[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H4501-H4509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2014

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 3530) to provide justice for the victims of trafficking, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3530

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Justice for Victims of 
     Trafficking Act of 2014''.

     SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF SUMS IN CRIME VICTIMS FUND.

       Section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 
     10601) is amended in subsection (d) by inserting before 
     paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(1) A limitation on obligations is authorized to be 
     provided with respect to fiscal years 2016 through 2020. 
     Except in the case where a limitation on obligations is made 
     by a continuing resolution, if such a limitation on 
     obligations is less than--
       ``(A) $805,000,000 in fiscal year 2016;
       ``(B) $825,000,000 in fiscal year 2017;
       ``(C) $845,000,000 in fiscal year 2018;
       ``(D) $866,000,000 in fiscal year 2019; or
       ``(E) $890,000,000 in fiscal year 2020;
     then all sums deposited in the fund in prior fiscal years 
     shall become available for obligation.''.

[[Page H4502]]

     SEC. 3. VICTIM-CENTERED SEX TRAFFICKING DETERRENCE GRANT 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 203 of the Trafficking Victims Protection 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044b) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (j);
       (2) by striking subsections (a) through (f), and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Attorney General may make 
     grants to eligible entities to develop, improve, or expand 
     comprehensive domestic child human trafficking deterrence 
     programs that assist law enforcement officers, prosecutors, 
     judicial officials, and qualified victims' services 
     organizations in collaborating to rescue and restore the 
     lives of victims, while investigating and prosecuting 
     offenses involving child human trafficking.
       ``(b) Authorized Activities.--Grants awarded under 
     subsection (a) may be used for--
       ``(1) the establishment or enhancement of specialized 
     training programs for law enforcement officers, first 
     responders, health care officials, child welfare officials, 
     juvenile justice personnel, prosecutors, and judicial 
     personnel to--
       ``(A) identify victims and acts of child human trafficking;
       ``(B) address the unique needs of victims of child human 
     trafficking;
       ``(C) facilitate the rescue of victims of child human 
     trafficking;
       ``(D) investigate and prosecute acts of child human 
     trafficking, including the soliciting, patronizing, or 
     purchasing of commercial sex acts from children, as well as 
     training to build cases against complex criminal networks 
     involved in child human trafficking; and
       ``(E) implement and provide education on safe harbor laws 
     enacted by States, aimed at preventing the criminalization 
     and prosecution of victims of child human trafficking for 
     prostitution offenses;
       ``(2) the establishment or enhancement of dedicated anti-
     child human trafficking law enforcement units and task forces 
     to investigate child human trafficking offenses and to rescue 
     victims, including--
       ``(A) funding salaries, in whole or in part, for law 
     enforcement officers, including patrol officers, detectives, 
     and investigators, except that the percentage of the salary 
     of the law enforcement officer paid for by funds from a grant 
     awarded under this section shall not be more than the 
     percentage of the officer's time on duty that is dedicated to 
     working on cases involving child human trafficking;
       ``(B) investigation expenses for cases involving child 
     human trafficking, including--
       ``(i) wire taps;
       ``(ii) consultants with expertise specific to cases 
     involving child human trafficking;
       ``(iii) travel; and
       ``(iv) other technical assistance expenditures;
       ``(C) dedicated anti-child human trafficking prosecution 
     units, including the funding of salaries for State and local 
     prosecutors, including assisting in paying trial expenses for 
     prosecution of child human trafficking offenses, except that 
     the percentage of the total salary of a State or local 
     prosecutor that is paid using an award under this section 
     shall be not more than the percentage of the total number of 
     hours worked by the prosecutor that is spent working on cases 
     involving child human trafficking; and
       ``(D) the establishment of child human trafficking victim 
     witness safety, assistance, and relocation programs that 
     encourage cooperation with law enforcement investigations of 
     crimes of child human trafficking by leveraging existing 
     resources and delivering child human trafficking victims' 
     services through coordination with--
       ``(i) child advocacy centers;
       ``(ii) social service agencies;
       ``(iii) State governmental health service agencies;
       ``(iv) housing agencies;
       ``(v) legal services agencies; and
       ``(vi) non-governmental organizations and shelter service 
     providers with substantial experience in delivering services 
     to victims of child human trafficking;
       ``(3) the establishment or enhancement of problem solving 
     court programs for child human trafficking victims that 
     include--
       ``(A) continuing judicial supervision of victims of child 
     human trafficking who have been identified by a law 
     enforcement or judicial officer as a potential victim of 
     child human trafficking, regardless of whether the victim has 
     been charged with a crime related to human trafficking;
       ``(B) the development of specialized and individualized 
     treatment programs for identified victims of child human 
     trafficking, including--
       ``(i) State-administered outpatient treatment;
       ``(ii) life skills training;
       ``(iii) housing placement;
       ``(iv) vocational training;
       ``(v) education;
       ``(vi) family support services; and
       ``(vii) job placement; and
       ``(C) collaborative efforts with child advocacy centers, 
     child welfare agencies, shelters, and non-governmental 
     organizations to provide services to victims and encourage 
     cooperation with law enforcement; and
       ``(4) the establishment or enhancement of victims' services 
     programs for victims of child human trafficking, which offer 
     services including--
       ``(A) residential care, including temporary or long-term 
     placement, as appropriate;
       ``(B) 24-hour emergency social services response systems; 
     and
       ``(C) counseling and case management services.
       ``(c) Application.--
       ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall submit an 
     application to the Attorney General for a grant under this 
     section in such form and manner as the Attorney General may 
     require.
       ``(2) Required information.--An application submitted under 
     this subsection shall--
       ``(A) disclose--
       ``(i) any other grant funding from the Department of 
     Justice or from any other Federal department or agency for 
     purposes similar to those described in subsection (b) for 
     which the eligible entity has applied, and which application 
     is pending on the date of the submission of an application 
     under this section; and
       ``(ii) any other such grant funding that the eligible 
     entity has received during the 5 year period prior to the 
     date of the submission of an application under this section;
       ``(B) describe the activities for which assistance under 
     this section is sought;
       ``(C) include a detailed plan for the use of funds awarded 
     under the grant; and
       ``(D) provide such additional information and assurances as 
     the Attorney General determines to be necessary to ensure 
     compliance with the requirements of this section.
       ``(3) Preference.--In reviewing applications submitted in 
     accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), the Attorney General 
     shall give preference to grant applications if--
       ``(A) the application includes a plan to use awarded funds 
     to engage in all activities described under paragraphs (1) 
     and (2) of subsection (b); or
       ``(B) the application includes a plan by the State or unit 
     of local government to continue funding of all activities 
     funded by the award after the expiration of the award.
       ``(d) Duration and Renewal of Award.--
       ``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall expire 
     1 year after the date of award of the grant.
       ``(2) Renewal.--A grant under this section shall be 
     renewable not more than 3 times and for a period of not 
     greater than 1 year.
       ``(e) Evaluation.--The Attorney General shall enter into a 
     contract with an academic or non-profit organization that has 
     experience in issues related to child human trafficking and 
     evaluation of grant programs to conduct an annual evaluation 
     of grants made under this section to determine the impact and 
     effectiveness of programs funded with grants awarded under 
     this section, and shall submit any such evaluation to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
       ``(f) Oversight and Accountability.--An eligible entity 
     that receives a grant under this section is subject to the 
     requirements of section 10 of the Justice for Victims of 
     Trafficking Act of 2014.
       ``(g) Administrative Cap.--The cost of administering the 
     grants authorized by this section shall not exceed 5 percent 
     of the total amount appropriated to carry out this section.
       ``(h) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
     program funded by a grant awarded under this section may not 
     exceed--
       ``(1) 70 percent in the first year;
       ``(2) 60 percent in the second year; and
       ``(3) 50 percent in the third year.
       ``(i) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `child' means a person under the age of 18;
       ``(2) the term `child advocacy center' means a center 
     created under subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 
     1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 et seq.);
       ``(3) the term `child human trafficking' means 1 or more 
     severe forms of trafficking in persons (as defined in section 
     103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
     U.S.C. 7102)) involving a victim who is a child; and
       ``(4) the term `eligible entity' means a State or unit of 
     local government that--
       ``(A) has significant criminal activity involving child 
     human trafficking;
       ``(B) has demonstrated cooperation between Federal, State, 
     local, and, where applicable, tribal law enforcement 
     agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers in 
     addressing child human trafficking; and
       ``(C) has developed a workable, multi-disciplinary plan to 
     combat child human trafficking.''; and
       (3) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated)--
       (A) by striking ``Secretary of Health and Human Services'' 
     and inserting ``Attorney General, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services,''; and
       (B) by striking ``fiscal years 2008 through 2011'' and 
     inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through 2019''.

     SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE ACT OF 1990.

       (a) Reauthorization of Victims of Child Abuse Act of 
     1990.--Section 214B of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 
     (42 U.S.C. 13004) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``fiscal years 2004 and 
     2005'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through 2019''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``fiscal years 2004 and 
     2005'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through 2019''.
       (b) Direct Services for Victims of Child Pornography.--The 
     Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13001 et seq.) 
     is amended--
       (1) in section 212(5) (42 U.S.C. 13001a(5)), by inserting 
     ``, including human trafficking and

[[Page H4503]]

     the production of child pornography'' before the semicolon at 
     the end; and
       (2) in section 214 (42 U.S.C. 13002)--
       (A) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as 
     subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Direct Services for Victims of Child Pornography.--
     The Administrator, in coordination with the Director and with 
     the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime, may make 
     grants to develop and implement specialized programs to 
     identify and provide direct services to victims of child 
     pornography.''.
       (c) Oversight and Accountability.--
       (1) Local children's advocacy centers.--Section 214 of the 
     Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002), as 
     amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting at the 
     end the following:
       ``(f) Oversight and Accountability.--
       ``(1) Accountability requirement.--A grant recipient under 
     this section is subject to the requirements of section 10 of 
     the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2014.
       ``(2) Disclosure of additional sources of federal 
     funding.--An application for a grant under this section shall 
     disclose--
       ``(A) any other grant funding from the Department of 
     Justice or from any other Federal department or agency for 
     purposes similar to those described in subsection (a) for 
     which the entity has applied, and which application is 
     pending on the date of the submission of an application under 
     this section; and
       ``(B) any other such grant funding that the entity has 
     received during the 5 year period prior to the date of the 
     submission of an application under this section.''.
       (2) Grants for specialized technical assistance and 
     training programs.--Section 214A of the Victims of Child 
     Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13003) is amended by inserting 
     at the end the following:
       ``(d) Oversight and Accountability.--
       ``(1) Accountability requirement.--A grant recipient under 
     this section is subject to the requirements of section 10 of 
     the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2014.
       ``(2) Disclosure of additional sources of federal 
     funding.--An application for a grant under this section shall 
     disclose--
       ``(A) any other grant funding from the Department of 
     Justice or from any other Federal department or agency for 
     purposes similar to those described in subsection (a) for 
     which the organization has applied, and which application is 
     pending on the date of the submission of an application under 
     this section; and
       ``(B) any other such grant funding that the organization 
     has received during the 5 year period prior to the date of 
     the submission of an application under this section.''.

     SEC. 5. STREAMLINING STATE AND LOCAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING 
                   INVESTIGATIONS.

       Section 2516(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting ``human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, 
     child pornography production,'' after ``kidnapping,''.

     SEC. 6. ENHANCING HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORTING.

       Section 3702 of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     5780) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
       (2) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and a photograph 
     taken within the previous 180 days'' after ``dental 
     records'';
       (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (D) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
     and
       (E) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
       ``(C) notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
     Children of each report received relating to a child reported 
     missing from a foster care family home or childcare 
     institution; and''.

     SEC. 7. REDUCING DEMAND FOR SEX TRAFFICKING.

       Section 1591 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``or maintains'' and 
     inserting ``maintains, patronizes, or solicits'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or obtained'' and 
     inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or obtained'' and 
     inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; and
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``or maintained'' and inserting ``, 
     maintained, patronized, or solicited''; and
       (B) by striking ``knew that the person'' and inserting 
     ``knew, or recklessly disregarded the fact, that the 
     person''.

     SEC. 8. USING EXISTING TASK FORCES TO TARGET OFFENDERS WHO 
                   EXPLOIT CHILDREN.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Attorney General shall ensure that all task forces 
     and working groups within the Violent Crimes Against Children 
     Program engage in activities, programs, or operations to 
     increase the investigative capabilities of State and local 
     law enforcement officers in the detection, investigation, and 
     prosecution of persons who patronize, or solicit children for 
     sex.

