[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 27, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E120-E121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 26, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Judiciary and 
Homeland Security Committees, I rise in strong support of H.R. 357, the 
``Human Trafficking Prevention Act.''
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel 
for their stewardship in bringing this legislation to the floor and for 
their commitment to expanding the training and capability of federal 
government personnel in detecting and combating human trafficking and 
assisting its victims.
  Throughout my tenure in Congress and a founder and Co-Chair of the 
Congressional Children's Caucus, I have advocated on behalf of victims 
of human trafficking, especially children, who are the most vulnerable 
and innocent victims.
  I am also committed to ensuring that law enforcement agencies have 
the tools, resources, and training necessary to identify, apprehend, 
and prosecute criminals who ruthlessly traffic in people.
  H.R. 357 strengthens the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 
by amending it to require training related to trafficking in persons 
for all State Department personnel. Specifically, the bill requires the 
following:
  1. A distance learning course on trafficking in persons issues and 
the Department of State's obligations under the Act to be completed by 
embassy reporting officers, regional bureaus' trafficking in persons 
coordinators, and their supervisors;
  2. Specific trafficking-in-persons briefings for all ambassadors and 
deputy chiefs of mission before they depart for their posts; and
  3. Annual reminders to all such personnel and other federal personnel 
at each diplomatic or consular post of the Department of State located 
outside the United States of key human trafficking problems, threats, 
methods, and warning signs.
  This legislation does for the State Department what the Jackson Lee 
Amendment to H.R. 4660, ``Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations 
Act for 2015,'' approved by the House in the last Congress does for the 
Justice Department.
  That amendment, adopted in May 2014 by the House, provides another 
tool in law enforcement's arsenal to tip the balance in favor of 
victims by ensuring funding for the Attorney

[[Page E121]]

General to provide training for State and local law enforcement 
agencies on immigration law that may be useful for the investigation 
and prosecution of crimes related to trafficking in persons.
  Mr. Speaker, trafficking in humans, and especially child trafficking, 
has no place in a civilized society and those who engage in this 
illicit trade should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
  To effectively combat human trafficking, we need to provide resources 
and training to government personnel to assist victims and apprehend 
criminals.
  By providing the necessary training and support, we will catch more 
human trafficking criminals and save lives, and prevent many other 
persons, including children, from becoming human trafficking victims.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 357, the Human 
Trafficking Prevention Act.

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