[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5355]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING ACT

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on an amendment 
that I was pleased to include in the human trafficking legislation that 
was passed earlier today. The amendment was based on the Human 
Trafficking Survivors Relief and Empowerment Act, which I introduced 
several weeks ago.
  It has a simple purpose. It provides an incentive for States to enact 
laws that allow human trafficking survivors to clear their criminal 
records of prostitution and other low-level, nonviolent crimes that 
they can reasonably demonstrate were the result of being trafficked.
  Many States, including my home State of New Hampshire, have vacatur 
laws in place. However, we need to ensure that survivors of human 
trafficking have access to these types of protections no matter where 
they are rescued, or what State they were forced to commit crimes in.
  When I first introduced this legislation, I shared the story of a 
young woman named Katie featured in a recent NPR story on vacatur laws. 
In the story, she spoke about her heartbreaking experience as a 
trafficking victim.
  Katie talked about being raped at age 11, and at age 13 being forced 
into commercial sex.
  She talked about having her skull cracked and ribs broken, and about 
the regular beatings that resulted in bruises and black eyes. She 
talked about 7 years of the worst kinds of physical and emotional 
torture, and being transported nearly 1,400 miles from her home.
  But Katie also talked about her recovery--about rebuilding a life 
with her family and young son, about working hard to make a better 
life.
  According to Katie, one of the most important things we can do for 
these survivors, these brave young men and women, is to give them the 
tools to start over.
  As Katie told NPR, ``I'm not ever going to forget what I've done, but 
at the same time, I don't want it thrown in my face every time I'm 
trying to seek employment.''
  Survivors of human trafficking are victims of a crime. Yet often it 
is the victims who are arrested, detained, prosecuted, and convicted.
  Records of these crimes, can follow survivors for life. These records 
limit access to safe housing and good jobs. They can even bar access to 
car loans and educational opportunities. They leave trafficking 
survivors with few options, and in some cases drive individuals back to 
engaging in commercial sex.
  Vacatur laws help victims start fresh. They are a critical part of 
recovery and should be available in every State, and my amendment will 
help us achieve that goal.
  I will close by sharing comments that Katie's mom recently sent to my 
office. It think it clearly demonstrates what is possible when 
survivors are given the time and support they need to recover.
  She wrote:

       As a mother and as a woman watching all those years, being 
     totally overwhelmed by hopelessness AND helplessness, I can 
     see a positive . . . . I think the 11 year old girl I lost is 
     coming back to me . . . as a woman--a little battle weary but 
     stronger and happier and filled with so much hope.

  We want this kind of new beginning for every victim of trafficking. 
And that is exactly what this provision will help accomplish. I want to 
thank my colleagues for their support, and hope this bill will move 
quickly through the House and to the President for signature into law.

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