[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1338]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS SLAVERY

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in my other life, I was a prosecutor 
and Judge. I saw the worst of the worst criminals in my courtroom, but 
it wasn't until I visited the Ukraine, when I first came to Congress, 
that I learned about the scourge of human trafficking. It is slavery. 
Soon I became aware that this crime wasn't just happening in far off 
places but right here in the United States, in our own backyards.
  Unfortunately, my hometown of Houston is one of the hubs for human 
trafficking because of its proximity to the border, major interstates, 
airports, and ports.
  As cofounder and co-chair of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus 
with my friend Jim Costa from California, I have made fighting human 
trafficking a priority.
  Human trafficking is a hidden crime.
  These victims are not willing participants in prostitution. These 
women, men, girls, and boys are being held against their will, caught 
in a life of drug addiction, physical abuse, and sexual assault. 
Children cannot be prostitutes. Children cannot consent to sex. They 
get forced into the crime of human trafficking, they are victims not 
criminals.
  It is estimated that at least 100,000 children are at risk for human 
trafficking every year in the U.S. The real number of trafficking 
victims is unknown.
  Even if they are identified, they are constantly moved around by 
their traffickers, whether that's across our borders and/or around the 
country. Many are runaways, throwaways, or stowaways. Imagine a child 
being considered a throwaway or a child that no one is looking for. 
This is reality for many in our country. We must be the ones to give 
them hope.
  Victims may be afraid to come forward. They may be arrest and jailed 
because they are mistaken for criminal. Forgiven immigrants kidnapped 
and brought to the US are told their families will be harmed if they 
seek help.
  Many victims may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome and actually 
believe they are in a loving relationship with their trafficker.
  Education and awareness for law enforcement and the public will help 
prevent trafficking and identify the victim.
  Rescuing and Restoring victims must be a top priority. Trafficking 
victims have unique needs, different than the needs of other crime 
victims. They must receive specialized, trauma-informed care from those 
that understand this crime.
  Trafficking victims are not easy victims to help. They've been 
through extremely terrible situations. Many have come from a life of 
hardship, from abusive families, and moved around from family to family 
in foster care. Anyone they've trusted in the past has used them and 
betrayed them. So, many times after they've been rescued, they run 
because that's what they know.
  We cannot give up on these girls. They deserve to know love and 
trust. As a society, we must embrace them.
  I've introduced the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act with 
Congresswoman Maloney. This bill will ensure funding for the rescue and 
restoration of trafficking victims. It will ensure specialized training 
and care, and training for law enforcement. These services will be paid 
for by fines on the perpetrators. The bad guys literally pay for the 
crimes they have committed. What a concept!
  Our bill also addresses the cause of this dastardly deed: the demand. 
Gone are the days of boys being boys. Those that buy sex from children 
are child abusers, not Johns. John is in the Bible. He's a good guy. 
These criminals must be punished like the child abusers that they are. 
They are child rapists.
  During January, National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention 
Month, we recognize that we have a long road ahead of us in order to 
eradicate our country and our world of modern day slavery. If we have 
the help and work of local, state, and federal governments, wonderful 
anti-trafficking organizations, and just people with good hearts, I 
think we can put a stop to this despicable crime.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________