     SEC. 9. HOLDING SEX TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE.

       Section 2423(g) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``a preponderance of the evidence'' and inserting 
     ``clear and convincing evidence''.

     SEC. 10. OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

       (a) Audit Requirement.--In fiscal year 2015, and each 
     fiscal year thereafter, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Justice shall conduct audits of covered 
     grantees to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of such funds. 
     The Inspector General shall determine the appropriate number 
     of covered grantees to be audited each year.
       (b) Mandatory Exclusion.--A covered grantee that is found 
     to have an unresolved audit finding shall not be eligible for 
     an allocation of grant funds from the covered grant program 
     from which it received a grant award during the first 2 
     fiscal years beginning after the end of the 12-month period 
     described in subsection (g)(3).
       (c) Reimbursement.--If a covered grantee is awarded funds 
     under the covered grant program from which it received a 
     grant award during the 2-fiscal year period during which the 
     covered grantee is ineligible for an allocation of grant 
     funds as a result of subsection (b), the Attorney General 
     shall--
       (1) deposit an amount equal to the amount of the grant 
     funds that were improperly awarded to the covered grantee 
     into the General Fund of the Treasury; and
       (2) seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to the Fund 
     from the covered grantee that was erroneously awarded grant 
     funds.
       (d) Nonprofit Organization Requirements.--
       (1) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``nonprofit'', when used with respect to an organization, 
     means an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) 
     of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from 
     taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
       (2) Prohibition.--A nonprofit organization that holds money 
     in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the 
     tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986, shall not be eligible to receive, directly or 
     indirectly, any funds from a covered grant program.
       (3) Disclosure.--Each nonprofit organization that is a 
     covered grantee shall disclose in its application for such a 
     grant, as a condition of receipt of such a grant, the 
     compensation of its officers, directors, and trustees. Such 
     disclosure shall include a description of the criteria relied 
     upon to determine such compensation.
       (e) Conference Expenditures.--
       (1) Limitation.--No amounts made available under a covered 
     grant program may be used to host or support a conference 
     that uses more than $20,000 in funds made available by the 
     Department of Justice unless the Deputy Attorney General or 
     the appropriate Assistant Attorney General, Director, or 
     principal deputy (as designated by the Deputy Attorney 
     General) provides prior written approval that the funds may 
     be expended to host or support such conference, except that a 
     conference that uses more than $20,000 in such funds, but 
     less than $500 in such funds for each attendee of the 
     conference, shall not be subject to the limitation under this 
     paragraph.
       (2) Written approval.--Written approval under paragraph (1) 
     shall include a written estimate of all costs associated with 
     the conference, including the cost of all food, beverages, 
     audio-visual equipment, honoraria for speakers, and 
     entertainment.
       (3) Report.--The Deputy Attorney General shall submit an 
     annual report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 
     and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
     Representatives on all conference expenditures approved under 
     this subsection.
       (f) Prohibition on Lobbying Activity.--
       (1) In general.--Amounts made available under a covered 
     grant program may not be used by any covered grantee to--
       (A) lobby any representative of the Department of Justice 
     regarding the award of grant funding; or
       (B) lobby any representative of the Federal Government or a 
     State, local, or tribal government regarding the award of 
     grant funding.
       (2) Penalty.--If the Attorney General determines that a 
     covered grantee has violated paragraph (1), the Attorney 
     General shall--
       (A) require the covered grantee to repay the grant in full; 
     and
       (B) prohibit the covered grantee from receiving a grant 
     under the covered grant program from which it received a 
     grant award during at least the 5-year period beginning on 
     the date of such violation.
       (g) Definitions.--In this section, the following 
     definitions apply:
       (1) The term ``covered grant program'' means the following:
       (A) The grant program under section 203 of the Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
     14044b).
       (B) The grant programs under section 214 and 214A of the 
     Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13002, 13003).
       (2) The term ``covered grantee'' means a recipient of a 
     grant from a covered grant program.
       (3) The term ``unresolved audit finding'' means an audit 
     report finding in a final audit report of the Inspector 
     General of the Department of Justice that a covered grantee 
     has used grant funds awarded to that grantee under a covered 
     grant program for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise

[[Page H4504]]

     unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved during the 
     12-month period beginning on the date on which the final 
     audit report is issued.

