[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 27, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H600-H607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 181) 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. 181

       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 2015''.

     SEC. 2. 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--

[[Page H601]]

       ``(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 or other agreement 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. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE ACT OF 1990.

       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 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.''.

     SEC. 4. STREAMLINING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL HUMAN 
                   TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATIONS.

       Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(C)--
       (A) by inserting before ``section 1591'' the following: 
     ``section 1581 (peonage; obstructing enforcement), section 
     1584 (sale into involuntary servitude), section 1589 (forced 
     labor), section 1590 (trafficking with respect to peonage, 
     slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor),''; and
       (B) by inserting before ``section 1751'' the following: 
     ``section 1592 (unlawful conduct with respect to documents in 
     furtherance of trafficking, peonage, slavery, involuntary 
     servitude, or forced labor),''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``human trafficking, 
     offenses pertaining to child pornography, child sexual abuse, 
     coercion and enticement of children,'' after ``kidnapping,''.

     SEC. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. 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

[[Page H602]]

     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 
     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. 10. 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 agreement 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. 11. 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;
       (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;
       (5) United States citizens or lawful permanent residents 
     who are victims of severe forms of trafficking are not 
     required to obtain an official certification from the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to access any 
     of the specialized services described in section 107 of the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 or any other 
     Federal benefits and protections to which they are otherwise 
     entitled; and
       (6) as matters stand on the date of enactment of this Act, 
     there are insufficient services and programs for victims of 
     severe forms of human trafficking in the United States, 
     including United States citizens and lawful permanent 
     residents.

     SEC. 12. CLARIFYING THE BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS OFFERED TO 
                   DOMESTIC VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

       Section 107(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
     2000 (22 U.S.C. 7105(b)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraph (F), as subparagraph (G);
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (G), as subparagraph (H); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
       ``(F) No requirement of official certification for united 
     states citizens and lawful permanent residents.--Nothing in 
     this section may be construed to require United States 
     citizens or lawful permanent residents who are victims of 
     severe forms of trafficking to obtain an official 
     certification from the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     in order to access any of the specialized services described 
     in this subsection or any other Federal benefits and 
     protections to which they are otherwise entitled.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Poe) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members might have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous materials to H.R. 181, currently 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, as has been stated today, we are dealing with a very 
important and critical issue in America. It seems, however, that the 
Super Bowl is coming up this weekend.
  The national media and Americans seem to be concerned more about the 
disappearance of air in footballs than they are about the disappearance 
of America's greatest resource: our children--children that are being 
trafficked throughout the United States, bought and sold for sexual 
assault.
  It is not just an international crime; it is a crime here in America. 
Unfortunately, my hometown of Houston, Texas, is one of the hubs for 
trafficking because of its location.
  We have today several bills, bills that passed yesterday and bills 
that will come up today--and hopefully all will pass--that deal with 
this scourge and slavery that is taking place in America.
  I want to thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. Goodlatte from 
Virginia; and also the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Sensenbrenner; 
the ranking member, Sheila Jackson Lee; and also the former ranking 
member, Bobby Scott, for their work on these types of legislation that 
came up last year. Because the Senate didn't

[[Page H603]]

