[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 16, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1752-S1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Cornyn):
  S. 596. A bill to establish a grant program to benefit victims of sex 
trafficking, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join today with my partner, 
Senator Cornyn, to reintroduce the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking 
Deterrence and Victims Support Act. This bi-partisan legislation, which 
was approved unanimously by the Senate in

[[Page S1753]]

the 111th Congress, just a few months ago, as S.2925, is the first 
comprehensive approach to combating the terrible and fast-growing 
criminal enterprise of trafficking of children for sex right here in 
the U.S.
  Many people don't have any idea how many children in the U.S. are 
forced into sexual slavery. It is truly a moral abomination that an 
estimated 100,000 minors are trafficked for sex in the U.S. each year. 
The reason that this crime has reached epidemic proportions is simple: 
the resources are not in place to help innocent victims escape from 
trafficking, nor to punish the violent, ruthless pimps who are 
trafficking them.
  In talking to law enforcement officials in Oregon, I learned that 
gang members, pimps, and traffickers have figured out that trafficking 
a person is a lot less risky, and just as profitable, as trafficking 
drugs. A pimp can make $200,000 a year on one trafficking victim. And 
they know they can exploit vulnerable minors and not get caught because 
law enforcement lacks the training and resources to stop this crime. 
The Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act 
aims to turn that around.
  This bill would, for the first time, provide a comprehensive solution 
for addressing this problem. The bill would establish a pilot project 
of six block grants in locations in different regions of the country 
with significant sex trafficking activity. The block grants would be 
awarded by the Department of Justice to state or local government 
applicants that have developed a workable, comprehensive plan to combat 
sex trafficking. The grants would require a multi-disciplinary approach 
to addressing trafficking problems. Applicants for the grants would 
have to demonstrate they can work together with local, State, and 
Federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service 
providers to achieve the goals of the bill.
  Government agencies that get the grants would be required to create 
shelters where trafficking victims would be safe from their pimps, and 
where they could start getting treatment for the trauma they have 
suffered. The shelters would provide counseling, legal services, and 
mental and physical health services, including treatment for substance 
abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma-informed care. The shelters would also 
provide food, clothing, and other necessities, as well as education and 
training to help victims get their lives on track.
  The bill would also provide training for law enforcement officers. I 
worked with some of the pioneering officers out there like Doug Justus 
in Portland and Byron Fassett in Dallas who really understand this 
issue. But, unfortunately, what Doug and Byron have told me is that 
most officers don't have the training to recognize a sex trafficking 
victim and don't know how to handle those victims in a way that will 
allow them to feel like they can turn away from their pimp. Without 
this training--and without shelters--there's no way to begin building 
criminal cases against the pimps, and no way to get these victims to 
come to court to testify in criminal trials.
  That is why it is going to take a comprehensive plan to finally turn 
the tables on pimps. Without trained officers and service providers, 
and available shelters, there is no support and safe place for children 
who are being trafficked. Right now there are only between 50 and 70 
shelter beds in the entire country for minor victims of sex 
trafficking. That is unacceptable. This bill will change that, and 
begin to provide hope for trafficking victims.
  Another serious aspect of this problem that this bill would address 
is the issue of repeat runaways. Evidence shows that the children at 
greatest risk of becoming involved in sex trafficking are kids who have 
run away from home over and over again. Many of them are children who 
have been in the foster care system. The problem is that there is often 
no report made when a child runs away, and thus no way to know when a 
child is a repeat runaway and at greatest risk.
  This bill would strengthen reporting requirements for runaway or 
missing children, and encourage the FBI to enhance the National Crime 
Information Center, NCIC, database, which is where missing child 
reports are filed. Doing so would give law enforcement officers better 
information on the children at greatest risk by flagging repeat 
runaways.
  Before I conclude, I want to express that this is a very personal 
issue with very personal consequences. I had a chance to feel this 
personal heartbreak last year when I accompanied police officers along 
82nd Avenue in my hometown of Portland. I will never forget a 15-year-
old girl working out there with the tools of the trade. She had a cell 
phone to stay in constant contact with her pimp and report how much 
money she had made. She had a 15-inch butcher knife because she knew 
she needed to protect herself. She had a purse full of condoms, because 
she knew she couldn't stop until she'd had more customers during the 
course of the evening.
  The fact that there are thousands of young girls like her out on the 
streets, all across the country, every single day, is nothing short of 
a national emergency. This bill sends a clear and powerful message to 
the victims of this abuse, that somebody cares about her health and 
wellbeing. That is why I hope Congress will act quickly to provide help 
for young girls like the one I met by passing this bill.
  Last year, this legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent 
and the House by voice vote. Unfortunately, the bill passed the House 
shortly before Congress adjourned, and there was no time to resolve the 
minor differences between the two chambers' bills. But I will do 
everything I can to see that this bill moves forward promptly so that 
sex trafficking victims can begin to receive the care they need and 
deserve.
  Finally, I want to acknowledge the efforts of the non-profit and 
faith-based organizations in working on this issue. There are a lot of 
deeply committed groups and individuals working to help victims of sex 
trafficking. Their good work has laid the foundation for our efforts 
here in the Congress.
  I want to acknowledge the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children, the FBI's Innocence Lost Project, Polaris Project, Shared 
Hope International, ECPAT-USA, Rebecca Project for Human Rights, 
Soroptimists, and the YWCA; and there are many other fine groups that 
deserve thanks.
  I also want to recognize the work of champions--like Ambassador Luis 
CdeBaca, filmmaker Libby Spears, and local officials like Multnomah 
County Commissioner Diane McKeel, who have raised awareness and made it 
their priority to fight this horrific crime. The effort to save 
children from sex trafficking would not be possible without the 
involvement of all of these groups and individuals.
  Again, I want to thank Senator Cornyn for his dedication and 
cooperation in combating sex trafficking. I am also indebted also to 
the members of the Judiciary Committee who played a constructive role 
in shaping the bill; and I particularly thank Chairman Leahy, Senator 
Sessions, Senator Durbin, Senator Franken, and Senator Coburn for their 
input and work to move this legislation forward in the last Congress. 
Finally, I want to acknowledge our House partners, Representatives 
Carolyn Maloney and Chris Smith, who introduced companion legislation 
last Congress. I look forward to working with them again to quickly 
move this legislation forward to passage.
                                 ______