[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 79 (Friday, May 23, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STOP ADVERTISING VICTIMS OF EXPLOITATION ACT OF 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RUSH HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, sex trafficking is one of the most appalling 
crimes of our time. It is a modern day form of slavery, and deserves 
our attention and resources so we can put an end to this hideous 
practice. This is why I support the intent of H.R. 4225, the Stop 
Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2014. This bill targets the 
facilitators of sex trafficking by prohibiting anyone from benefiting 
financially from or distributing advertising that offers a commercial 
sex act in a manner that violates federal criminal code prohibitions 
against sex trafficking of children.
  However, I could not support this bill because it adds these 
activities to a list of current crimes for which mandatory minimums 
jail sentences are required. Simply put, mandatory minimum penalties do 
not work. They discount factors in crimes, prevent judges from meting 
out punishments that are tailored to the criminal, and have been proven 
discriminatory to people of color.
  Mandatory minimum sentences make legislators feel good, but have 
wrought terrible injustices in certain cases. They have been 
demonstrably shown not to reduce crime rates. Even the Judicial 
Conference, the group that represents federal judges, has said that 
mandatory minimums violate common sense.
  For this reason, I cannot support H.R. 4225--however well intended--
because it prescribes mandatory jail sentences.

                          ____________________