     SEC. 11. CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3771 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) The right to be informed in a timely manner of any 
     plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
       ``(10) The right to be informed of the rights under this 
     section and the services described in section 503(c) of the 
     Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of 
     the Victims' Rights Ombudsman of the Department of 
     Justice.'';
       (2) in subsection (d)(3), in the fifth sentence, by 
     inserting ``, unless the litigants, with the approval of the 
     court, have stipulated to a different time period for 
     consideration'' before the period; and
       (3) in subsection (e)--
       (A) by striking ``this chapter, the term'' and inserting 
     the following: "this chapter:
       ``(1) Court of appeals.--The term `court of appeals' 
     means--
       ``(A) the United States court of appeals for the judicial 
     district in which a defendant is being prosecuted; or
       ``(B) for a prosecution in the Superior Court of the 
     District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Court of 
     Appeals.
       ``(2) Crime victim.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term'';
       (B) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(B) Minors and certain other victims.--In the case''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) District court; court.--The terms `district court' 
     and `court' include the Superior Court of the District of 
     Columbia.''.
       (b) Appellate Review of Petitions Relating to Crime 
     Victims' Rights.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United 
     States Code, as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this section, 
     is amended by inserting after the fifth sentence the 
     following: ``In deciding such application, the court of 
     appeals shall apply ordinary standards of appellate 
     review.''.
       (2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall 
     apply with respect to any petition for a writ of mandamus 
     filed under section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United States 
     Code, that is pending on the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 12. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) child human trafficking (as such term is defined in 
     section 203(i) of the Trafficking Victims Protection 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 14044b), as added by 
     this Act) has no place in a civilized society, and that 
     persons who commit crimes relating to child human trafficking 
     should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law;
       (2) the United States, as a leader in monitoring and 
     combating human trafficking throughout the world, must hold 
     all nations to the same standards to which we hold our 
     Nation;
       (3) those who obtain, solicit, or patronize a victim of 
     trafficking for the purpose of engaging in a commercial sex 
     act with that person, are committing a human trafficking 
     offense under Federal law; and
       (4) the demand for commercial sex is a primary cause of the 
     human rights violation of human trafficking, and the 
     elimination of that human rights violation requires the 
     elimination of that demand.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 3530, currently 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  We are here on the floor today to talk about minor sex trafficking 
or, to put it more accurately, the rape of children, by adults, for 
profit. More importantly, though, we are here today for the victims--
the survivors--of this terrible crime.
  These include Ms. ``T'' Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, who testified so 
bravely before the Crime Subcommittee about her experiences under the 
control of a violent pimp after being failed by the foster care system; 
and Ms. Elizabeth Corey, who recently graduated from Virginia 
Commonwealth University, despite having been sexually being prostituted 
by her family starting as young as 8 years old; and the dozens of other 
victims of this heinous crime who have been identified in just Virginia 
alone in recent years, as well as the many other victims and survivors 
that exist in all of our States.
  The sale of children for sex sounds like something that could only 
happen in faraway places, but sadly, it is happening right here in the 
United States every single day. According to the FBI, sex trafficking 
is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third 
largest criminal enterprise in the world.
  Criminal organizations, including some of the most violent criminal 
street gangs like MS-13, have realized that selling children is 
oftentimes more profitable than selling drugs. This is because drugs 
can only be sold once, but minor children can be--and are--prostituted 
multiple times a day.
  Sadly, the demand for commercial sex with children appears to be 
growing. Traditionally called johns, those who purchase sex with minors 
are the ones driving this illicit market. There is no single profile of 
a buyer of commercial sex with a minor.
  Some may engage with sex with minors unknowingly, but many either 
seek out young children or decide to turn a blind eye to it.
  One young victim, Tami, tried to escape her pimp by telling every man 
who purchased her that she was only 15 and needed to be taken to the 
police, but none of them did. It is time to send a clear message that 
this must stop.
  The bill under consideration today, the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act, is an important first step to make sure that the 
traffickers and purchasers who stole Tami's childhood are brought to 
justice.
  This legislation provides additional resources to law enforcement and 
service providers through a victim-centered grant program; helps to 
facilitate investigations by providing that minor sex trafficking and 
other similar crimes are predicate offenses for State wiretap 
applications; addresses the demand side of this crime by clarifying 
that it is a Federal crime to solicit or patronize child prostitutes or 
adult victims forced into prostitution; reauthorizes the funding stream 
for child advocacy centers, which are often the first line of service 
providers for the victims of this and other crimes; and strengthens the 
existing Federal criminal laws against trafficking through a number of 
clarifying amendments.
  H.R. 3530 was introduced by Judiciary Committee member and former 
judge Ted Poe, who is a passionate voice for these young victims and 
others in need. I strongly commend him for his leadership on this 
issue.
  I also commend Mr. Franks for his amendment to this bill, which helps 
to strengthen the rights of victims in the criminal justice process, 
including the victims of sex trafficking.
  The bill was reported by the Judiciary Committee by voice vote and 
enjoys over 100 bipartisan cosponsors. I urge my colleagues to stand 
with me today to say our children are not for sale and to support this 
important bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, we come together today at the end of Sexual Assault 
Awareness Month to address sexual assault in its most harrowing 
context, the rape of a child.
  After our recent hearing on domestic minor sex trafficking, H.R. 
3530, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, is an important step 
in combating the crisis of child sex trafficking in our country and 
helping survivors begin their lives anew.
  Victims of child sex trafficking have suffered the worst trauma 
imaginable. As a result, they require comprehensive and tailored 
services to assist their recovery, but funding for the comprehensive 
care that survivors need is lacking. For example, only 20 beds exist 
for more than 2,200 children trafficked annually in New York City.
  This bill is a step in the right direction, providing $5 million in 
grants for the comprehensive services that victims of trafficking need 
and correcting an administrative barrier that keeps domestic victims of 
trafficking from the services given to foreign victims.
  While the rescue of trafficking victims is necessary, so is the 
prosecution of child rapists and traffickers. Federal courts have 
interpreted the existing statute to cover the acts of patronizing and 
soliciting.

[[Page H4505]]

  Therefore, the addition of these terms under this bill is a mere 
clarification. Individuals who patronize and solicit already have been 
held criminally liable under the language of the existing law--
specifically under the provision criminalizing those who obtain those 
services in the original section 1591.

