[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 27, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E121-E122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ENHANCING SERVICES FOR RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS VICTIMS OF YOUTH 
                        TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               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. 468, 
``Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act of 2015.''
  I support this bipartisan legislation which amends the Trafficking 
Victims Protection Act of 2000 by inserting the phrase ``sever forms of 
trafficking in persons'' and including ``youth who are victims of 
trafficking,'' in the definitions for the law.
  Mr. Speaker, trafficking in persons is an inconceivable, callous and 
inhumane crime that unquestionably deserves the nation's utmost 
attention. It is particularly difficult to see the victimization of the 
very young who are sold or tricked into becoming victims of Human 
Trafficking.
  I join my colleagues is working to strengthen laws against human 
trafficking, and supporting the allocation of resources to further the 
efforts of law enforcement and aid agencies in identification of youth 
victims and provide vital support to preventing further victimization 
and to reclaim the lives of the most vulnerable among us--our children 
from traffickers.
  It is estimated 2.8 million children living on the streets of this 
nation are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. Children who 
are

[[Page E122]]

abused or victims of molestation are most vulnerable.
  If they are lured into human trafficking they are isolated from the 
rest of the world and start living lives controlled by pimps, escort 
and massage services, private dancing clubs, pornographic clubs and 
much worse.
  The work of the authors of this bill contribute to raising public 
awareness must be at the forefront of our hearts and minds and these 
unlawful, immoral traffickers, beyond a doubt must unavoidably be 
brought to justice. We must seek them out and press them from our 
society by standing up together with a collective voice saying, ``Human 
trafficking stops today, right now, with us.''
  Mr. Speaker, I along with my Colleagues on the Committee on Homeland 
Security held a field hearing in Houston Texas last year on the issue 
of Human Trafficking.
  The day before that hearing local law enforcement with support from 
federal law enforcement agencies raided a house where suspected victims 
of human trafficking were being held.
  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Houston, Texas is one of 
the nation's largest hubs for human trafficking, with over 200 active 
brothels in Houston and two new ones opening each month.
  In 2006, the Department of Justice National Conference on Human 
Trafficking identified the I-10 corridor as one of the main routes for 
traffickers. Interstate I-10 links the major Texas urban areas Houston, 
San Antonio and El Paso and dozens of mid- and small sized towns in 
between.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the most important things that can and must 
continue to be done is to raise public awareness and force the activity 
of traffickers and their victims out of the shadows into the light.
  Raising the visibility and status of the governmental entities 
charged with the responsibility of documenting the problems, successes, 
and remaining challenges confronting the United States and the 
international community in eradicating the scourge of human trafficking 
is a positive step forward in achieving this goal.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of H.R. 
468.

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