[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H6329-H6332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5422) to ensure funding for the National Human Trafficking 
Hotline, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5422

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING 
                   HOTLINE; PERFECTING AMENDMENT.

       (a) HHS Funding for Trafficking Hotline.--Section 
     107(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
     2000 (22

[[Page H6330]]

     U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking ``of amounts 
     made available for grants under paragraph (2),''.
       (b) Perfecting Amendment.--Section 603 of the Justice for 
     Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-22; 129 
     Stat. 259) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
     by striking ``Victims of Crime Trafficking'' and inserting 
     ``Victims of Trafficking''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall 
     take effect as if enacted as part of the Justice for Victims 
     of Trafficking Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-22; 129 Stat. 
     227).

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5422, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today we consider on suspension H.R. 5422. This bill 
corrects an inadvertent change made in the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act of 2015 that caused grant funding for the National 
Human Trafficking Hotline to be processed through the Department of 
Justice rather than through the Department of Health and Human 
Services, as it had been historically.
  The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a toll-free hotline, 
available to answer calls from anywhere in the United States, 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, in more than 200 languages. The hotline's mission 
is to connect trafficking victims and survivors to critical support 
services and to equip the antitrafficking community with the tools to 
effectively combat all forms of human trafficking.
  This bill was introduced on June 9, 2015, by Congressman Ted Poe, a 
tireless advocate for the prevention of human trafficking and for 
trafficking victims, and the bill passed out of the Judiciary Committee 
on November 16 by a voice vote.
  While Congressman Poe is undergoing treatment for leukemia and is 
unable to be here, I want to once again let him know that he is in our 
prayers. We are confident in his recovery and continue to appreciate 
all his work on these important human trafficking matters. I thank 
Congressman Poe for sponsoring this legislation that corrects an 
inadvertent drafting oversight, and I urge my colleagues to support the 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5422, a bill that I 
have cosponsored in order to ensure funding for the National Human 
Trafficking Hotline, a crucial component in the fight against human 
trafficking, and also to pay tribute to my neighbor, Congressman Ted 
Poe, and join in wishing him a strong recovery. We look forward to 
continuing to work against the scourge of human trafficking. We have 
been told, of course, of Houston being the epicenter of such.
  As I have said many times before, trafficking in human beings has no 
place in a civilized society. Congress decided 150 years ago that no 
individual deserves to be bought, owned, or sold. Our country is now 
faced with a modern-day version of slavery that denies victims of their 
humanity and violates the most basic American ideals of liberty and 
individual autonomy.
  Human trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal enterprise: 
4,177 sex trafficking cases and 824 trafficking cases were reported in 
the first 9 months of this year in the United States and its 
territories. Traffickers use trickery and, most often, coercion and 
violence to force victims to provide labor or perform sexual acts.
  My home city of Houston has been identified as a hub for human 
trafficking, as I have said. I am proud to say that Houston and the 
entire State of Texas are working hard to stave off this growing 
threat.
  In an effort to understand the problem and find real solutions, we 
held several hearings in 2014, including the first-ever field hearing 
on human trafficking held by the Committee on Homeland Security that I 
serve on. During that hearing, we heard from victims and survivors of 
human trafficking. They recounted indignities they suffered as well as 
the physical and psychological damage done while they were young 
children but still felt as adults. I am very gratified that Congressman 
Ted Poe participated in that hearing, and it was very constructive and 
instructive as we try to continue working on a solution.
  I traveled to a stash house and witnessed the atrocious conditions 
under which these people are held and forced to engage.
  We now know that a comprehensive, collaborative approach that 
includes lawmakers, law enforcement, victim advocates, community 
organizations, and social service providers is necessary to identify 
victims and lead them to safety, restore them, and bring their captors 
to justice.

