[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11568]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HUMAN TRAFFICKING

  Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I rise to speak about a very troubling 
issue--to speak about innocent lives being stolen from communities and 
neighborhoods across our country and around the globe. I speak of the 
issue of human trafficking.
  Last month, in more than 100 U.S. cities--just last month--168 
children were rescued from sex trafficking and 281 pimps were arrested 
on Federal and State charges.
  The weeklong campaign known as Operation Cross Country was conducted 
by the FBI, law enforcement officials, and the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children. It underscores a heartbreaking reality: 
Human trafficking is not a far-away problem. It is happening right here 
in America, in all 50 States.
  Each year thousands of men, women, and children are robbed of their 
basic freedom to live as they choose. They become victims of a rampant 
and evil crime, coerced through intimidation and even through violence 
to work as laborers or prostitutes. According to estimates from the 
Polaris Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting human 
trafficking, there were more than 5,000 potential trafficking cases in 
America last year. However, the precise number of domestic victims is 
unknown.
  It should be noted that sex trafficking affects individuals of all 
backgrounds and races, but it disproportionately impacts women, both 
domestically and internationally. According to the Polaris Project, 85 
percent of sex trafficking victims in the United States are women. 
Although news headlines often glibly refer to a ``war on women'' in 
political terms, we as policy makers might well devote more of our 
energy to the issue of sex trafficking--a real war, a daily war, a 
nightmarish war--faced by the most vulnerable among us--young women who 
are bought and sold against their will for sex.
  I stand with colleagues from both political parties in calling for an 
end to this nightmare. We must not ignore the horror stories on our 
doorsteps. Earlier this year 16 children ranging in age from 13 to 17 
years old were rescued from a sex trafficking operation at the Super 
Bowl, one of our most celebrated events--the scenario of horror for 
these 13- to 17-year-olds. These young Americans deserve justice and 
they deserve rehabilitation.
  Our friends in the House of Representatives have recently passed a 
package of bills on antitrafficking, and I hope we will soon consider 
similar efforts in the Senate. To highlight a few, Senator Rubio has 
introduced a bill to help protect children in foster care from becoming 
victims of trafficking; Senator Cornyn has introduced legislation for 
increasing federal resources available to trafficking victims; and 
Senator Klobuchar has introduced legislation to help ensure that minors 
who are sold for sex are not prosecuted as perpetrators but properly 
treated as the victims they really are.
  This week I have introduced the End Trafficking Act of 2014. Similar 
to the legislation put forward by my colleagues, my bill would ensure 
victims of trafficking receive the treatment they need to lead healthy, 
free, and productive lives. One proposal in my bill would be a court-
based pilot program modeled after Hawaii's girls courts, similar to the 
Federal drug court system. Rather than being correctly treated as 
victims, trafficked juveniles are often charged with a delinquency 
offense and detained. Many do not receive the counseling or support 
they need while in detention and some even return to the trafficker who 
abused them.
  My bill supports a specialized court docket and integrated judicial 
supervision that would put the well-being of the victim first. 
Detention does not amount to rescue, and these victims need to be 
rescued. They should have an opportunity to return home and receive 
treatment.
  Human trafficking is a complex problem that demands multifaceted 
solutions. Supporting the victims is only one part of the equation. We 
must also target those who perpetuate these atrocious crimes. The 
legislation I have introduced also seeks to punish those responsible 
for trafficking--the providers and the buyers--the pimps and the johns. 
First, there should be strict enforcement of laws already on the books 
that prohibit the purchase of sex with minors. Second, child victims 
should have a longer statute of limitations period during which to file 
civil lawsuits against their traffickers. Finally, those who distribute 
or benefit financially from commercial advertising that promotes 
prostitution should face criminal charges also. My bill would do all 
three.
  We have seen the value of coordination among local, State and Federal 
agencies to fight trafficking. This was certainly true in Operation 
Cross Country. Working together, agencies and law enforcement partners 
can improve the ways they target traffickers to help victims.
  We all need to realize that in the United States--the freest, most 
prosperous nation in the world--traffickers still find and transit 
victims. Our efforts to fight trafficking within our borders are 
important to fight against trafficking worldwide. There are some 21 
million people around the world who endure this cruel form of modern 
day slavery. There is no other way to put it. Although the United 
States cannot single-handedly eradicate the problem, we can serve as a 
model for other countries to follow by preventing trafficking and 
supporting victims here at home.
  Again, the title of the bill is the End Trafficking Act of 2014--
introduced this week. I am looking for cosponsors. I am looking for 
Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to come forward and say with a 
unified voice that this Senate, this Congress, this Federal Government, 
intends to put the full weight of our efforts toward combating this 
serious national and international problem.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum and, following procedure, Madam 
President, I ask unanimous consent that the time be equally divided 
between Republicans and Democrats for the remaining period of morning 
business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. King). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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