act on them, these bill are being brought up again.
  The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, I am glad to be the 
original sponsor, but I am also thankful that my friend, Carolyn 
Maloney from New York, who has been working on trafficking issues long 
before I was ever in Congress, is the original cosponsor on the 
Democrat side.
  Madam Speaker, you don't get much more bipartisan than a New York 
liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican from Texas. We are just 
separated by a common language. Other than that, we get along quite 
well, especially on this issue.
  When Brooke was 7, Madam Speaker, her mother was ill in the hospital. 
Her care was then entrusted to a nanny; but protecting her was not what 
the nanny had in mind. Instead of taking care of Brooke and making sure 
that she was healthy and safe, the nanny sold her into sex slavery. She 
was a trafficking victim. She was 7.
  As is common with child trafficking victims, Brooke was also a victim 
of child pornography. She was subjected to the most sadistic forms of 
abuse. She was 7. All she wanted to do was be safe.
  Stories like Brooke's and other survivors' make it clear that human 
trafficking is quite serious. It is occurring with the most vulnerable 
group of Americans: young children. I have four kids, three daughters. 
I have 11 grandkids; seven of them are granddaughters. We all believe, 
I think, the greatest resource of America is our youth, and their lives 
and their souls are being stolen every day for money, for filthy lucre.
  This crime happens in America, and it happens across the seas, and it 
is all about money. I understand that the greatest criminal enterprise 
for money is drug trafficking, but close behind is the sex slave 
trafficking.
  Why is sex slavery such a moneymaker? Well, unlike drugs that are 
sold one time, children are sold numerous times. As our friend, Kristi 
Noem, of South Dakota mentioned earlier, children sometimes are sold up 
to 50 times a day, Madam Speaker.
  Plus, the consequences for the criminals is not as great as the 
consequences for drug smugglers, and the risk of apprehension is not as 
great. This bill tries to deal with all three entities that are 
involved in sex trafficking. There is the trafficker, the slave master; 
there is the consumer, the child abuser; and then there is the child--
they are victims of crime, and the American social conscience needs to 
change to understand these children are not criminals, and they are not 
prostitutes. They are children that are victims of slavery. We need to 
change that conscience, and we need to change it legally as well.
  Now, in all fairness to police, many times, they see a child on the 
street; they arrest the child for child prostitution and file a 
juvenile crime case against that individual. Many times, they don't 
have a place to take the child.
  We have approximately 3,000 animal shelters in the United States. I 
got one of my three Dalmatians from an animal shelter. We need those 
animal shelters, but there are less than 300 beds for child sex 
trafficking victims. Why is that? There is no answer, except we need to 
deal with it.
  Police don't have a place to take the rescued child, except they put 
them in the criminal justice system, which is not a good thing. It 
doesn't help the child at all recover, even though everybody knows that 
the child is a victim. We need places to take children. We need to 
treat those children like victims of crime.
  That is what this bill does. It helps rescue and restores victims of 
crime. On the other end, the slave master, well, it punishes them. As 
Chairman Sensenbrenner said, life sentences are appropriate for some 
people, and that is quite appropriate, at least a minimum sentence of 
life, and that is what this bill does as well.
  The bill also goes after the demand, the consumer. Those men--
primarily--are the child molesters. They are child abusers, and for too 
long, society has kind of looked at that situation as, ``Oh, well, boys 
will be boys.''
  Madam Speaker, those days are over. The days of ``boys being boys'' 
is over in America, and this law will go after the consumer. We need to 
know who they are. You talk about photographs on the Internet, their 
photographs ought to be on the Internet after they are convicted, but 
the law goes and punishes them as well.

                              {time}  1400

  It gives law enforcement, child welfare, health care officials, and 
others who will come in contact with victims training. It also 
clarifies some State and Federal wiretap laws. It allows law 
enforcement officials the flexibility to obtain warrants in all Federal 
human trafficking investigations so that they are better able to follow 
evidence and target criminal networks, because there are networks 
throughout the country that are taking children and selling them every 
night.
  Madam Speaker, we will only be able to reduce the demand by putting 
the demand behind bars, where they belong. Girls are not property; they 
are little girls. And the same is true of boys who are being trafficked 
in the United States as well.
  The legislation here also strengthens and clarifies the Trafficking 
Victims Protection Act by making it clear for judges, juries, 
prosecutors, and law enforcement that criminals who purchase sex acts 
from trafficked victims should be a priority and be prosecuted. That is 
why we build prisons, for people like that--the demand and the 
traffickers.
  So I am encouraged by the tremendous support in the House on these 12 
bills, bipartisan bills, coming up. And I do want to commend the ladies 
of the House who have been the ones--on both sides of the aisle--
advocating and making sure that this legislation comes to the House 
floor.
  Passage of Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act will be a major 
step toward ridding our country of modern-day slavery. Brooke and her 
mother have worked through Brooke's issues after she was trafficked at 
7. They are working together. She has been rescued and restored, and 
she is an advocate for better legislation and protection of children 
like she was when she was trafficked. But the message is, Madam 
Speaker, our children are not for sale, period.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am glad that the manager, Congressman Poe, set the 
tone again for the vigorousness of the bipartisanship around what all 
of us want, which is to, in essence, cut out the cancers of human 
trafficking and sex trafficking.
  Let me first of all congratulate Mr. Poe, Judge Poe, a Texan whose 
language I can fully understand, as well as his partner, Congresswoman 
Maloney. Over the years, she has championed the rights of women and the 
empowerment of our children: what a great partnership, Judge Poe and 
Congresswoman Maloney. I am delighted to join with them in my 
commitment to fighting human trafficking and sex trafficking in 
supporting H.R. 181, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 
2014, marked up in the Judiciary Committee. Many amendments were 
accepted, and so this bill has a holistic approach.
  I am also glad that we did not run away from this issue in Houston, 
as we convened a hearing that I called for with my colleagues, 
Republicans and Democrats, to openly and forthrightly listen to law 
enforcement, people who had been victimized, adults who are still 
suffering from what had happened to them as a child. This hearing was 
held in March. It was a field hearing, titled, ``Combating Human 
Trafficking in Our Major Cities.'' It was a fitting venue because, 
regrettably, Houston has been noted as a human trafficking hub in the 
United States. But it was the important contributions of my colleagues, 
many on the floor today, who added to the record to begin to craft or 
to continue to work on important legislation such as the Justice for 
Victims of Trafficking Act. I am glad that we are here again to move it 
so it can ultimately be signed by the President of the United States.
  At that hearing, we heard testimony from Federal, State, and local 
law enforcement officials regarding an operation the day before in 
which they discovered and rescued 115 from a packed, rancid stash house 
in south Harris County. It was not completely vetted as to whether or 
not all of the individuals in the stash house or some of the

