[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 12 (Monday, January 26, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H555-H560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 6, 2015, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) is
recognized
[[Page H556]]
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
General Leave
Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous materials on the subject of my Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of packages of
human trafficking legislation to be considered by the House of
Representatives this week, 12 different pieces of legislation. I also
rise today in support of all the good work done by my colleagues here
in Congress on the issue of human trafficking.
Mr. Speaker, as a former United States Ambassador, I was exposed
firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on an international
level. I witnessed and reported on devastating consequences of human
trafficking, where innocent women and children were dragged into the
dark abyss of sex slavery. But never in my wildest dreams did I ever
think human trafficking was so rampant right here in the United States
of America. Americans are being forced into sexual slavery by ruthless
human traffickers.
Mr. Speaker, right now there are young women being forced into
prostitution in virtually every district across this Nation. It is
hiding in plain sight. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my own
hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, has been identified as one of the top
20 areas for sex trafficking in the United States.
Mr. Speaker, this problem is before our eyes. It is in our
communities, it is in our neighborhoods, and it is in our cul-de-sacs.
It is right here before us. Every year, thousands of young Americans'
lives are impacted by this despicable crime. However, there is hope.
I take hope from the work done by the law enforcement professionals
who are on the front lines every day protecting our Nation's children
from those who would seek to exploit them. I take hope from those who
work in victims services and their tireless efforts to help survivors
recover, heal, and forge new lives out of the horrors of sexual
enslavement. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, I take hope from all the
survivors, the survivors of this hideous crime. Their strength gives us
strength, their resolve gives us inspiration, and their steadfast
commitment to ending sex trafficking gives us all the courage to fight.
{time} 1730
Mr. Speaker, because of the efforts of many individuals and groups, I
am happy to report that Congress has taken notice of this serious
problem. Years of work by Representatives Noem, Poe, Paulsen, Hultgren,
Reichert, Smith, among many others, have raised awareness of this issue
and have laid the foundation for the long overdue action Congress is
presently taking. I am grateful that many of my colleagues have held
events in their home districts to raise awareness and education of this
crime.
Last year in St. Louis, I participated, along with Judge Poe, in a
conference at which the private and public sectors came together to
share best practices about combating human trafficking. Representatives
Davis, Hudson, Walberg, Roskam, Coffman, Huizenga, and Heck, among so
many other Members of my colleagues, have all held human trafficking
events in their districts to raise awareness and offer solutions to end
sexual assault and human trafficking. I applaud these efforts, and I
look forward to continuing this work for years to come.
However, Mr. Speaker, there is much, much work to be done. As
legislators, we have an obligation to come together and do something
because we can, because we should, and because we must.
The legislation that we are voting on this week in the House of
Representatives will provide prosecutors with the tools they need to
prosecute traffickers and will provide social service providers with
the resources they need to assist victims in healing. These bills will
mandate much-needed awareness and training, and will provide government
agencies with the accurate, dependable statistics they need to combat
this terrible crime.
I am so proud of the action this body has taken to recognize and
address this problem, which has so long festered in the shadows.
I am equally proud of all my colleagues today who have come to the
floor to speak up for the victims of human trafficking, to show them
they are not alone, that we are with them, and that we will no longer
be silent in the face of such depravity.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to one of my colleagues, the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren). He is reintroducing his bill,
the Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act. The bill urges nations to
recognize the link between the purchase of commercial sex and the
prevalence of human trafficking in society, and to confront the former
in order to effectively combat the latter. The bill targets demand.
He has hosted anti-trafficking forums for Members of Congress at
which the anti-trafficking documentary ``Nefarious'' was shown. The
producers of the film from Exodus Cry attended.
He is a member of the House leadership Human Trafficking Task Force
and the Human Trafficking Caucus, and he has worked with the Tom Lantos
Human Rights Commission on efforts to help human trafficking victims
both in the U.S. and abroad.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois, Randy Hultgren.
Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in
recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Human Trafficking
Awareness Week here in the House of Representatives.
I especially want to thank my good friend and colleague from
Missouri, Ann Wagner, for hosting tonight's Special Order.