                              {time}  1600

  The National Human Trafficking Resource Center plays a critical role 
in the effort to save, protect, and restore victims of human 
trafficking. The NHTRC is a national anti-trafficking hotline and 
resource center created and overseen by the Department of Health and 
Human Services and funded through grant money appropriated to HHS. It 
is very important.
  In 2015, the NHTRC received more than 24,000 signals regarding human 
trafficking cases or issues related to human trafficking, which 
includes phone calls, online tips, and emails.
  The NHTRC is invaluable to victims, survivors, and stakeholders 
involving the fight against human trafficking--connecting human 
trafficking victims and survivors to local, victim-centered support 
services that provide crisis intervention, urgent or nonurgent care, or 
lead them to safety; providing tools to fight against human 
trafficking; and reporting potential trafficking tips to law 
enforcement. This is a very valuable service and lifeline.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), who has a long history of 
working with children, of arguing and advocating against the 
mistreatment of foster care children who find themselves 
disproportionately involved and subjected to the potential of human 
trafficking. I thank her for her leadership, for being a cosponsor of 
this legislation, and a Member of the House Judiciary Committee.
  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Human 
Trafficking Hotline.
  I also want to join with my colleagues in wishing well Judge Poe, and 
wishing him a speedy recovery. He has been a leader on this issue for 
many, many years, and the hotline is a critical feature of how we can 
address human trafficking in our country.
  I also support the resources being managed under Health and Human 
Services. I believe it reflects the current awareness and knowledge 
that this really shouldn't be managed by law enforcement. We have all 
heard the stories of women and children who have been taken from 
location to location and forced to have sex against their will.
  Currently, there are more cases of human trafficking reported in 
California than in any other State. This hotline has served as a 
lifeline/vital resource to human trafficking victims and their 
advocates. In California alone this year, there have been over 3,000 
calls received on the hotline, resulting in over 1,000 human 
trafficking cases being reported, nearly a third of which are minors.
  Unfortunately, there is a growing body of evidence that youth who 
fall through the cracks in the foster care system end up trafficked. As 
of 2012 in California, 50 to 80 percent of the commercially exploited 
children had been involved in the child welfare system. Fifty-eight 
percent of sexually trafficked girls in the Los Angeles County STAR 
Court in 2012 were under age and were connected to the foster care 
system. In Los Angeles, we are fortunate

[[Page H6331]]