[[Page H604]]

individuals or a few were victims of human trafficking or sex 
trafficking. I would venture to say that their future would not be a 
future worthy of promoting. Ninety-nine of those victims were men, 16 
were women, one of whom was pregnant, and 19 others were juveniles. You 
wonder what would happen to the juveniles.
  I went to that stash house. It was a terrible scene. All of them had 
been kidnapped and smuggled into the United States. And as previously 
said, human trafficking, sex trafficking, is a great business for those 
who are of that kind of vile mind because they can use them and use 
them and use juveniles over and over again, some of whom, however, have 
been driven to such low ends of the Earth, meaning the victims, that 
their life is ruined. Some have probably been driven to suicide.
  Trafficking of any human being, especially domestic child 
trafficking, has no place in civilized society. The term ``slavery'' 
has often been used. And it is true that slavery exists around the 
world. 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.
  These children have suffered the worst imaginable trauma, and as a 
result, they require and are deserving of comprehensive and tailored 
services to assist in their recovery. We need to ensure that funding is 
in place to provide for such comprehensive services. This bill is an 
essential step toward combating the crisis of domestic minor sex 
trafficking and helping survivors begin their lives anew. Throughout 
this afternoon, we have said that they have to have an opportunity to 
change their lives.
  While the rescue of trafficking victims is necessary, so is the 
prosecution of traffickers. While we habitually refer to those who 
solicit commercial sex acts from minors as ``customers'' and ``johns,'' 
and I have said this before on the floor, the cold, hard fact is that 
these people are nothing more than child rapists. We need to stop being 
polite and call them what they are--child rapists. Let us not let them 
hide behind polite names such as ``john,'' particularly when they prey 
on our children.
  Federal courts have interpreted the existing statute, title 18 U.S.C. 
section 1591, to cover the acts of patronizing and soliciting. 
Therefore, the specifications of the terms ``patronize'' and 
``solicit'' in this bill simply clarify and emphasize the fact that 
these actions are actually covered.
  Those who patronize and solicit are already criminally liable under 
the language contained in the original text of section 1591. Under this 
legislation, a child rapist will no longer be able to find refuge in 
any jurisdiction. This bill will also promote the coordination of 
investigations among Federal, State, and local law enforcement and 
enhance reporting data for missing children--everything that the 
witnesses at the March 2014 hearing told us call for this.
  Let me say that I am also grateful that this bill emphasizes the 
local, State, and Federal collaboration. As a member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, which is what the hearing was held under, under the 
auspices of the Homeland Security Committee, we recognize that is part 
of the threat to national security. The utilizing of our children, the 
victimizing of our children, the co-opting of our children, the 
soliciting of our children, and this bill gets right at the target.
  Human trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal industry in 
the world, generating over $32 billion annually. This bill is the most 
comprehensive piece of legislation to deal with this problem over the 
years, and it is a great foundation to continue to build, to weed out 
every nuance, every person hiding behind the rock who is dealing in sex 
trafficking and human trafficking.
  For years, we have labeled child victims of sex trafficking as 
prostitutes and juvenile delinquents rather than the victims that they 
are. We have seen runaways and we have condemned them for being a 
runaway, but we don't know the horrible stories and what they have 
experienced. They are victims of criminal conduct, and we need to treat 
them that way--not prostitutes, not juvenile delinquents.
  This bill recognizes and treats victims as victims, provides for more 
services and shelters for them, and provides resources to law 
enforcement, child welfare, health care officials, and others who will 
come into contact with them.
