[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 28, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 43--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT CHILDREN 
 TRAFFICKED IN THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE TREATED AS VICTIMS, AND NOT 
 CRIMINALS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE UPCOMING SUPER BOWL, AN EVENT AROUND 
      WHICH MANY CHILDREN ARE AT RISK FOR BEING TRAFFICKED FOR SEX

  Mr. PORTMAN (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 43

       Whereas according to the Department of Justice, there are 
     currently an estimated 293,000 children in the United States 
     at risk of commercial sexual exploitation;
       Whereas the victims of child sex trafficking are often 
     hidden in plain view, and may be found standing around bus 
     stops, staying in runaway youth shelters, or advertised for 
     commercial sex online;
       Whereas the average age of entry into sex trafficking is 
     between just 12 and 14 years old;
       Whereas child victims of trafficking are often abducted or 
     lured into running away by traffickers and then routinely 
     raped, drugged, and beaten into submission, and sometimes 
     even branded;
       Whereas it is widely recognized that the beloved American 
     tradition of the Super Bowl, an event that draws tens of 
     thousands of fans to the host city, like other major sporting 
     events, leads to a surge in the sex trafficking of underage 
     girls and boys in the host city; and
       Whereas traffickers aggressively advertise and sell sex 
     trafficking victims on sites like Backpage.com during the 
     Super Bowl in order to meet the increased demand from those 
     flocking to the host city: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate agrees that--
       (1) law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, and 
     social services should treat all children trafficked for sex 
     as victims; and
       (2) Federal and State law enforcement agencies should make 
     every effort to arrest and prosecute both traffickers and 
     buyers of children for sex, in accordance with the 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Act and State child protection 
     laws against abuse and statutory rape, and should take all 
     necessary measures to protect the children of the United 
     States from harm.

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