[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4553-S4556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Specter):
  S. 937. A bill to combat commercial sexual activities by targeting 
demand, to protect children from being exploited by such activities, to 
prohibit the operation of sex tours, to assist State and local 
governments to enforce laws dealing with commercial sexual activities, 
to reduce trafficking in persons, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation to combat 
the scourge of sex trafficking within our

[[Page S4554]]

borders, by targeting and reducing demand. The bill is entitled the End 
Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
  For the last four years, the President has been a stalwart champion 
of strengthening efforts to combat the scourge of human trafficking and 
slavery, not just abroad, but within our very own borders as well. Last 
July, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing I chaired, highlighted 
many of the Administration's landmark efforts in this area to date.
  Most Americans would be shocked to learn that the institutions of 
slavery and involuntary servitude--institutions that this Nation fought 
a bloody war to destroy--continue to persist today--not just around the 
world, but hidden in communities across America. It has been nearly two 
centuries since the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, and 
well over a century since the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. 
Yet to this day, men, women and children continue to be trafficked into 
the United States, and coerced into lives of forced labor and sexual 
slavery. The stories they tell are tragic, disturbing, and heart-
rending. And the acts they endure are not just unconstitutional, not 
just criminal--they are profoundly evil, immoral, and wrong.
  Shortly after the Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing I chaired, 
the President made clear that ending the demand for trafficking is a 
critical component of this effort, in remarks he delivered before the 
first national training conference on Human Trafficking in the United 
States: Rescuing Women and Children from Slavery, hosted by the Justice 
Department in Tampa, Florida, and attended by a representative from my 
office. As the President stated, ``we cannot put [human traffickers] 
out of business until and unless we deal with the problem of demand.''
  Moreover, as the State Department's 2004 Trafficking in Persons 
Report notes, ``[c]onsiderable academic, NGO, and scientific research 
confirms a direct link between prostitution and trafficking. In fact, 
prostitution and its related activities . . . contribute[] to 
trafficking in persons by serving as a front behind which traffickers 
for sexual exploitation operate. . . . [P]rostitution directly 
contributes to the modern-day slave trade and is inherently demeaning. 
When law enforcement tolerates . . . prostitution, organized crime 
groups are freer to traffic in human beings.''
  So it is appropriate to expand our fight against the most coercive 
forms of human trafficking and slavery our society has ever witnessed, 
to include an effort to combat sex trafficking and prostitution as 
well. And it is appropriate to target the demand for sex trafficking as 
an essential element of our strategy to eliminating sex trafficking 
within our borders.
  Accordingly, for the past several months, I have been working with 
various anti-trafficking organizations to craft legislation to focus 
attention on the demand for sex trafficking within our own country. 
Last October, Senators Schumer and Specter and I introduced an earlier 
version of the legislation I introduce today (S. 2916). Representatives 
Pryce and Maloney introduced a companion bill on the House side that 
same day. And today, I am introducing a revised version of the bill, 
designed to achieve precisely the same objective: ending demand for sex 
trafficking. I am pleased that Senator Specter has again agreed to co-
sponsor the legislation. Moreover, Senator Schumer remains a close 
partner on this bill. Our offices are still working out some drafting 
issues with some of the anti-trafficking groups, and I am hopeful that 
Senator Schumer will once again be the lead Democrat co-sponsor of the 
bill. A parallel bill will be introduced in the House later today by 
Representatives Deborah Pryce, Carolyn Maloney, and Bobby Scott.
  This legislation is the product of extensive discussions over the 
last several months between my office, Senator Schumer's office, and 
major anti-trafficking organizations, as well as the offices of 
Representatives Pryce and Scott. I am pleased to report that, as a 
result of those discussions, we now have a bill that is supported by a 
broad coalition of anti-trafficking and human rights organizations--
including the Ministerial Alliance of Midland, Texas, Faces of 
Children, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, Concerned Women 
for America, the Hudson Institute, the Institute on Religion and 
Democracy, the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, the Leadership 
Council for Human Rights, the National Association of Evangelicals, the 
Polaris Project, the Protection Project, the Religious Freedom 
Coalition, the Salvation Army, Shared Hope International, the Southern 
Baptist Convention, Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE), the 
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, World Vision, and 
other organizations and advocates. I ask unanimous consent that letters 
of endorsement from various anti-trafficking organizations be included 
in the Record.
  In conclusion, this is important legislation to protect the victims 
of sex trafficking and to reduce demand. I hope that the Senate will 
act favorably on the bill.
  There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                  Southern Baptist Convention,