  One of the early organizations, the Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children, which I have associated with throughout my entire time in the 
House of Representatives, early on raised the clarion call that we must 
do something about these exploited and missing children. I know that 
they are celebrating as we have been on the floor talking about human 
trafficking and sex trafficking.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that the Judiciary Committee saw 
fit to adopt section 11 in H.R. 181, the Jackson Lee amendment, which 
expresses a sense of Congress that human trafficking has no place in a 
civilized society and that perpetrators of such vile acts should be 
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and we can build on this 
for finding those who may be thinking that they are squeezing outside 
the law.
  Mr. Speaker, as a global leader in combating global trafficking 
throughout the world, the United States must hold all nations to the 
same standards by which we hold ourselves. The demand for commercial 
sex is a primary cause of the human rights violation of human 
trafficking. Elimination of that violation requires elimination of that 
demand. I am glad that we are here confronting it head-on, and I ask my 
colleagues to support the underlying legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 181, the ``Justice for 
Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.''
  Madam Speaker, last year, on March 20, 2014, the Homeland Security 
Committee, of which I am a member, held a field hearing titled, 
``Combatting Human Trafficking in Our Major Cities,'' in my home city 
of Houston. It was a fitting venue because, regrettably, Houston is a 
human trafficking hub of the United States.
  At that hearing my colleagues, Chairman McCaul, Judge Poe, 
Congressman Al Green, Congressman Farenthold, and I heard testimony 
from Federal, state and local law enforcement officials regarding an 
operation the day before during which they discovered and rescued 115 
people from a packed, rancid stash house in south Harris County. 99 of 
those victims were men, 16 were women, one of whom was pregnant, and 19 
were juveniles. All of them had been kidnapped and smuggled into the 
United States.
  Trafficking of any human being, especially domestic child 
trafficking, has no place in civilized society. 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.
  These children have suffered the worst imaginable trauma, and as a 
result, they require and are deserving of comprehensive and tailored 
services to assist in their recovery. We need to ensure that funding is 
in place to provide for such comprehensive services. This bill is an 
essential step toward combatting the crisis of domestic minor sex 
trafficking and helping survivors begin their lives anew.
  While the rescue of trafficking victims is necessary, so is the 
prosecution of traffickers. And while we habitually refer to those who 
solicit commercial sex acts from minors as ``customers'' and ``johns,'' 
the cold, hard fact is that these people are nothing more than ``child 
rapists.'' We need to stop being polite and call them what they are--
``child rapists''!
  Federal courts have interpreted the existing statute, Title 18 United 
States Code, section 1591, to cover the acts of patronizing and 
soliciting. Therefore, the specifications of the terms ``patronizing'' 
and ``solicit'' in this bill simply clarify and emphasize the fact that 
these actions are actually covered.
  Those who patronize and solicit are already criminally liable under 
the language contained in the original section 1591. Under this 
legislation, child rapists will find no refuge in any jurisdiction. 
This bill will also promote the coordination of investigations among 
federal, state and local law enforcement and enhance reporting data for 
missing children--everything that the witnesses at the March 2014 
Houston field hearing called for.
  Human Trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal industry in 
the world, generating over $32 billion annually. This bill is the most 
comprehensive piece of legislation to deal with that problem in years.
  For years we have labeled child victims of sex trafficking as 
prostitutes and juvenile delinquents rather than as the victims they 
are. They are victims of criminal conduct, and we need to treat them 
that way. This bill recognizes that and treats victims as victims, 
provides for more services and shelters for them,