  The Justice for Victims Trafficking Act ensures that law enforcement 
receives funds necessary to train, investigate, and prosecute more 
cases, which will send the message that the rape of a child is a crime 
that can be punished by local, State, and Federal officials.
  Child rapists will find refuge in no jurisdiction. This bill will aid 
in the coordination of investigations among Federal, State, and local 
law enforcement and enhance reporting data for missing children.
  Human trafficking is the second fastest-growing criminal industry in 
the world, generating over $32 billion annually, and H.R. 3530 is the 
most comprehensive piece of legislation to deal with this issue in 
years.
  I want to commend our colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) 
for introducing the legislation and want to commend him and our full 
committee for working together across the aisle to reach compromise on 
the spending and foreign impacts of this legislation to streamline its 
passage.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3530.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 5 
minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), the chief sponsor of 
this legislation and a member of the Judiciary Committee.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of the 
Judiciary Committee for yielding me this time and also for his support 
and work on this legislation, and I thank the ranking member as well.
  Also, I want to thank my friend across the aisle, Carolyn Maloney 
from New York, for being the chief cosponsor of this legislation on the 
Democrat side.
  Madam Speaker, Cheryl Briggs is one of many American children that 
got caught in the slave trade. When she was 12 years of age, she ran 
away from home because she was being assaulted by her father.
  Not long after that, she was picked up as a hitchhiker by a trucker, 
and then soon after that, she was put in the slave trade where she was 
forced to have sex with men several times a day.
  She also was forced to work at a strip club during the daytime, sold 
at night, and also was forced to do that work in the daytime. She was 
able to escape that trafficker because a patron at one of the clubs 
figured out she was a mere child and called the police.
  Sex trafficking of minor children happens all over the world. It 
happens in America.
  Recently, I was in South America. I went to a shelter in Peru, and I 
met several girls. One of them was named Lilly. At 10 years of age--she 
was 10--she was sold by her mother for a cell phone to a sex 
trafficker. Lilly gave me this bracelet when I was there, and she asked 
me to remember her and the other girls that were at the rescue shelter.
  Madam Speaker, as the chairman and the ranking member pointed out, in 
the United States, there is not much help for minor sex traffic 
victims. There are approximately 300 beds--or less--in the whole 
country for children victims of sex trafficking. Compare that to animal 
shelters. We have over 3,000 animal shelters.
  America needs to do better, and this bill will help America do 
better, so we can proclaim not only to the traffickers and the buyers 
of sex slaves that the victims of crime, the children, just aren't for 
sale.
  They are not for sale here in America or anywhere because they are 
children. Children--the greatest resource any nation has are our 
children; no matter whether they are runaways, throwaways, or 
stowaways, they are not for sale.
  This legislation enforces the law against the trafficker, the slave 
trader that buys and sells these children. It makes sure that they go 
to the penitentiary, and the law is very clear.
  On the other end, it treats these victims of crime as victims of 
crime. They are not criminals. They are not child prostitutes. There is 
no such thing as a child prostitute. Children cannot consent to sex. 
They are rape victims.
  Society and the law are going to start treating them that way, 
rescuing them and giving resources to children assessment centers, to 
the police to recognize these children that have been captured and 
stolen--their youth stolen and they are in the slave trade.
  Most importantly, this bill goes after the demand, those people in 
this country who buy these children for sex. The days of boys being 
boys are going to be over in this country because those people in the 
middle--they are not johns; they are child rapists.
  They are going to be held accountable for their actions against these 
girls. The law is clear. It is clear that the law will prosecute those 
individuals. They will go to the same penitentiaries as the traffickers 
for stealing the soul of the youth of America's greatest resource, our 
children.
  I am glad to see that this bill has so much bipartisan support that 
it came out of the Judiciary Committee unanimously. It is one of 
several bills that are coming to the House floor today to proclaim to 
the country and to victims of crime and to criminals that the days of 
the slave trade are going to end in the United States.
  And that's just the way it is.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), the lead cosponsor 
on the legislation who has introduced many bills on this issue and who 
has really been a fighter for those who have been trafficked.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the 
gentleman for yielding and for his extraordinary work on this issue and 
so many others. I rise in very strong support of Congressman Poe's work 
and his bill.
  Human trafficking comes in many different forms, and all of them are 
awful. The most recent twist comes from the tragedy in Nigeria. Young 
girls kidnapped and terrorized were sold like objects into a lifetime 
of forcible rape. They say they are selling them into marriage. Nothing 
could be further from the truth. They are being sold into human bondage 
and into rape.
  There is no crime on Earth more appalling, no offense as terrible, no 
act of depravity as harmful to the community of a nation and certainly 
to the individuals affected.
  I want to express my gratitude to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) 
for his outstanding work on this issue. He has been an incredible 
partner.
  His groundbreaking work on sex trafficking is informed by his 
experience as a judge and as a prosecutor where he witnessed firsthand 
the tragic toll of human trafficking, coming face to face with both the 
victims and the perpetrators of this terrible crime and knowing from 
his experience what it is we need to do to help law enforcement get 
convictions.

                              {time}  1500

  He has been unwavering in his efforts to pass the Justice for Victims 
of Trafficking Act, and I applaud his efforts.
  Trafficking is one of the most profitable forms of organized crime, 
preceded only by the selling of drugs and the selling of illegal 
weapons. Unlike drugs and weapons which can only be sold once, the 
human body can be sold again and again and again until they die.
  The bill before us today is crucial to helping the survivors of human 
trafficking, like Shandra Woworuntu, who put their lives back together 
here. She is supposed to be here in the Chamber with us today. She was 
with us in meetings earlier today. I want to thank her for her courage 
in coming forward.
  The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act will help ensure that 
other survivors do not find themselves in similar circumstances like 
Shandra. She was educated, a former manager in a bank. She came to the 
United States to become a manager at a hotel. She was immediately 
swiped, her passport taken, and thrown into a dungeon of trafficking, 
where she lived until she escaped.
  When she escaped, there was no resources to help her. This bill will 
change this, with grants to States and localities to help them and to 
put the focus back on the demand side, to cut

[[Page H4506]]