Today, human trafficking represents a modern form of slavery. It is a
crisis that victimizes 21 million people worldwide. In my home State of
Illinois, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center estimates that
25,000 women and girls are exploited each year by sex traffickers.
Because of its strategic location as a major transportation and
commercial center, Chicago has become a major national hub for human
trafficking.
As a member of the Congressional Human Trafficking Task Force, we are
working to coordinate the efforts of the congressional leadership and
international anti-trafficking 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.
Through legislation like that which the House will bring to the floor
this week, I am pleased to see this body take critical steps to target
the perpetrators of human trafficking and enhance efforts toward
eradicating it.
Later this week, I will be reintroducing my own bill, the Sex
Trafficking Demand Reduction Act. Evidence suggests a clear link
between the purchase of commercial sex and the prevalence of sex
trafficking in a society. Where there is a robust demand for commercial
sex, human trafficking as an industry and practice thrives as well. The
Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act highlights this link and requires
national governments to factor in their efforts to combat demand as
part of their overall fight against human trafficking.
Human trafficking is the most insidious of criminal enterprises. It
targets the youngest and most vulnerable in society, stealing their
innocence and depriving them of any hope of escaping a downward spiral
of depravity and despair. Thankfully, we are all becoming increasingly
aware of the extent of human trafficking and the magnitude of the
effects on its victims. Through the persistent efforts of international
anti-human trafficking groups, national, State, and local governments,
the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and dedicated individuals
concerned about the communities in which they live, we have made
sustained inroads towards eradicating the scourge of human trafficking.
We can envision the day when human trafficking will no longer represent
a blight on humanity, a day when victims will experience complete
restoration.
Again, I want to thank my colleague from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for
this opportunity to speak.
Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to this
bracelet that I have on that many of my colleagues are going to be
wearing over
[[Page H557]]
the next 2 days as we pass 12 pieces of human trafficking legislation.
This tab bracelet was handmade by dedicated volunteers to raise funds
for Crisis Aid International safe homes in my own hometown of St.
Louis, Missouri. The safe homes provide comfort and support for young
women rescued from the horrors of sex trafficking.
The bracelet project, which was inspired by an 11-year-old victim
wanting to make a difference, has become the symbol of hope for these
precious young people.
Join me. I ask all my colleagues to join me in wearing this bracelet
to spread awareness about the scourge of sex slavery.
Next, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio,
Representative Joyce Beatty.
Last year, Congresswoman Beatty partnered with Senator Portman from
Ohio to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Bringing
Missing Children Home Act, to improve law enforcement reporting and
response procedures in cases of missing children, the most vulnerable
victims of child trafficking and sexual exploitation.
This Congress, she introduces H.R. 246, which would improve and
update the Missing Children's Assistance Act in order to reflect the
current state of Federal law and reinforce that children who are sex-
trafficked or sexually exploited are victims and not criminals.
I am a proud cosponsor of the gentlewoman's legislation, and it is my
pleasure to yield to the gentlelady from Ohio, Representative Joyce
Beatty.
Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, first let me just say thank you to my
colleague from Missouri, Congresswoman Ann Wagner, for organizing
tonight's Special Order hour but, probably more importantly, a
bipartisan Special Order hour. And let me say, I proudly wear this
bracelet in honor of all of those survivors.
I also want to note that her work as a former United States
Ambassador exposed her firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on
an international level. Her work has raised awareness of this problem
and has laid the foundation for congressional action.
Despite international efforts to eradicate human trafficking, it
still exists and affects communities in every country, including the
United States. This transnational crime exploits the weakest and often
subjects victims to mental and physical abuse.
Human trafficking is an estimated multibillion-dollar-a-year
international enterprise that forces the weakest among us into the
horrors of modern day slavery.
It is also one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. In fact,
according to the United States State Department, human trafficking is
the world's second-largest criminal enterprise, Mr. Speaker, after
illegal drug trade. It is forced prostitution, domestic slavery, and
forced labor.
It is also oftentimes underground and masked so well that it is
difficult to recognize. These victims are our housekeepers, our
farmworkers brought into the United States by labor brokers who
promised a job but enslaved these victims instead. Sex traffickers
target the weakest members of our society by using violence or threats
or other coercive means to keep victims enslaved.