                                    Nashville, TN, March 11, 2005.
     Mr. James Ho,
     Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Border Security, Immigration 
         and Citizenship, Dirksen Senate Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
     Mr. Derek Lindblom,
     Counsel, Office of Senator Chuck Schumer, Hart Senate 
         Building, Washington, DC.
     Ms. Shiloh Roehl,
     Legislative Director, Office of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, 
         Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
     Mr. Bobby Vasssar,
     Minority Counsel, House Committee on the Judiciary, Rayburn 
         House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Jim, Derek, Shiloh, and Bobby: I am pleased to notify 
     you that the following members and organizations of the 
     National Coalition for Religious Freedom and Human Rights 
     fully support the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005, 
     including myself. Others have already notified you of their 
     support through personal letters. I am also confident that 
     additional organizations from our Coalition, and groups 
     closely aligned with us, will join in supporting this 
     historic legislation.
           Best regards,
         Barrett Duke, Chairman, National Coalition for Religious 
           Freedom and Human Rights, Vice President for Public 
           Policy and Research, Southern Baptist Ethics and 
           Religious Liberty Commission; Richard Cizik, Vice 
           President for Governmental Affairs, National 
           Association of Evangelicals; Janice Shaw Crouse, Senior 
           Fellow, The Beverly Lahaye Institute, Concerned Women 
           for America; Lisa Thompson, Initiative Against Sexual 
           Trafficking, Salvation Army; Nathan J. Diament, 
           Director of Public Policy, Union of Orthodox Jewish 
           Congregations of America; Faith McDonnell, Director, 
           Religious Liberty Programs, Institute on Religion and 
           Democracy; Donna M. Hughes, Professor & Carlson Endowed 
           Chair, Women's Studies Program, University of Rhode 
           Island; Kathryn Porter, President, Leadership Council 
           for Human Rights; Peggy Birchfield, Executive Director, 
           Religious Freedom Coalition; Michael Horowitz, Senior 
           Fellow, Hudson Institute; Debbie Fikes, Director, Basic 
           Ministries, International, Midland, TX; Margaret 
           Purvis, Chairwoman, Faces of Children, Midland, Texas; 
           Dr. Jae Joong Nam, President, AEGIS Foundation.
                                  ____

                                                   March 15, 2005.
     Hon. John Cornyn,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington DC.
     Hon. Deborah Pryce,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Cornyn and Representative Pryce: I am writing 
     to express my support for the End Demand for Sex Trafficking 
     Act of 2005.
       Though I and several of my colleagues had some serious 
     concerns about earlier versions of the legislation, I 
     appreciate your willingness to address our proposed changes. 
     I believe the bill introduced is greatly improved and will 
     have a positive effect on reducing demand for commercial sex 
     practices in the United States. Reducing demand for 
     commercial sex will help reduce the number of trafficking 
     victims and help prevent the sexual exploitation of women and 
     children.
       I commend you for commitment to helping end sex trafficking 
     and your commitment to human rights.

[[Page S4555]]

       Thank you.
           Sincerely,

                                                  Linda Smith,

                                   Founder and Executive Director,
     Shared Hope International.
                                  ____

                                             Institute on Religion


                                            and Public Policy,

                                  Washington, DC., March 15, 2005.
     Hon. John Cornyn,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Cornyn: I am writing in support of the End 
     Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005. This historic 
     legislation would bring significant attention to the true 
     roots of sexual trafficking: the demand for illegal sexual 
     activity. It would also combat the commercial sexual trade by 
     focusing law enforcement effort on consumers, traffickers, 
     and exploiters, ending the current isolation of the 
     individuals exploited in the illegal activity.
       The End Demand for Sexual Trafficking Act of 2005 is the 
     result of many hours of work by lawmakers, religious leaders, 
     and NGOs under your ledership and is a much-needed addition 
     to the United States' sexual trafficking laws. This bill will 
     hopefully focus the attention of sexual trafficking 
     prosecution on the traffickers and the ``johns'' who pay for 
     the illegal activities, thereby solidifying America's 
     position as the world leader in working to end sexual 
     trafficking and prostitution.
       With warm personal regards and best wishes, I am,
           Sincerely Yours,
                                              Joseph K. Grieboski,
     President.
                                  ____