[[Page H605]]

and provides resources to law enforcement, child welfare, healthcare 
officials and others who will come into contact with these victims.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I am very pleased that the Judiciary 
Committee saw fit to adopt as Section 11 of H.R. 181 the Jackson Lee 
Amendment which expresses the Sense of Congress that human trafficking 
has no place in a civilized society and that perpetrators of such vile 
acts should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
  Madam Speaker, as the global leader in combatting human trafficking 
throughout the world, the United States must hold all nations to the 
same standards to which we hold ourselves. The demand for commercial 
sex is a primary cause of the human right violation of human 
trafficking. Elimination of that violation requires the elimination of 
that demand.
  I received yet more tragic illustration of the global horrors of 
human trafficking as recently as last evening during a meeting with the 
Prime Minister of Jamaica. Last year Jamaica improved its position in 
the U.S. State Department's Annual Trafficking in Persons (``TIP'') 
Report after it passed amendments to its Trafficking in Persons Act. 
Those amendments stipulated harsher penalties for offenders with 
penalties of up to 30 years.
  Despite this new legislation, Jamaican children subjected to sex 
trafficking in the country's sex trade remains a serious problem with 
reports of sex trafficking of children and adults occurring on streets 
and in night clubs, bars, and private homes. The Jamaican government 
realizes that it must move more vigorously to not only prosecute, 
convict and punish trafficking offenders, but to also identify, and 
assist more victims.
  Madam Speaker, while it is entirely proper for the United States to 
hold all nations to the same standard to which we hold ourselves, it is 
also entirely proper for the United States to lend assistance to those 
nations that may lack the resources needed to effectively combat Human 
Trafficking. I hope that we will give consideration to providing such 
assistance in future anti-human trafficking legislation.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I must also thank Representative Poe and his 
staff as well as Committee staff on both sides of the aisle for working 
together to address a point raised by an amendment that Rep. Poe 
offered and withdrew during the bill's markup. The changes that were 
made to the bill as a result of that collaborative work yielded some 
real improvements to the bill.
  For these reasons I support H.R. 181 and encourage my colleagues to 
do likewise.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, 
who has made it a priority to stop, to combat the scourge of human 
trafficking by bringing numerous bills before the Judiciary Committee.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Poe) for his long dedication to addressing this very serious 
problem and for yielding me this time.
  Few nightmares equal the terrible reality that thousands of American 
children awake to each day. Held against their will, before the day is 
out, they will be forced to share perhaps a dozen strangers' beds and 
be subjected to arbitrary violence for any real or imagined infraction.
  Child sex trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal 
enterprises in our country, and we must update our laws to combat it. 
H.R. 181, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, is a 
targeted effort to deploy our law enforcement and social resources 
against the worst offenders: those who sexually exploit children and 
other vulnerable victims.
  Rather than simply increasing penalties, the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act directly aids the survivors of this crime. The bill 
creates a comprehensive, victim-centered grant program to train law 
enforcement, rescue exploited children, prosecute traffickers, and 
restore the lives of victims. The bill also streamlines existing law 
enforcement tools by providing that child advocacy centers can and 
should use their resources to help victims of trafficking and other 
types of child exploitation.
  H.R. 181 clarifies that State prosecutors may obtain wiretaps, 
pursuant to a showing of probable cause, for trafficking and other 
child sex crimes. Additionally, the bill adds several of the Federal 
antislavery statutes as Federal wiretap predicates--something that 
should have been done a long time ago.
  These important tools simply give police the same investigatory tools 
they would have if these criminal gangs sold drugs or stolen property 
instead of sex with children and other victims.
  The bill makes the law clear that the men who purchase these 
children's innocence will be held to the same standard as those who 
make it available for sale, and hold sex traffickers accountable by 
increasing the standard for claiming an affirmative defense by 
requiring defendants to show by clear and convincing evidence that they 
believed the victim to be 18 years of age or older.
  We in Congress have no higher duty than to protect the innocent 
children of this Nation. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, 
introduced by my friend and colleague Judge Poe, is a critical step 
toward banishing human trafficking to where it belongs--the realm of 
nightmares.
  Please join me in supporting this bill.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), who, as I indicated, has 
worked unceasingly on empowering the most vulnerable, particularly in 
her work on empowering women, vulnerable women around the world, 
providing them rights, and, of course, the work she has done in 
collaboration with Congressman Poe and our committee in her work on 
this bill.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good 
friend and colleague for her leadership and for yielding to me.
  I want to commend the Republican and Democratic leadership for 
bringing to the floor a large number of bipartisan bills to address the 
problem of human trafficking. I particularly want to thank Judge Poe 
for his enlightened leadership. He has brought an informed, 
intelligent, effective focus on this crime, and he has brought new 
momentum that is helping this country address this issue.