Human trafficking deprives individuals of their most basic and
unalienable rights--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That
is why we must continue to work to end human trafficking and support
the victims by providing resources and assistance during their time of
need.
My home State of Ohio is the fifth-leading State for human
trafficking. In Ohio, an estimated 1,100 Ohio children become victims,
with some 3,000 more at risk. In fact, a preliminary report on the
scope of the problem in Ohio cited that 13 years of age is the most
common age for youth to become victims of child sex trafficking.
During my time in public service, as a public servant both in the
Ohio Legislature and here, I have heard story after story of
heartbreaking personal human trafficking experiences from Ohio. Just 2
weeks ago, my hometown paper, The Columbus Dispatch, reported that a
massage spa in central Ohio was serving as a front for organized
prostitution, where 18 women who spoke little or no English were forced
to work there, eat there, and sleep there. Authorities believe that
these women were likely trafficked into the United States to work in a
sex trade.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to have a copy of this article placed into
the Record.
[From the Columbus Dispatch, Jan. 15, 2015]
(By Theodore Decker)
Behind the Powell storefront--between a dentist's office
and a dessert shop--the women slept each night on massage
tables.
Rarely, investigators say, did they appear to leave the
Amsun Massage Spa, a business that caught the attention of
Powell police not long after it opened last fall in a strip
mall at 128 E. Olentangy St.
The women worked there. They ate there. They slept there.
They might not have had a choice, authorities said.
Local, state and federal investigators announced yesterday
that the massage parlor was a front for organized
prostitution and was one of four addresses raided in Delaware
and Franklin counties as part of Powell's investigation. A
parallel federal investigation resulted in searches of other
addresses, although details of those raids were under court-
ordered seal yesterday.
The combined searches turned up 18 women who speak little
or no English and might have been trafficked to work in the
sex trade. Investigators said various agencies have stepped
in to provide shelter and other support to the women.
``They don't know the culture, they don't speak the
language, and they're very untrusting of law enforcement,''
said Nathan Emery, special agent in charge of the Columbus
office of the federal Homeland Security Investigations
agency.
The women fear deportation, a threat that was used by their
employers to keep them in line, police said. Authorities are
trying to pin down their identities and countries of origin.
``We are not just arresting those who are suspected of
trafficking women for sex, we are also rescuing those who may
be victims of this heinous crime,'' said Cmdr. Gary Cameron
of the Columbus police narcotics bureau.
Powell's search warrants were served at Amsun Massage in
Powell; Amsun Massage, l000 High St., Worthington; Rainbow
Massage, 5564 Hilliard-Rome Rd. on the Far West Side; and a
Jasmine Court residence on the Far West Side.
A man and woman from Columbus were arrested: Xiao Shuang
Chao, 56, and Qing Xu, whose age was unknown. Investigators
aren't sure of the couple's relationship but said they
operated the businesses locally. They face organized-crime
charges in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.
Powell Police Chief Gary Vest said that soon after Amsun
opened, his department was tipped that women were living
there and providing sex-related services to clients.
Emery said women are brought to the United States by human
traffickers and, instead of finding a better life, ``to pay
off their debts, they're put into forced servitude.''
Mrs. BEATTY. Because of the importance of this issue in my State and
in our Nation, I engaged during my first term in Congress to pass a sex
trafficking bill, 400-9. Last year, as you heard from Congresswoman
Wagner, I partnered with Senator Portman from Ohio to introduce
bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Bringing Missing Children Home
Act, H.R. 3905.
This Congress, I have introduced H.R. 246, which would improve and
update the Missing Children's Assistance Act in order to reflect the
current state of Federal law and reinforce that children who are sex-
trafficked or sexually exploited are victims and not criminals.
Lastly, my bill would add the phrase ``sex child trafficking,
including child prostitution'' to section b(1)(P) of the Missing
Children's Assistance Act to fight the perception that sex trafficking
is a voluntary, victimless crime.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my colleagues, Democrats and
Republicans, in speaking against and bringing awareness of human
trafficking. Our country, our constituents, our children need our help.
Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and her
friendship. Thank you so much, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
Next, Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from
Texas, Congressman Ted Poe. Judge Poe has been a longstanding advocate
for victims of crime. He has dedicated his life to promoting justice
and giving voice to survivors and, as a Member of Congress, has been a
tireless advocate for legislation that provides a comprehensive
approach to address the problem of human trafficking in the United
States. Congressman Poe has been a friend and a colleague and a kindred
spirit to me in the House of Representatives. His championing of
victims' rights has inspired countless survivors of crime to stand up
for their rights and demand change.
[[Page H558]]
I yield to the Congressman from Texas, Judge Ted Poe.
Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for yielding
to me.
Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting that this effort to combat human
trafficking in the United States, in my opinion, is led by the ladies
of the House on both sides, the Republicans and the Democrats. The
spunk of my friend from Missouri and all of the others who have spoken
and will speak later on these pieces of legislation is obvious.
{time} 1745
There are 12 bills, Mr. Speaker. They are bipartisan bills on one
subject. As long as I have been here, I have never seen so much
attention by all Members of the House on both sides of the aisle moving
and trying to fix a problem as this.
Twelve pieces of legislation--many of those passed last year, they
just never got voted on in the Senate--and we are bringing them up
again. Once again, it is the ladies to whom America owes a great
gratitude to. My grandmother used to say that there is nothing more
powerful than a woman who has made up her mind. The ladies of the House
have made up their mind on the issue of trafficking. They are not going
to tolerate it, and neither are the rest of us.
Mr. Speaker, it is ironic to me that this tremendous amount of
legislation--this important subject--is getting so little play in the
national media. It seems that the media and America, I guess, is more
concerned about the disappearance of air in footballs than they are
about the disappearance of America's children that are being trafficked
across the United States.
The worst thing that is taking place among our youth is the slavery
that is happening to them. The runaways, the throwaways, and the
stowaways of America's children are disappearing into this scourge of
slavery, as it has been rightfully called.
Many of us remember how we got involved in trying to prevent this. My
first experience was meeting a little girl in Peru at the age of 7
whose name is Lilly. Lilly could not speak because of the numerous
assaults that had been committed against her before she was rescued. It
is not just kids in South America or Central America or overseas; it is
America's children that are being trafficked.
We have to make it clear that these young girls, primarily, that are
on the streets and that are being sold and bartered by these slave
masters are not criminals. These are not prostitutes. These are victims
of crimes. America needs to change its focus and its understanding that
when we see that occurring, that person is a victim, not a criminal.
As has been mentioned, Mr. Speaker, this is one of the leading ways
that criminal organizations are making money because, in the drug
trade, you get drugs and you sell them one time; plus the risk of
apprehension is greater for drug sales than with the selling of kids.
Children can be sold multiples times a night, and they are.
When the trafficker is captured, very often, nothing happens, so that
is why this lucrative trade continues to make money, but it also
continues to make money because there is a demand in this country for
this scourge.
These men, primarily, that abuse children are criminals. They are sex
offenders. They are child molesters. Some call them johns. They are not
johns. John was a good guy. He is in the Bible. Why would we call them
that?
They are child molesters, and we need to recognize them for what they
are. We need to know who they are. Their names need to be published,
and they need to go to jail for what they do because we have to go
after the demand.
That is why I have introduced the Justice for Victims of Trafficking
Act along with my friend Carolyn Maloney from New York. Carolyn
Maloney--a New York Democrat and a Texas conservative Republican, that
is just about as bipartisan as you can get, Mr. Speaker. We are
separated by a common language, to coin the phrase; but on this issue,
like most Members of the House, we are united that we are going to stop
this.
This bill does a few things. It goes after the trafficker, the slave
master. It helps law enforcement capture them and put them in jail.
That is why we build prisons. Then it goes after the victim--the
child--rescues them, restores them, and finds a place for them.
Did you know, Mr. Speaker, that in the United States, according to
the Humane Society, there are about 3,000 animal shelters? We need them
all. I have got three Dalmatians. I got one of them from a shelter in
Dallas. I call him the weapon of mass destruction. We need those
shelters.
But did you know that, according to Shared Hope International, there
are only about 300 beds for minor sex-trafficked victims in the United
States? That ought not to be. They need more places to go when the
police rescue them.
God bless the police. Many times, when they find these children, they
know they are sex-trafficked victims, but there is no place to put
them, so they put them in the juvenile justice system. That is not a
good idea, but that is the only place they are safe. We need to find
residences and homes for them. That is what this bill does.