                                                Faces of Children,


                                               Midland, Texas,

                                                   March 11, 2005.
     Re End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005
     Hon. John Cornyn,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Cornyn: On behalf of Faces of Children an 
     ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First 
     Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas, we endorse the End 
     Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
       Faces of Children is a prayer ministry that focuses on and 
     provides prayer support to children in crisis and in 
     distress. We care deeply about providing assistance to 
     victims, especially the youngest and most vulnerable ones, of 
     sex trafficking and about prosecuting those who take 
     advantage of them in the sex trade.
       We are most grateful to you for sponsoring this important 
     bill!
           Blessings,
     Margaret Purvis, Chair,
                                   Faces of Children, Midland, TX;
     Chris Laufer, Coodinator,
     Faces of Children, Midland, TX.
                                  ____

                                     Coalition Against Trafficking


                                                     in Women,

                                                    March 9, 2005.
       Dear Senator Cornyn: The Coalition Against Trafficking in 
     Women, an international organization working against sex 
     trafficking and prostitution in many parts of the world, 
     would like to express its support for the proposed ``End 
     Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.''
       We are confident that this bill, when passed and 
     implemented, will go a long way in deterring purchasers of 
     commercial sex acts, help protect children from being 
     exploited, prohibit the operation of sex tours, and assist 
     States and local governments in their efforts to reduce 
     trafficking and commercial sexual activities.
       We hope that this bill will soon be passed by the United 
     States Congress and appreciate your sponsorship of this 
     important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                Janice G. Raymond,
     Co-Executive Director.
                                  ____


                  [From World Vision, March 10, 2005]

    World Vision Endorses Legislation to Combat Sex Trafficking and 
                     Increase Assistance to Victims

       Washington.--World Vision applauds Senator John Cornyn and 
     Representatives Chris Smith and Deborah Pryce for their 
     steadfast work to protect children from exploitation. We 
     support H.R. 972, the Trafficking Victims Protection 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005 and the introduction of the End 
     Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005. The combined 
     strengths of these two bills provide for effective measures 
     to help combat sex trafficking by increasing law enforcement 
     efforts, reducing demand and increasing services available to 
     victims.
       An estimated two million children currently are enslaved in 
     the global commercial sex trade, which has destroyed the 
     lives of countless women and children throughout history. For 
     children, the most vulnerable victims, the impact is 
     catastrophic, including: long-lasting physical and 
     psychological trauma, disease (including HIV/AIDS), violence/
     abuse, drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, malnutrition, 
     social ostracism, a life of poverty and, in the worst cases, 
     death. Notably, this abhorrent abuse is found in nearly every 
     country, including the United States.
       The provisions included in the End Demand for Sex 
     Trafficking Act of 2005 will help remedy this problem by 
     increasing U.S. law enforcement action against the abusers, 
     including traffickers, pimps, brothel owners and 
     ``customers'' (a.k.a., ``Johns''), thereby curtailing demand. 
     In addition, the Trafficking Victims Protection 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005 reauthorizes much-needed program 
     funds, provides for increased law enforcement programs and 
     tools and bolsters the TIP office at the Department of State. 
     Both bills measurably increase services available to victims.
       World Vision is delighted to support both of these bills 
     and we have full confidence in the U.S. Congress to resolve 
     any differences between the two bills in order to arrive at 
     the most effective legislation possible. We thank Senator 
     Cornyn and Representatives Smith and Pryce for their 
     leadership in addressing this global problem. We stand ready 
     to work with Congress on this important issue.
       World Vision is a Christian relief and development 
     organization dedicated to helping children and their 
     communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling 
     the causes of poverty . World Vision serves the world's 
     poor--regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. In 
     2004, World Vision operated in nearly 100 countries around 
     the world.
                                                  Standing Against