to have a STAR Court, but the purpose of this court is to deal with 
underage children who have been trafficked.
  I recently hosted an event in my district in order to train faith 
leaders in my community to identify and direct resources to women and 
girls who had been victims of trafficking. Often, it is members of our 
communities who are the first line of defense for these girls.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Neugebauer). The time of the gentlewoman 
has expired.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from California 
an additional 1 minute.
  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, we must work to break the foster-care-to-
child-sex-trafficking-victim pipeline by continuing to fund additional 
programs, like the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to help identify 
victims and provide them with the resources that they need.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Let me give my closing remarks and indicate that I am grateful in 
determining that the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which, 
unfortunately, was enacted last year, mistakenly directed that funding 
for the NHTRC be given to the Justice Department instead of HHS, which 
would still be responsible for administering it. Therefore, we need to 
change the law to ensure that funding be directed to HHS so that it 
will continue to fund and oversee NHTRC in the same manner and 
efficiently as it has in the past. For that reason, this is an 
important initiative.
  I commend again the actions and efforts and commitment of my 
colleague, Congressman Ted Poe. I wish him good health and thank him 
for continuing to work on behalf of human trafficking victims.
  This bill is evidence that we have the ability to work together as a 
unified body to address issues that affect our country and, more 
importantly, that those victims of this dastardly human trafficking, 
when they feel so alone and cannot reach out, have a body of Members, 
House and Senate, who recognize the urgency and importance of this 
effort to help them restore their lives, but, more importantly, to 
stand in the way of this terrible and heinous act.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5422, a bill I have 
cosponsored in order to ensure funding for the National Human 
Trafficking Hotline, a crucial component in the fight against human 
trafficking.
  As I have said many times before, trafficking in human beings has no 
place in a civilized society.
  Congress decided 150 years ago that no individual deserves to be 
bought, owned, or sold.
  Our country is now faced with a modern-day version of slavery that 
denies victims of their humanity and violates the most basic American 
ideals of liberty and individual autonomy.
  Human trafficking is the second-fastest growing criminal enterprise.
  4,177 sex trafficking cases and 824 labor trafficking cases were 
reported in the first nine months of this year in the United States and 
its territories.
  Traffickers use trickery and, most often, coercion and violence to 
force victims to provide labor or perform sexual acts.
  My home city of Houston has been identified as a hub for human 
trafficking. I am proud to say that Houston and the entire state of 
Texas are working hard to stave off this growing threat.
  In an effort to understand the problem and find real solutions, we 
held several hearings in 2014, including a Field Hearing before the 
Committee on Homeland Security.
  During that hearing, we heard from victims and survivors of human 
trafficking. They recounted indignities they suffered as well as the 
physical and psychological damage done while they were young children, 
but still felt as adults.
  I traveled to a stash house and witnessed the atrocious conditions 
under which these people are held.
  We now know that a comprehensive, collaborative approach that 
includes law makers, law enforcement, victim advocates, community 
organizations, and social service providers is necessary to identify 
victims, lead them to safety, restore them, and bring their captors to 
justice.
  The National Human Trafficking Resource Center plays a critical role 
in the effort to save, protect, and restore victims of human 
trafficking.
  The NHTRC is a national anti-trafficking hotline and resource center, 
created and overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, 
and funded through grant money appropriated to HHS.
  In 2015, the NHTRC received more than 24,000 alerts regarding human 
trafficking cases or issues related to human trafficking, which 
includes phone calls, online tips, and emails.
  The NHTRC is invaluable to victims, survivors, and stakeholders 
involved in the fight against human trafficking--connecting human 
trafficking victims and survivors to local, victim-centered support 
services that provide crisis intervention, urgent or non-urgent care, 
or lead them to safety; providing tools to fight against human 
trafficking; and reporting potential trafficking tips to law 
enforcement.
  Unfortunately, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which was 
enacted last year, mistakenly directed that funding for the NHTRC be 
given to the Justice Department instead of HHS, which would still be 
responsible for administering it.
  Therefore, we need to change the law to ensure that funding be 
directed to HHS so that it will continue to fund and oversee the NHRTC 
in the same, efficient manner as it has in the past.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the efforts of my colleague, Congressman Ted 
Poe. I wish him good health and thank him for continuing to work on 
behalf of human trafficking victims.
  This bill is evidence that we have the ability to work together as a 
unified body to address issues that affect our country.
  I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this bill today.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Let's pass this legislation in honor of Congressman and former Judge 
Ted Poe, who has been a champion in the battle against human 
trafficking. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Laura was a middle school counselor 
who noticed that one of her students had begun to act strangely. 
Laura's instincts were right. Out of the classroom, her student, 
Alyssa, had started to frequently flee her foster home and was often 
found in random locations with adult strangers. After some 
investigation, Laura learned that Alyssa had been lured into the 
business of having sex with adults. Traffickers did what they do best, 
identified a vulnerable young woman and lured her into the sex trade. 
Laura immediately contacted the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 
reported what had happened to her young student and they were able to 
advise her on how to proceed and what social services and law 
enforcement agencies to contact. Because of the hotline, Laura was able 
to save Alyssa's life.
  The National Human Trafficking Hotline serves as an essential 
lifeline to victims of trafficking, but it also serves as an important 
source of information to those who suspect they have encountered a 
victim of trafficking and don't know how to help. This hotline is an 
essential tool in the fight against human trafficking in the United 
States.
  H.R. 5422 is a bipartisan, non-controversial bill that makes a small 
technical fix to allow the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) to continue funding the National Human Trafficking Hotline 
(NHTH). In the House, I introduced this bill with Representative 
Carolyn Maloney. I would also like to thank Senator John Cornyn and 
Senator Amy Klobuchar for sponsoring this bill in the Senate.
  Without the National Hotline's guidance, Laura may never have known 
how to help that poor child escape her traffickers. The hotline 
provides trafficking victims and survivors with access to critical 
support and emergency services, collects tips about potential 
trafficking situations and disseminates training and informational 
materials to help raise awareness in our communities. HHS created and 
currently oversees and funds the NHTH. As it stands today, the funding 
for HHS's annual grants has been appropriated to the Department of 
Justice. This bill is a simple technical fix to codify the hotline 
within HHS and to help continue the important work being done by our 
nation's anti-human trafficking hotline.
  Having the hotline under the jurisdiction of DOJ creates an 
unnecessary and unhelpful additional layer of bureaucracy. It forces 
HHS to be dependent on funds from DOJ to run the hotline. It is more 
efficient and effective for HHS to continue using its own finds to 
operate the NHTH.
  I urge the House to pass this simple bipartisan measure to ensure the 
continued ease of funding to the National Human Trafficking Hotline 
through the Department of Health and Human Services.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page H6332]]

the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5422.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________