The third thing it does is it goes after the demand, the person in
the middle, the customer that abuses children, the rapist. We are going
after those guys, Mr. Speaker. The days of ``boys being boys'' is over.
Those people are going to be arrested and prosecuted for the crimes
that they have committed.
Mr. Speaker, I insert into the Record some of the numerous anti-
trafficking organizations that have helped all of us in this
legislation.
Anti-trafficking, Child Welfare, and Law Enforcement Organizations
Children at Risk (Houston), Rights for Girls, Shared Hope
International, End Child Prostitution and Trafficking--USA,
National Children's Alliance, National Association to Protect
Children, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,
Equality Now, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women,
Fraternal of Police, National Association of Police
Organizations, National Conference of State Legislatures,
National Criminal Justice Association, National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children.
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I call these groups the victims' posse
that helps us in this issue.
The last thing I want to mention, Mr. Speaker, is I used to prosecute
criminals. I was a judge in criminal court for 22 years. Sexual assault
is what it is called now, but the crime really is rape. It is rape of
America's greatest resource: children.
We cannot tolerate this. We ask sometimes: Why are we even here?
Well, I can tell you why we are here. We are here to make sure that all
Americans, including American children and those immigrants that have
been sold into the United States, are protected from crimes like rape.
Mr. Speaker, children are not for sale. I am glad to see that the
House is making sure that they will not be for sale in the future. I
thank the gentlelady for the time.
And that is just the way it is.
Mrs. WAGNER. Thank you, Judge Poe, for your tremendous leadership in
this area and so many others dealing with victims' rights.
It is now my pleasure to recognize the gentlewoman from New
Hampshire, Representative Ann Kuster. Representative Kuster has been a
strong proponent of human and women's rights, advocating for a number
of bills that support fighting sexual assault and human trafficking,
including her bipartisan legislation to improve whistleblower
protections which was passed into law last year to protect military
members who report instances of sexual abuse.
Last Congress, Representative Kuster and I joined together in
coauthoring a letter condemning the kidnapping of nearly 300 girls by
the terrorist group Boko Haram and calling on the United States
Government to work with the United Nations to enact more comprehensive
financial sanctions against the organization.
I thank her for her leadership on this area, and it is my pleasure to
yield to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire, Representative Ann Kuster.
Ms. KUSTER. Thank you, Judge Poe, and to my dear colleague, Ann
Wagner, and to all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for
tackling this issue.
I am proud to join my colleagues in passing these six commonsense
bills
[[Page H559]]
which I have pushed for across the aisle to strengthen protections for
victims of sex trafficking, and Judge Poe has done a great job setting
the stage here for the child who is the victim of sex trafficking.
I think we all need to work on our language and our understanding. He
is absolutely correct. I look forward to passing more of these reforms
tomorrow and to continuing our bipartisan work together.
It saddens and astonishes me that in today's world, human trafficking
remains such a serious problem both here at home and abroad. Throughout
the world, thousands of women and underage children are being
trafficked and forced to commit sexual acts against their will.
As Judge Poe so eloquently stated, rape, that is what we are talking
about. It is sickening that individuals advertise and promote this
heinous practice in order to make a quick profit. Representative
Wagner's legislation, the SAVE Act, which I helped to cointroduce,
would penalize individuals who knowingly host and sell advertisements
for the commercial exploitation of minors and trafficking victims.
Last Congress, as she eloquently stated, I was very proud to reach
across the aisle and join Representative Wagner to lead all House
women--every single House woman Member, Republican and Democrat--in
urging the Obama administration to push the United Nations Security
Council to add Boko Haram to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List, following the
abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls threatened to be sold into sexual
slavery by this terrorist group.
The horrific kidnapping of the female Nigerian school students
captured the world's shock and horror; however, human trafficking is
not just a foreign issue. Together, we can be a powerful bipartisan
voice against the horrors of this and other instances of human
trafficking.
Both Democrats and Republicans in the House understand the importance
of working together to protect women and girls, and they know that
trafficking isn't just a political issue, it is a human issue.