                                          Global Exploitation,

                                 San Francisco, CA, March 8, 2005.
     Senator John Cornyn,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Honorable Senator John Cornyn: I am writing on behalf of 
     SAGE Project, Inc to strongly and enthusiastically endorse 
     the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005, a bill 
     designed to combat commercial activities by targeting demand, 
     to protect children from being exploited by such activities, 
     to prohibit the operation of sex tours, to assist State and 
     local governments to enforce laws dealing with commercial 
     sexual activities, to reduce trafficking in persons and for 
     other purposes.
       SAGE has designed and implemented cutting-edge, model 
     restorative justice programs for customers of prostitutes 
     (the demand), trauma and drug recovery, and job training 
     programs for women, young men, and girls who are victims of 
     trafficking, prostitution, sexual exploitation and violence. 
     The personal knowledge and experience possessed by many of 
     the survivor, peer staff enables SAGE to effectively provide 
     support and engender trust without re-traumatizing even the 
     most fragile of clients. Through advocacy, educational 
     programs, and as a direct service provider for over 14 years, 
     SAGE has assisted in raising public awareness concerning the 
     sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and girls. As a 
     result of our interventions, SAGE has assisted over 1500 
     individuals to exit the criminal justice system, escape 
     traffickers and actively engage in prosecutions, receive 
     emergency housing and victim services, recover from abuse and 
     acquire appropriate services such as medical and mental 
     health care, substance abuse treatment, legal, immigration, 
     case management, educational and vocational training. Because 
     of SAGE's commitment to victims of exploitation and 
     trafficking, a web of prevention education, early 
     intervention and treatment services and a network of 
     survivor, peer led programs throughout the United States has 
     been created. SAGE is the co-founder of the first and largest 
     program for customers of prostitutes in the world. This 
     restorative justice program has been replicated in dozens of 
     other cities and funds a wide range of services for women and 
     girls.
       Studies show that most commercially sexually exploited 
     children (CSEC) are integrated into the mainstream sex 
     industry and tend to be concentrated in the cheaper end of 
     the prostitution market where conditions are the worse and 
     the concentration of customers/abusers the highest. Although 
     some children are prostituted by and/or specifically for 
     pedophiles and preferential abusers, the majority of the 
     several million men who annually exploit children are first 
     and foremost prostitute users of adult women who become child 
     sexual abusers through their prostitute use, rather than the 
     other way around. The world of prostitution whether legal or 
     illegal provides an arena where laws and rules which 
     constrain sex with minors can be evaded. Laws and social 
     conventions make it difficult and dangerous for individuals 
     to buy children for sexual purposes in non-commercial 
     contexts, but prostitution potentially provides instant 
     access, often to a selection of children. Men surveyed in San 
     Francisco through SAGE and the First Offenders Prostitution 
     Program respond when asked how a person justifies having sex 
     with an underage prostituted child, ''they don't even 
     think.'' They know that law enforcement efforts are focused 
     on the youth/child as the perpetrator and not on them. The 
     End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 is the most 
     historically significant step toward ending the rape and 
     sexual abuse of children through prostitution and holding the 
     true perpetrators accountable.
       The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 clearly, 
     strongly, and unambiguously redefines ``child prostitution'' 
     as sexual abuse on young human beings. This sexual abuse of 
     children through prostitution is made possible by a society 
     that has sanctioned and institutionalized numbers of children 
     for whom routine abuse, torture, rape, trafficking and 
     kidnapping is considered acceptable. In essence, what society 
     is saying and enforcing through laws and inappropriate 
     interventions is that children and

[[Page S4556]]

     youth are consenting to their own sexual abuse and that by 
     consenting to this abuse they are a danger to society. They 
     are subject to arrest, they are viewed as perpetrators, not 
     victims, and they are denied any services for their 
     victimization. Many of these girls have been exploited for 
     pornography or have suffered or witnessed physical and sexual 
     violence. For these girls, the average of entry into 
     prostitution is 13-14, an age at which these girls are 
     entering an endless cycle of arrest, drug addiction, and 
     violence. The result is traumatic and profound lack of self-
     esteem causing disempowered behaviors: dropping out of 
     school, prostitution, addiction, selling of drugs, and 
     violence. Their exploitation is perpetuated by continued 
     reliance on the very people who have physically, emotionally, 
     and sexually assaulted them. As these children age into 
     adults they remain trapped in a system of abuse and 
     exploitation and could not escape even if they wanted to. The 
     legal, mental and medical health, human rights consequences 
     of this abuse remains with the child or woman as she is 
     arrested, prosecuted, jailed, placed on probation and forced 
     into treatment. The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 
     2005 will send the message that now these severely victimized 
     and neglected children and women can depend on us for 
     protection and care.
       SAGE is committed to working with you and your office in 
     passing this historic legislation. Just ask.
           Truly,
                                                  Norma Hotaling ,
     Founder and Director, SAGE.
                                  ____