                              {time}  1415

  I thank the bipartisan Women's Caucus that has made this goal, this 
common goal of attacking the exploitation of children as a joint 
priority for our caucus and for this Congress.
  It is an important way to mark Human Trafficking Awareness Week, and 
this modern-day form of slavery happens all across the world. We don't 
like to admit it, but it is happening right here in America. It is 
happening in our small cities, our big cities, every State, every race, 
creed, and color.
  There are no reliable estimates, but by some accounts, there are as 
many as 2 million minors trafficked within the U.S. alone. When they 
have missing children reports, many of the parents believe their 
children have been stolen into sex trafficking. Most of these child 
victims who are sex-trafficked are United States citizens or are here 
legally in the United States.
  Human trafficking, as my colleague pointed out, is the fastest 
growing crime and the third largest criminal activity in the world, but 
unlike drugs and guns that are sold only once, human lives can be sold 
repeatedly over and over and over again until their lives are shattered 
and destroyed. It destroys lives and comes with a huge social and 
economic cost.
  We can all agree that no child should be for sale in America--not 
now, not ever. Our children should not be for sale, but they are for 
sale under the guise of human traffickers and pimps.
  I am very pleased to work shoulder to shoulder with Congressman Poe 
on the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. As a former judge and a 
former prosecutor, he knows firsthand how damaging this crime is to the 
lives of our young people--and it involves young boys, too--and how 
difficult it is to get a conviction. His knowledge in this area is 
tremendously appreciated, and his knowledge is in this bill. I thank 
him for having been the key author on it and for his passion and hard 
work on it.
  This bill directly and specifically supports law enforcement training 
and prosecution of sex trafficking crimes, and it creates a domestic 
trafficking victims fund within the Treasury Department to support 
critically needed services for victims.
  We know there are not enough beds; there is no treatment. Many 
trafficked women tell me they get saved, but then they are put in a 
park with no place to go, and the traffickers come up and try to get 
them back into it.
  It goes after those who are trying to exploit children and vulnerable 
women,

[[Page H606]]

those who would profit off the misery of others by going after their 
wallets. It targets the demand side: the child abusers, the child 
molesters.
  Our victims fund will be financed through fines levied on those 
convicted of child pornography, human trafficking, child prostitution, 
sexual exploitation, and human smuggling offenses.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Huizenga of Michigan). The time of the 
gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentlelady.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. The bill also makes it clear 
that it is not the victim who is sold and exploited who is the 
criminal. The criminal is the john, the child abuser who solicits a 
minor or a trafficker who puts a woman or man out on the street to be 
bought and sold.
  Human trafficking is harmful not only to the victims, but to society 
at large. Last May, this House passed this bill in total agreement, and 
I urge the Senate to follow it and pass it also. It is time to help the 
survivors get the resources they need to rebuild their lives and to 
punish the evildoers who purchase and sell these innocent children.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger).
  Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Judge Poe for his great 
leadership in this very important area. It is so encouraging to see the 
bipartisan commitment. Thank you, Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman 
Maloney, for your strong support.
  When I came to Congress, it was my perception that human trafficking 
was a concern found in other parts of the world, certainly not in North 
Carolina. After talking to our law enforcement, I found out that North 
Carolina was within the top 10 States for human trafficking.
  As such, I realized that we needed to take care of our own in our own 
region and hosted a meeting for public officials, church leaders at the 
Billy Graham Center. We brought in wonderful organizations, Compassion 
to Act, Justice & Mercy, Neet's Sweets, and others who have been there 
on behalf of these women.
  There are so many important ways that we can provide safety, 
security, a safe haven for these precious young girls that have been 
brought into slavery.
  Human trafficking is one of the most tragic issues plaguing our world 
today. Nearly 21 million human beings are living in modern-day slavery, 
including domestic servitude, forced labor, and sex work. As a nation, 
we have both a moral and a constitutional obligation to protect the 
most vulnerable in our society from this horrific exploitation.
  I therefore urge all my colleagues today to join in supporting the 
Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 presented by Congressman 
Poe. We need to ensure that we can provide to these young, domestic 
human trafficking victims the support that they need.
  This week, yes, we in the House will devote ourselves to raising 
awareness of this heinous crime and passing legislation to take 
significant steps toward the eradication of trafficking, both 
domestically and abroad.
  However, even as Human Trafficking Awareness Month draws to a close, 
our dedication must not waver. I thank the chairman for his leadership, 
and I thank my colleagues for their support.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I will close. I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  The previous speaker indicated that we are in the national month 
acknowledging and recognizing the gravity of human trafficking, and I 
believe that it calls upon us to stand by the most vulnerable who 
really can't help themselves.
  My last comment before yielding was the demand for commercial sex is 
a primary cause of the human rights violation of human trafficking, so 
eliminating that violation requires the elimination of the demand.
  What I might not have added, which a number of Members have said, is 
the violence that goes along with sex trafficking and human 
trafficking, the violence that goes along when some entity--a person 
called a pimp, which is an old-time term, really becomes an abuser, a 
violent abuser and abuses the frail, small body of a little girl or boy 
because they really haven't risen to the occasion, provided them with 
their daily infusion of dollars to continue to do their dastardly work.
  As I have heard mentioned on this floor, we are not alone here in the 
United States. For those of us who met the victims of sex trafficking 
and human trafficking around the world, we understand that America's 
standards will help others.
  What is good about what we are doing today and the underlying bill is 
that we set a standard that the world can look at, that we are not 
going to tolerate or be sufferers of the abuse of little children.