I have organized discussions on this topic back home in New Hampshire
where I have heard from community leaders, law enforcement officials,
academic researchers, advocates, and--most importantly and, frankly,
most eloquently--the trafficking victims themselves about the ongoing
occurrence of human and sex trafficking taking place right here in our
own backyard.
Domestic child sex trafficking is a serious problem in the United
States, with an estimated 293,000 American youth at risk of commercial
sex trafficking and exploitation.
It is imperative that we pass these bills to help law enforcement
rescue domestic victims, track down their exploiters, provide
additional tools for prosecutors to treat trafficked minors as victims
instead of criminals, and ensure access to protective services. Again,
I commend Judge Poe for his eloquent description.
I applaud the House leadership for bringing to a vote these
bipartisan bills to prevent trafficking and provide support to victims.
As a mother, I honestly cannot even imagine the anguish and the pain
that these families go through as they fight to bring their loved ones
back home.
It is essential that we pass these bills and, moving forward, that we
do everything together to support States' and countries' efforts to
eliminate human trafficking.
Thank you, Representative Wagner, and to all my colleagues on both
sides of the aisle for organizing this worthy effort.
Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentlewoman from New Hampshire for her
leadership and her friendship on so many matters that we come together.
Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to introduce the gentlewoman from
Tennessee, Representative Diane Black. She was an original cosponsor of
my SAVE Act that we will be introducing tomorrow and that I will have
the pleasure to talk about on the floor during debate tomorrow.
She has sponsored roundtables in her district with law enforcement
and community leaders on the impact of human trafficking in her home
State of Tennessee, and she has worked with End Slavery Tennessee to
see firsthand their efforts to combat trafficking in her State.
She is a leader among us for all victims, all those who have no
voice. She is a friend and a dear colleague. It is my pleasure to yield
to the representative from Tennessee, Congresswoman Diane Black.
Mrs. BLACK. I thank the gentlelady and my good friend from Missouri
for yielding to me, and I also thank her for all her tireless hours of
work in not only bringing up this issue so that we will be more aware,
but also in finding solutions so that we can help those that are
victims.
I am honored to wear the bracelet that is made by the survivors, and
I thank her for her endless and tireless work on behalf of these young
women--young women and men--who have become victims.
Mr. Speaker, for many Americans, the issue of human trafficking is
far removed from their daily lives, something that is relegated to
foreign countries and maybe history books, but the truth is human sex
trafficking is the third largest criminal enterprise in the world, with
an estimated 300,000 young Americans at risk of becoming victims.
According to the Department of Justice, those most likely to fall
prey to this heartbreaking crime are 12-to 14-year-old girls. These
young women are someone's daughters, and we cannot turn a blind eye to
their plight.
Last year, I had the opportunity to visit End Slavery Tennessee, a
nonprofit that works tirelessly to confront trafficking in my State.
Their mission is taken from the Book of Isaiah, ``to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from
darkness for the prisoners.''
This week, the House will take meaningful steps to fulfill this
vision by taking up a series of bipartisan bills addressing the impact
of trafficking. This includes the SAVE Act, sponsored by my good friend
from Missouri, legislation that I cosponsored to go after the online
advertisers who profit off of the sale of these innocent victims.
{time} 1800
Mr. Speaker, no single act of Congress will stop all acts of
trafficking, or even bring justice for every victim whose innocence has
been stolen by this evil activity, but we cannot let our inability to
do everything stop us from doing something.
Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership
on this issue and so many others.
It is now my pleasure to yield to a brandnew freshman Member, the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker). Combating human trafficking
is a priority for Congressman Walker, and this is his very first bill
introduced here in Washington, the Human Trafficking Detection Act of
2015. It aims to help end this unconscionable industry. North Carolina
is ranked as a top State for labor and sex trafficking, and this vital
legislation works to effectively train and inform Department of
Homeland Security personnel to better detect and intersect human
traffickers and their victims.
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Wagner for her work in
organizing this Special Order, and I also thank Representative Mark
Meadows in allowing us to lead with such an important piece of
legislation.
It was only a week ago that we celebrated the life of Martin Luther
King, Jr., who famously said: ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere.''
We now have the opportunity to act upon one of the greatest
injustices of our time--the growing criminal industry of human
trafficking.
