[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HUMAN TRAFFICKING

  (Mr. LANKFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of January 
2014 being National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
  Human trafficking victims suffer repeatedly with no apparent way out. 
An estimated between 100,000 and 300,000 children each year become 
victims in America of this abhorrent practice.
  Many runaway children become victims of human trafficking within 48 
hours of leaving home, and it is crucial that we, as Americans, are 
aware of our surroundings and immediately contact authorities when we 
see anything suspicious around children. Traffickers can be found at 
airports, parking lots, schools, malls, and other places where they 
search for young victims.
  Two years ago, I authored a bill which this House passed, the Senate 
passed, and the President signed at the end of 2012 eliminating 
trafficking on our military bases around the world and our State 
Department facilities around the world.
  We, as Americans, believe every person has value. Every person has 
rights that are given to them by their creator. Mr. Speaker, I would 
encourage every American, if they come into contact with someone that 
they suspect is a victim of human trafficking, to contact the National 
Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Let's help our fellow 
Americans.

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