  Yesterday, as I listened to a great success story spoken about by the 
Prime Minister of Jamaica, relating their economic success, she was 
willing to talk about Jamaica's concerted effort at fighting human 
trafficking.
  An island where it might be easy for that trafficker to move from one 
place to the next, here was a leader of government acknowledging the 
scourge of human trafficking and that Jamaican children were suffering 
and subjected to sex trafficking and that it remains a serious problem, 
but we are going to fight it.
  I felt very good about that because you would think that an island 
that is very much dependent on tourism and entertainment would not have 
that calling and that cause; but, yes, the fight is spreading.
  I believe the Jamaican Government should be congratulated, and I ask 
other governments to take heed of the underlying legislation, rise to 
the standard, be part of the total elimination of cutting into the 
lives of children, of little boys, of little girls, of cutting them off 
from any kind of aspirations and hope that they could ever have.
  Maybe we don't necessarily connect it, but we know the story of the 
three women that were held for a period of time in our own Nation. Some 
started out as children. When they were ultimately found, they were 
women. One cannot help note that the violence that they described was a 
vile sex trafficking, human trafficking episode. We don't know how many 
around the Nation that are today, as we stand on the floor of the 
House, suffering.
  I thank Representative Poe. I thank my colleague Representative 
Maloney and committee staff on both sides of the aisle to help address 
this issue, and as well, I am glad that this particular legislation 
will set a standard that this dastardly series of acts will not be 
suffered by any human being not only in this Nation, but around the 
world.
  With that, I ask support for H.R. 181 and yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. May I inquire of the Chair as to how much time is 
left on this side?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois). The gentleman 
has 5\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself the balance of the time.
  Mr. Speaker, there were a lot of different entities involved in 
bringing this and other pieces of legislation to the House floor.
  There are numerous organizations throughout the United States, small 
and large, that are determined to stop human trafficking, and I want to 
thank all of them for their input into this cause and this legislation. 
I call them the victims' posse. They have rounded up and made sure that 
we are going to deal with this important issue.
  I also want to thank the Members of the House who are cosponsors of 
this bill, especially Carolyn Maloney, my friend from New York, and her 
tenacious work on this and other pieces of legislation.
  I also thank the Members of the House because many times, when they 
go back home on this specific issue, as mentioned by my friend Ms. 
Jackson Lee from Texas, they are holding public forums and hearings 
about this crime of human trafficking. In fact, there is another one in 
my district this weekend in Houston.
  I want to commend the Members for bringing public awareness to this 
horrible situation; but not all is gloom, doom, and despair, Mr. 
Speaker, because of this legislation and other pieces of legislation, 
but more importantly, the moral will of the House and I think of 
America is to get a grip on this slavery.

[[Page H607]]

  When a crime like this is committed against a person, especially a 
child, we call it sexual assault, but it is really rape. It is rape, 
Mr. Speaker, of children. A rapist commits that crime to try to destroy 
that person, destroy their identity, destroy their self-worth, to steal 
their soul. That is what rapists do.
  That is why we are going to solve this case or solve these cases as 
best we can, by preventing them from occurring, by going after those 
rapists, going after the trafficker, and rescuing the most precious 
thing we have in our country, which is our children. We are not going 
to allow the situation where America's children are bartered and sold 
on the marketplace for sexual assault. Those days are going to be over.
  I appreciate all those who have brought this bill to the floor, both 
sides, and I ask that the House of Representatives vote unanimously on 
this legislation.
  And that is just the way it is.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is will the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 181, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________