down on the demand for trafficking and the selling of our children. No 
child should be for sale in America, and this bill will help give law 
enforcement the tools to win convictions.
  My time is up. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and 
I urge unanimous support for this important bill.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Marino), a member of the Judiciary Committee
  Mr. MARINO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill.
  I was U.S. attorney for the middle district of Pennsylvania for 
several years. My staff and I prosecuted a prostitution ring. There 
were several defendants, all were convicted. Convictions were affirmed 
on appeal.
  The victims were women and girls from their twenties down to their 
teens to their low teens. They were kidnapped, tortured, mentally and 
physically abused, and raped multiple times. Wiretaps revealed that the 
defendants, the pimps, were on the telephone complaining that their 
hands hurt so much from beating the girls into doing what the girls did 
not want to do.
  The sentences of the defendants were lengthy. In fact, one of the 
ringleaders who went by the name of William Sleazy T. Williams--the 
name is appropriate--received 45 years in prison.
  This legislation must be passed.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a member of the Judiciary 
Committee, a former judge and hard worker on this issue.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague of 
the Judiciary Committee for managing this bill, and I acknowledge the 
ranking member, Mr. Conyers, and our chairman, Mr. Goodlatte, for the 
expeditious way in which we have moved forward on some very crucial 
bills.
  I also thank both of my friends, my colleague, a former judge, Ted 
Poe from Texas and, as well, my colleague Carolyn Maloney from New York 
for their astute collaborative work which is so very important for 
really what we are trying to do here today.
  Let me lay the groundwork for all that has been done, and that is 
that we want to stamp out human slavery that has been an epidemic and a 
plague and a cancer on this country and certainly around the world.
  I am glad my friend mentioned the tragedy in Nigeria. Being in 
meetings on this issue today, it is obviously an epidemic and one that 
emphasizes a very special point, and that is young girls underage 
cannot consent to marriage, they cannot consent to be kidnapped or to 
be associated with someone that is going to do them harm on the basis 
that they are married. They are enslaved. They are being trafficked. 
They are being threatened unto their lives. Therefore, it is crucial 
for us to acknowledge what it is. Boko Haram is clearly a dastardly 
example of the tragic thugs that participate in human trafficking. They 
may be that group in Nigeria, but certainly we know that there are 
those here.
  On the day that we had a Homeland Security field hearing on human 
trafficking, the day before there was a massive finding of individuals 
who had been trafficked. Certainly it was a question of whether they 
had been trafficked or whether they were smuggled, but sometimes, our 
law enforcement says, it meshes together.
  It says that one study estimates that over 290,000 American youth are 
at risk of becoming a victim of sex trafficking. The National Center 
for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that one of every seven 
endangered runaways reported to the center is likely a victim of minor 
sex trafficking.
  I am glad the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee 
are working together and, under this legislation initiated by Mr. Poe, 
who does bring his experience as a man who has seen these victims come 
and cry out for help, that there are certain elements of this bill that 
are so very important, and that is the availability of sums in the 
Crime Victims Fund.
  The testimony we heard in the Homeland Security field hearing in 
Houston indicated that victims go unnoticed sometimes in terms of 
getting help. I am glad to be able to have grants awarded to the 
establishment of the enhancement of specialized training programs for 
law enforcement officers, first responders, and health care officials 
to identify victims and the acts of child human trafficking.
  I thank Mr. Poe for looking forward to working with me for some 
additional training regarding visas. I am also grateful that we have a 
place of refuge for these individuals so that they are not the 
criminal, but they are in fact the victim.
  We are going a long way to embrace these victims, to get their lives 
standing up, and to get those dastardly persons that would sex traffic, 
human traffic, child traffic, and, in essence, hold them in slavery. 
This is a very important step going forward.
  I look forward to this body discussing our efforts going forward and 
more such bills coming to embrace those who need our help and to save 
lives. It is now long overdue, and I am very grateful the Judiciary 
Committee has taken this step forward. Congratulations to the sponsors 
of this bill. I am delighted to be a cosponsor.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3530, The Justice For 
Victims of Human Trafficking Act of 2014.
  Let me offer my appreciation and thanks to my colleague from Texas, 
Judge Poe, for his work on this legislation and decades long commitment 
and advocacy on behalf of victims of crime, especially child victims, 
who are the most vulnerable and innocent victims.
  Both Judge Poe and I along with our colleagues on the House Homeland 
Security Committee held a field hearing in Houston on ``Combating Human 
Trafficking in Our Major Cities.'' It was a fitting venue because, 
regrettably, Houston is the human trafficking capital of the United 
States.
  Trafficking in humans, and especially domestic child trafficking, has 
no place in a civilized society. Those who engage in this illicit trade 
should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
  That is why I was pleased that my Judiciary Committee colleagues 
adopted my amendment during the markup of this important legislation 
last month.
  My amendment stated what should seem obvious in a modern, open 
society which in many ways is benevolent:
  It is the ``Sense of Congress that child human trafficking has no 
place in a civilized society, and that persons who commit crimes 
relating to child human trafficking should be prosecuted to the fullest 
extent of the law.''
  That means we need to ensure that state and local law enforcement 
agencies have the tools, resources, and training necessary to identify, 
apprehend, and prosecute criminals who ruthlessly traffic in children 
and young persons.
  And one of the most effective resources in bringing criminals to 
justice is the cooperation and assistance of their victims.
  Perpetrators of crime know that they are more likely to evade 
detection and punishment when their victims refuse to assist or 
cooperate with law enforcement. That is why they make it a point to 
instill fear in their victims--for their own safety or that of family 
and loved ones.
  My second amendment offered during the Judiciary Committee Markup 
would have strengthened the bill's enforcement regime but was withdrawn 
in an effort to further refine it. The amendment complements the bill 
by providing another tool in law enforcement's arsenal to tip the 
balance in favor of victims so that they can utilize certain T and U 
visas.
  In 2000, Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence 
Protection Act (VTVPA), which created the T-Visa, and reserved it for 
those who are or have been victims of human trafficking.
  The Nonimmigrant Status (``T-Visa'') protects victims of human 
trafficking and helps law enforcement by allowing victims to remain in 
the United States to assist in the investigation or prosecution of 
human traffickers.
  These non-immigrant visas were established by Congress to provide 
temporary legal status to victims of trafficking and enumerated crimes 
who assist with the investigations or prosecutions of the criminal 
activity in order to combat human trafficking.
  The Jackson Lee Amendment simply provided that:

       [T]he U.S. Attorney General shall provide training for 
     State and local law enforcement agencies on the immigration 
     law that may be useful for the investigation and prosecution 
     of crimes related to trafficking in persons, including 
     education on the availability of certain nonimmigrant visas 
     for victims of trafficking who cooperate in the investigation 
     or prosecution of the crime of which the individual was a 
     victim.

  The Jackson Lee amendment would have strengthened the ability of 
state and local law enforcement to identify, apprehend, and prosecute 
domestic child traffickers by requiring the Attorney General to make 
available the

[[Page H4507]]