         Johns Hopkins University, The Paul H. Hitze School of 
           Advanced International Studies
                                   Washington, DC, March 18, 2005.
     Hon. John Cornyn,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, D.C.
     Hon. Deborah Pryce,
     Cannon House Office Building,
     Washington, D.C.
       Dear Senator Cornyn and Representative Pryce: I am writing 
     on behalf of The Protection Project at The Johns Hopkins 
     University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), 
     to express my full support for the End Demand for Sex 
     Trafficking Act of 2005.
       The Protection Project is a legal human rights research 
     institute committed to the eradication of trafficking in 
     persons. The Protection Project strongly believes that 
     reducing demand is the most effective way to successfully 
     combat sex trafficking.
       The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 is a 
     significant step forward in the fight against sex 
     trafficking, since it introduces appropriate measures to 
     promote the prosecution of purchasers of commercial sex acts, 
     exploiters of sexual activities and traffickers. In 
     particular, in regard to the prosecution of purchasers, I 
     strongly endorse Section 4(b)(1), which proposes measures 
     such as educational programs for first time purchasers of 
     ``unlawful commercial sex,'' publication of names and 
     addresses, the use of female decoys, statutory rape and 
     felony assaults prosecutions, and other programs enhancing 
     prosecution and reducing demand. I firmly believe that these 
     measures would significantly contribute to discouraging 
     demand.
       The Protection Project is committed to working with you and 
     supports the passage of this important legislation.
           Best Regards,

                                    Mohamed Y. Mattar, S.J.D.,

                                          Adjunct Professor of Law
     and Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                              Polaris Project,

                                     Tokyo, Japan, March 10, 2005.
     Mr. James Ho,
     Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Border Security, Immigration 
         and Citizenship, Dirksen Senate Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
     Mr. Derek Lindblom,
     Counsel, Office of Senator Chuck Schumer, Hart Senate 
         Building, Washington, DC.
     Ms. Shiloh Roehl,
     Legislative Director, Office of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, 
         Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Ho, Mr. Lindblom, and Ms. Roehl: On behalf of 
     Polaris Project, we write in support of the End Demand for 
     Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
       We work everyday with women and children in the sex 
     industry who have been beaten, raped, and controlled through 
     threats of death and extreme violence, many of them U.S. 
     nationals who just a few years ago would be viewed as nothing 
     more than criminals. This historic legislation will help 
     change that injustice forever in the United States. The End 
     Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 generates renewed hope 
     for our clients, for the survivors on our staff, and for the 
     rest of us who work everyday protecting some of the most 
     vulnerable women and children in our country.
       Thank you for your work.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Katherine Chon,
                                            Co-Executive Director.
                                                   Derek Ellerman,
     Co-Executive Director.
                                  ____


                 [From the Religious Freedom Coalition]

                         (By Peggy Birchfield)

  Statement by Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman, William J. Murray

       Although progress has been made in many areas since the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed in 2000, the 
     tragic human degradation of sexual trafficking continues to 
     increase in magnitude. The number of those adversely affected 
     continues to grow, especially among children, the most 
     pathetic victims.
       By focusing more on the male customers and on traffickers, 
     this proposed legislation can reduce prostitution by 
     redirecting law enforcement efforts which now 
     disproportionately lead to the arrest of the women involved 
     in prostitution, some of whom are trafficking victims.
       The legislators who have wisely recognized that 
     prostitution is not a ``victimless crime'' and who have taken 
     steps to reduce its prevalence are to be applauded. It has 
     long been realized that prostitution brutalizes and 
     desensitizes men, who come to view women as objects and not 
     as human beings. A new study has shown that prostitution also 
     leads to more criminal behavior in women, and not just in 
     drug related offenses. It was found that 7 out of 10 women 
     who were convicted of felonies of all kinds, first entered 
     the legal system because of an arrest for prostitution.
       Sex tourism is a growing industry that targets children in 
     third world countries, and the United States is the home of 
     probably more ``sex tourists'' than any other single nation. 
     The victims are not American children in this case, but are 
     poor and often abandoned children in foreign countries where 
     there is lax law enforcement. This new effort to stop the 
     victimization of these children should be supported in all 
     possible ways. The men who travel abroad to exploit children 
     and the tour operators who are well aware of the nature of 
     the trips they are providing, should be prosecuted.
       This bipartisan effort by members of the Senate and the 
     House to address this serious humanitarian issue is to be 
     highly commended, and I hope it will gain many more 
     supporters and cosponsors in Congress.
                                 ______