) in the Senate. S.1968/HR 3226would require businesses with over $ 100 million in worldwide gross receipts to publicly disclose in their annual filings to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and on their websiteswhat efforts they are taking to address modern slavery, human trafficking, and the worst forms of child labor in their supply chains.

Millions of men, women and children around the world, including many here in the United States, are victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. As the world’s largest economy, we must ensure that the goods and services we consume are produced humanely. Human rights abuses are often hidden from public view through complex supply chains that consist of multiple layers of vendors, contractors and recruiters. S. 1968/HR 3226 seeks to remedy this situation by requiring disclosure of information which would enable investors, consumers and other stakeholders to identify companies who are taking steps to address these abuses, creating market-basedincentives for businesses to engage in the struggle against slavery, human trafficking, and the worst forms of child labor.

The 2015 Trafficking in Persons(TIP)Report acknowledged the importance of eliminating slavery from business supply chains and the role of government in adopting policies that support reporting. In 2014, the Department of Labor identified 136 goods from 74 countries tainted by forced and child labor.

S. 1968/HR 3226 has been endorsed by over 100 institutional investors, representing over$ 1 trillion in assets under management (see enclosure) demonstrating that the financial community believes S. 1968/HR 3226 will support sustainable economic growth and reduce risks to U.S. businesses operating throughout the world. In addition, more than 100 human rights and civil society organizations have lent their support. Passage of this legislation would help eradicate human trafficking, forced labor, slavery, andthe worst forms of child labor, and be consistent with the Modern Slavery Act of 2015 passed by the UK Parliament.Given your commitment to promoting human rights anderadicating human trafficking,I urge you to cosponsor this important legislation.Thank you.

Respectfully,

Name

Contact Information