training and education that will empower them to gain the cooperation 
and active assistance of victims of human trafficking who would 
otherwise refuse to cooperate out of fear of reprisal.
  Unfortunately, many victims of crime and victims of human trafficking 
are unaware of the existence and availability of this temporary relief. 
And that is in part because many local and state law enforcement 
officers are not aware.
  The Jackson Lee Amendment was intended to help fill this information 
gap by providing the informational resources to local law enforcement 
who will be able in turn to share that information with the victims.
  It is important that state and local law enforcement officials 
receive continuous education and training that they may correctly apply 
the law and perform one of their most important duties--apprehending 
criminals. I am pleased that a number of my colleagues pledged their 
support of this important part of the law.
  At that field hearing, me and my Texas colleagues--Judge Poe, 
Congressman Farenthold, Chairman McCaul--heard testimony from federal 
law officials about how just the day before, on March 19, they had 
discovered and rescued 115 people from a packed, rancid stash house on 
Almeda School Road in south Harris County.
  Ninety-nine were men, 16 were women, one of whom was pregnant and 19 
were juveniles.
  All of them had been kidnapped or smuggled into the United States.
  Who knows what those women and children may have faced had they not 
been rescued and the perpetrators caught?
  By helping them, we will catch more human trafficking criminals. And 
we help rescue and save children from becoming victims.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and I look 
forward to working with them on this critical problem.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), who has been a real leader in combating 
sex trafficking and has legislation of her own which we will consider 
later this afternoon.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chairman and Madam Speaker, I rise today in support 
of H.R. 3530, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
  H.R. 3530 is a comprehensive, multipronged approach to address the 
problem of human trafficking in the United States. The sponsor of this 
legislation, Congressman Ted Poe, is a friend, colleague, and kindred 
spirit to me on the issue of human trafficking. As a former judge, 
Congressman Poe has drawn from his experience on the bench to craft a 
bill that would provide support and aid to victims of trafficking, as 
well as training for law enforcement and other first responders.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3530 is one of the most comprehensive and 
inclusive human trafficking bills proposed to date. H.R. 3530 provides 
grants to help State and local governments offer services to victims in 
order to give the survivors of human trafficking the sanctuary and 
counseling they so desperately need after suffering through and 
surviving this brutal crime.
  Perhaps most importantly, H.R. 3530 addresses the demand side of 
human trafficking by clarifying that buyers should be prosecuted along 
with pimps. Madam Speaker, for too long those who patronize child 
prostitutes have been overlooked. H.R. 3530 encourages law enforcement 
to target and punish persons who purchase elicit sexual activities from 
trafficking victims not as petty criminals but as serious offenders, 
the serious offenders that they are.
  For these reasons and others, Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 3530, the 
Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), who has been working to help 
these victims, particularly those in foster care.
  Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Justice for 
Victims of Trafficking Act. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill because 
I know it will play a vital role in our fight against child 
trafficking.
  First, I would like to commend Judge Poe for offering the bill and 
for his ongoing commitment to end child trafficking and fighting for 
victim rights. I would also like to commend Chairman Goodlatte, the 
ranking member, and Representative Maloney for their long work on this 
issue; and in the case of Representative Maloney, she has worked on 
this issue for many, many years.
  Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of American children are 
trafficked each year. Our kids are robbed of their innocence and 
coerced into a life on the streets where they are repeatedly abused.
  The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act will provide much-needed 
grants to help provide necessary services to prevent exploitation and 
rebuild the lives of trafficking survivors. Specifically, the grants 
will be used to establish a variety of new programs, such as education, 
housing, job training, and placement for survivors; victims services 
programs, such as a 24-hour emergency social service response system 
and counseling; and specialized training programs for law enforcement 
officers, first responders, health care officials, and child welfare 
officials. Innovative and specialized courts with wraparound services 
like the STAR Court in Los Angeles County, which specifically focuses 
on girls and boys who are trafficked, will also be eligible for the 
grant funding.
  By reinvigorating the Crime Victims Fund, this bill also helps 
survivors recover from their trauma and develop normal, productive 
lives.
  Furthermore, the bill tackles demand by holding the buyers 
accountable for their actions. No longer will the perpetrators get away 
without a serious punishment to fit their crime. I personally refuse to 
call them ``johns,'' a term which provides cover. Instead, they are 
child abusers who are committing rape. This bill will help to ensure 
their charges reflect the horrific nature of child trafficking.
  Lastly, this bill will help protect our foster kids. It requires 
States to notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 
seconds.
  Ms. BASS. It requires States to notify the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children about kids missing from foster care. 
This is important because foster children disappear into the shadows 
and no one tries to find them. Once these kids fall off the radar, they 
often become trafficking victims. Making sure that we are looking out 
for these kids is critical to protecting them from trafficking. We have 
to be vigilant, and we have to give these kids the care and attention 
they deserve.
  Madam Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hultgren).
  Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Goodlatte, and 
I also want to thank Judge Poe for your important work and so many 
others for coming together here.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act, H.R. 3530, and commend my colleague, Representative 
Ted Poe, for introducing this critical legislation.
  I am a proud cosponsor of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act 
because it represents an all-encompassing approach to combating the 
scourge of human trafficking. It amends the Federal criminal code to 
impose penalties for crimes involving trafficking and preemptively 
provides for deterrence by reallocating existing grants for victim 
support. It affords additional enforcement and prosecution mechanisms 
for authorities fighting against traffickers.
  Nearly 150 years ago, Congress ratified the 13th Amendment, setting 
in stone these timeless words:

       Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist 
     within the United States or any place subject to their 
     jurisdiction.

  Today, human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It is a global crisis 
that victimizes an estimated over 20 million children and women 
worldwide. Yet ``global'' doesn't just mean overseas. Human trafficking 
remains prevalent here in the United States in our cities and our 
communities. Our country is the second highest destination for women 
trafficked worldwide. An estimated 100,000 children are trafficked here 
every year.
  In my home State of Illinois, the National Human Trafficking Resource 
Center estimates that 25,000 women and girls are exploited by sex 
trafficking every single year. This number continues to grow.

[[Page H4508]]

  As a member of the Congressional Human Trafficking Task Force, we are 
working to coordinate the efforts of the congressional leadership and 
international antitrafficking groups to punish perpetrators, rescue and 
bring hope to victims, and assist nations in their fight against the 
global epidemic of trafficking in human beings.

