[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH

  (Mr. SPANO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SPANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Slavery 
and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
  Globally, there are over 40 million victims of human trafficking at 
any given time, 75 percent of them women and girls, and 25 percent are 
children. While 81 percent are trapped in forced labor, millions more 
are in forced sexual exploitation and forced marriages.
  Not only is human trafficking at epidemic levels overseas, but it is 
also experiencing rampant growth in our own backyard.
  Statistics rank the State of Florida as the third highest trafficking 
destination in the U.S. Human trafficking traps millions of the most 
vulnerable members of society into modern-day slavery and generates 
annual profits of $150 billion.
  Events like the February Super Bowl in Miami are major targets. It is 
imperative that we give law enforcement the tools needed to identify 
and prevent human trafficking.
  We also need to pass legislation that deters and punishes the 
perpetrators and allows the victims to heal and reacclimate.
  This rapidly growing issue demands our attention. Let's work 
together, no matter which side of the aisle we sit on, to end this evil 
for good.

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