Maloney statement on Apple's foreign factory audit

“Apple’s decision to allow auditors to inspect their suppliers for working conditions is another example of why we need federal legislation to encourage companies to do the right thing.  As a leader in its industry, I am hopeful that other companies will follow Apple’s actions.  However, I believe that we need more than just a “lead by example” model. 

"It is time to pass my bill, HR 2759, the Business Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Amendment and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act which includes my amendment, the Business Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery amendment which is based on HR 2759.  The Maloney amendment encourages companies with $100 million in gross receipts to post on their websites what policies they have in place to ensure their supply chains are free of slavery and human trafficking and to report this information to the Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department.  It will increase transparency, allow consumers to make informed decisions, and motivate businesses to ensure humane practices throughout their supply chains.  My amendment creates the basis for competition to improve practices to end slavery by providing the public with information about what companies are doing to address slavery—and allowing consumers to act on that information. It’s simple and straightforward.  We don’t tell companies what to do, we ask them to tell us what they are doing.”