All across America, vulnerable young men, women, children, and even
entire families, are being victimized and exploited in unspeakable
ways. These precious human beings are seen by their traffickers as a
commodity, valued only for the profit they can turn. We must not remain
silent about such depravity. Rather, we must engage with immediate
fervor on this significant humanitarian crisis.
Victims of human trafficking can literally be hidden in plain sight.
However, we know that the United States is considered a leading
destination for human traffickers. It is a top source of income for
organized crime and involves more than half the street gangs in our
Nation. From our big cities to our small towns, this billion-dollar
industry is here. And unless we move
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quickly, it will be here for some time. It is growing, and it must be
eradicated.
Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and nonprofit groups such as
Alamance for Freedom in my own Sixth Congressional District of North
Carolina are on the front lines of this battle, and they are pleading
for our help. Here in Congress, we hear your voices. Most importantly,
we hear the voices of those trapped in this evil, modern-day slavery.
There is an immediate need for training that will enable officers and
agents to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.
Last week, I introduced my first bill, H.R. 460, the Human
Trafficking Detection Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation works to
effectively train and inform the Department of Homeland Security
personnel to better detect and intercept human traffickers and their
victims.
We took an oath a few weeks ago promising to protect the people of
this great country. I am convinced that part of this high calling is to
protect those who are victims of human trafficking. Our President even
says that the fight against human trafficking is one of the greatest
human rights causes of our time, and the United States will continue to
lead it. Well, now is the time to lead.
This bill will provide the very necessary training skills in
identifying victims of human trafficking as they enter and move about
across this country. It is not a final step, but an important one that
can immediately save these precious individuals from years of abuse.
Let us do so with boldness, courage, and an unflinching dedication to
those who need us the most.
Mrs. WAGNER. I thank Congressman Walker for his leadership, and
congratulations on your first piece of legislation--it is so very
important--that you will be bringing forward tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure for me to cosponsor with the
gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) this Special Order on human
trafficking. I look forward tomorrow to a number of bills that are
going to pass in this United States House of Representatives. I look
forward to speaking tomorrow on the SAVE Act that will go after
advertisers of this hideous and heinous crime.
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield back the remainder of my time
so the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) may speak. She has
been a friend and a partner on the issue of human trafficking since her
time in Congress. She has been a real partner to me as we moved this
legislation forward. We were able to move, as I said, five pieces of
legislation last Congress and will be moving 12 tomorrow with her
leadership and support on this very, very important issue. She has a
wonderful piece of legislation, H.R. 350, the Human Trafficking
Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2015. I am a proud
cosponsor and look forward to its passage tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to condemn the horrific
tragedy of human trafficking. Globally, there are 20.9 million people
who have been trafficked. Not one U.S. State has been spared--sadly
men, women and children in every state have been victimized. This is
not just a global problem, it is an American problem and it is right
here in our own backyards.
I witnessed this problem first hand while working in Washington State
for the King County Sheriffs Office. All too often, I spoke to young
girls on the street one day, urging them to get off the streets, and
the next they had disappeared. This was allowed to happen for far too
long, because for many of us, these girls and even many boys are
invisible. We do not want to see the problem and so we too often choose
to look the other way and pretend it isn't real--not in our
communities.
We have to make the problem--and the solutions--visible. Last year, I
introduced and passed legislation which became law that helped--will
help--prevent the sex trafficking of youth in foster care. The children
in federal and state care are often the most vulnerable to becoming
trafficking victims. According to the National Center for Missing and
Exploited children, as many as 6 in 10 of the young women forced into
selling their bodies on the streets are current or former foster
children. I was honored to have been able to lead the efforts to change
that reality last Congress. I stand today to join my colleagues in
continuing to raise awareness and pledge my commitment to keeping up
the fight on behalf of our children and working to enact additional
legislation to end human trafficking.
This week, we will vote on legislation sponsored by Congresswomen
Wagner, Ellmers and Noem, Congressman Paulsen, Johnson and Poe and many
others which will go a long ways towards preventing the trafficking of
countless men, women, boys and girls. This is a fight we must all be in
together. We must all join with our colleagues, with law enforcement,
and with those who are dedicated to ending human trafficking across the
globe to say ``no more''.
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