U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly’s bill to end human trafficking by government contractors and subcontractors passed the House last week as part of the fiscal year 2013 defense authorization act. The bill, approved by the House and Senate, was sent to President Obama for his signature.

Connolly’s bill was supported by a bipartisan coalition in both the House and Senate that successfully secured inclusion of the human trafficking bill in the larger National Defense Authorization Act. This measure represents the most comprehensive legislative effort to date by Congress to address the serious problem of human trafficking by some government contractors and subcontractors operating overseas. “The passage is a historic step toward ending the abhorrent and unacceptable practice of human trafficking by some U.S. contractors operating overseas,” Connolly said. “The trafficking of these workers violates our American values. This new law will empower authorities to finally eliminate what amounts to modern day slavery by unscrupulous government contractors.”