                              {time}  1515

  Human trafficking targets the most vulnerable in society. The Justice 
for Victims of Trafficking Act reflects a comprehensive effort to 
strengthen opposition against culprits and offer hope to victims.
  I support this bill and urge its passage.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan).
  Mr. NOLAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Justice for 
Victims of Trafficking Act as a proud original cosponsor of the 
legislation.
  I want to join the chorus of people here in their praise for Judge 
Poe and for Congresswoman Maloney for the tremendous work that they 
have done over a number of years bringing this important legislation 
forward; and, of course, to Congressman Goodlatte and Congressman Scott 
likewise for bringing this forward.
  It is too troubling to know that there are 300,000-some children that 
are being sold into sex trafficking in this country, and that there are 
only some 300 beds for them when attempts are made to rescue, as Judge 
Poe just pointed out. These children aren't in some foreign country. 
They are right here in our own backyards. These are our own children. 
We can do so much better.
  While our national law enforcement officials are fighting this 
terrible scourge, there are many organizations like Men Against 
Trafficking in Duluth, Minnesota, in my own congressional district, who 
are out there providing safe harbor services for girls and boys that 
are rescued from this terrible scourge.
  This legislation represents the fact that Congress recognizes that we 
can be of assistance in fighting this terrible scourge. We do so with 
this act--again, of which I am a proud cosponsor. But I am so proud of 
what Judge Poe and Carolyn Maloney have done on this.
  What the bill does, it says that these children are the victims, they 
are not the criminal, as they have so often been treated in our 
society. They are the victims of child abuse, they are the victims of 
rape and violence and unmentionable crimes and terrible, terrible 
things. They are entitled to the protection, the medical services, the 
counseling, all that we can provide.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional minute to 
the gentleman from Minnesota.
  Mr. NOLAN. This bill establishes a Trafficking Victims' Fund, at no 
cost to the taxpayer, put on the backs of the real criminals in this: 
the johns, the rapists, the murderers.
  Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I strongly urge passage of this bill.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 
minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana, Congresswoman Walorski.
  Mrs. WALORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today and speak on the 
importance of combating human trafficking. I am grateful that the House 
is bringing forth five antitrafficking bills to the floor today.
  Human trafficking, which includes labor and sex trafficking, is the 
second-largest and fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. 
Trafficking may seem like an international problem, but there are 
300,000 children at risk of sex trafficking here in the U.S.
  The State of Indiana has formed a cutting edge, antitrafficking task 
force that involves both public and private groups. This task force, 
called IPATH, has investigated more than 200 cases in Indiana, and 
continues to rescue children and adults from involuntary servitude in 
commercial sex trafficking. Great work is being done in the Hoosier 
State, but antitrafficking advocates agree that much more is needed.
  That is why I am proud to cosponsor the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act and proud to support the bills being voted on today.
  This bill will provide law enforcement with necessary tools to 
address the problem of trafficking by helping tackle the demand issue 
itself and improve services for survivors. It also protects foster 
children by requiring that the National Center for Missing and 
Exploited Children be notified when children are missing from foster 
homes or child care institutions.
  Madam Speaker, protecting people trapped in trafficking situations is 
not a partisan or a political issue. It is not an issue that only 
happens overseas. It happens on American soil, and it happens every day 
all across this country.
  We must work together to fight this issue, to be the voice for those 
who are literally trapped, and to bring an end to this terrible crime.
  I urge my colleagues to support the antitrafficking bills on the 
floor today.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 
minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger).
  Mr. PITTENGER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act, and much other legislation that we will consider 
today.
  I also rise in support of Antonia, Maria, and Rosa, three wonderful 
women from Charlotte who fell victim to human trafficking.
  Maria was trapped when she answered an ad for aspiring actresses. 
Rosa was snatched from a local gas station while waiting for a ride. 
Antonia dreamed of owning a bakery before falling victim to human 
trafficking.
  These women aren't statistics. They are individuals whom I know from 
Charlotte, ordinary women--someone's daughter, someone's granddaughter. 
Yet at a very young age they were forced into modern day slavery.
  According to the Department of Homeland Security, trafficking is a 
$32 billion a year industry, and the average age for a girl entering 
the commercial sex trade is just 12 to 14 years old.
  Madam Speaker, this is one of the most heinous of crimes. As Members 
of Congress, we have a constitutional and moral obligation to protect 
the most vulnerable in our society from this horrific exploitation. 
Increased awareness and education is a critical first step in breaking 
the cycle of exploitation here in the United States and around the 
world.
  Today, we have the opportunity to take legislative action, voting on 
five bills which will help people like Antonia, Maria, and Rosa. Today, 
we can vote to enhance the victim assistance programs, give law 
enforcement better tools to catch the scum whom we call traffickers and 
facilitators, and fix some of the loopholes exploited by traffickers.
  Thank you to Mr. Goodlatte, to Judge Poe, to Mrs. Maloney, to Susan 
Brooks, and to many others who are involved in this very important 
effort. Thank you to the majority leader for his involvement, to all 
members of the trafficking task force, and thank you to each Member who 
will support this very important cause.
  Thank you to Antonia Childs of Charlotte, who has dedicated her life 
to helping other women escape modern day slavery. Maria and Rosa 
wouldn't be on the road to recovery without you.
  I urge my colleagues today to support the antitrafficking legislation 
before us today.

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, except for 
myself. We are prepared to close.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I urge Members to support H.R. 
3530, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, this is a great bipartisan bill dealing 
with a serious tragedy in this country.
  I urge my colleagues to join together and support this very, very 
strongly, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this 
important legislation and want to thank my Judiciary Committee 
colleague, Mr. Poe, for all his work on this bill and this issue.
  As a cosponsor of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, I join 
the ever-growing number of Americans who are

[[Page H4509]]

standing up to the abhorrent practice of human trafficking.
  Worldwide awareness concerning the trade in persons has increased 
significantly in recent years, but awareness isn't enough.
  With an estimated 27 million persons in slavery around the world and 
hundreds of thousands within our own nation, now is the time for 
action.
  This legislation will help combat human trafficking by--boosting 
support and protection for domestic human trafficking victims, 
increasing and streamlining law enforcement resources, enhancing 
victims' services, and strengthening our laws to ensure that both 
buyers and sellers engaged in sex trafficking are held accountable for 
their crimes.
  I hope this body will join the anti-trafficking movement by adopting 
this legislation with strong bipartisan support.
  By doing so, we join those who have already taken action against 
modern-day slavery--folks like my constituent, Vicki Moore.
  Ten years ago, Vicki was alarmed to read about the commercial sex 
trade in India.
  But she wasn't just alarmed. She decided to do something about it.
  Vicki founded a non-profit called Rahab's Rope.
  Her organization gives hope and opportunity to women and girls who 
are at risk or have been forced into the commercial sex trade in India.
  Women helped by Rahab's Rope in India have the opportunity to produce 
items that are then sold at the organization's store in Gainesville.
  Proceeds from those sales go to help even more women and girls in 
India.
  The Rahab's Rope store also serves the important function of raising 
awareness of the sex trade in India and worldwide.
  In addition to its work overseas, Rahab's Rope works with local 
organizations in Georgia to help women break out of the cycle of 
poverty through education, skills and training, job coaching, and more.
  As a long time supporter of Rahab's Rope, I commend Vicki and others 
who have been on the front lines of this battle.
  And hope this body will do everything in its power to support their 
vital work of combating human trafficking.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3530, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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