,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dhhg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjbd,mr4 ,cardin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 and ,mrs4 ,gillibrand7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to protect certain victims of human trafficking by expanding the authority of the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to grant such aliens continued presence in the ,united ,states4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,continued ,presence ,improvement ,act4 #b4 ,trafficking victims 7a7 ,in general ,section #ajg7;c77#c7 of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gaje7;c77#c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,a7 by amending clause 7i7 to read as follows3 7i7 ,investigations and prosecutions ,if a law enforcement official files an application stating that an alien may be a victim of a severe form of trafficking1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security may permit the alien to remain in the ,united ,states to facilitate the investigation or prosecution of a trafficking-related offense4 2 7,b7 by redesignating clause 7iv7 as clause 7v72 7,c7 by redesignating clause 7ii7 as clause 7iv7 and moving such clause so that it appears immediately after clause 7iii72 7,d7 by striking clause 7iii7 and inserting the following3 7ii7 ,while pursuing a civil action ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall permit an alien who is a victim of a severe form of trafficking and has filed a civil action under section #aeie of title #ah to remain in the ,united ,states until such action is concluded4 ,if the ,secretary1 after consultation with the ,attorney ,general1 determines that the alien has failed to exercise due diligence in pursuing such action1 the ,secretary may revoke the order permitting the alien to remain in the ,united ,states4 7iii7 ,length2 extensions ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall grant continued presence under this subparagraph for a period of not less than #b years and may extend such status beyond #b years1 at the discretion of the ,secretary4 ,if the alien has a pending immigration benefit application1 continued presence shall be extended until such application is approved1 withdrawn1 or denied upon final appeal1 unless the ,secretary determines that continued presence is no longer warranted4 2 7,e7 in clause 7iv71 as redesignated1 by striking ,federal law enforcement officials described in clause 7i7 and inserting law enforcement officials2 and 7,f7 by adding at the end the following3 7vi7 ,employment authorization ,during the period the alien is authorized to remain in the ,united ,states under this paragraph1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall-- 7,i7 authorize the alien to engage in employment in the ,united ,states2 and 7,,ii7 provide the alien with an employment authorized endorsement or other appropriate work permit4 7vii7 ,protection from immigration enforcement ,while a grant of continued presence is in effect under this paragraph1 ,federal law enforcement officials may only take civil immigration enforcement actions against an alien described in clause 7i7 or 7iii7-- 7,i7 based on conduct committed after continued presence is authorized2 and 7,,ii7 following consultation with the law enforcement official who filed the application for continued presence4 2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b7-- 7,a7 by striking ,law enforcement and inserting the following3 7i7 ,outside the united states ,law enforcement 2 7,b7 in clause 7i71 as redesignated1 by striking subparagraph 7,a77i7 and inserting clause 7i7 or 7iii7 of subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7ii7 ,inside the united states ,law enforcement officials may submit written requests to the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security for deferred action and employment authorization for certain relatives of any alien whose continued presence is permitted under clause 7i7 or 7iii7 of subparagraph 7,a74 2 7#c7 by amending subparagraph 7,c7 to read as follows3 7,c7 ,law enforcement office policies1 training1 and material ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,attorney ,general1 and the ,commissioner of the ,equal ,employment ,opportunity ,commission shall-- 7i7 develop policies and procedures for their respective agency that encourage the use of and immediate application for continued presence by the respective agency upon identification of an individual covered under subparagraph 7,a77i7 in appropriate cases2 7ii7 develop materials1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 to encourage and assist their respective ,federal agency personnel and other law enforcement officials to request continued presence in appropriate cases2 and 7iii7 distribute the materials developed pursuant to clause 7ii7 and provide training on such materials to their respective ,federal agency personnel and other law enforcement officials4 2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,defined term ,in this paragraph1 the term law enforcement official means any employee of a ,federal1 ,state1 tribal1 territorial1 or local law enforcement agency1 labor agency1 children's protective services agency1 or other civil1 criminal1 judicial or administrative authority that has responsibility and authority for the detection1 investigation1 or prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons4 4 7b7 ,rulemaking ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall promulgate regulations to implement the amendments made by subsection 7a74