; (B) the implications associated with such designation and the consequences for the country of a downgrade to Tier 3; (C) the factors that contributed to the downgrade; and (D) the steps that the country must take to be considered for an upgrade in status of designation. (b) Sense of Congress regarding communications It is the sense of Congress that, given the gravity of a Tier 2 Watch List designation, the Secretary of State should communicate the information described in subsection (a) to the foreign minister of any country downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List. 8. Authorization of appropriations Section 113 of the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7110 ) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: (a) Authorization of appropriations in support of the Task Force There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State, for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2023, $12,500,000 for Diplomatic and Consular Programs of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, which shall be used to carry out sections 105(e), 105(f), and 110, including for additional personnel. ; (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c) Authorization of appropriations for the Department of State (1) Assistance to combat trafficking There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State, for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2023, $64,800,000, which shall be used— (A) to carry out sections 106 and 107(a); (B) to carry out section 134 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2152d ); (C) to assist countries in meeting the minimum standards described in section 108