[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6680]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TOGETHER CONGRESS CAN COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

                                  _____
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a miraculous thing happened recently 
in Washington. Both parties came together to negotiate important 
legislation, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, moving beyond 
partisan attacks and rhetoric to find common ground. Their compromise 
passed the Senate by a vote of 99-0. This is not only important from a 
procedural, functional standpoint, it's important because it will help 
fight a major problem in our society: human trafficking, one of the 
fastest growing criminal enterprises in the United States. We urge the 
House to bring the Senate bill up for a vote without delay.
  Many of us do not realize that in this nation, and in our own 
backyards, individuals are held against their will, their bodies sold 
repeatedly day in and day out. This modern-day form of slavery is an 
enormous black market, with an estimated value of $9.8 billion in the 
U.S.
  The average age of children sold into the sex trade is just 13. As 
Americans, and as parents and grandparents, we cannot turn a blind eye 
to this fact any more. Human trafficking is real. It is in every state, 
city and suburb in America. It is imperative that we protect American 
children from the traffickers who prey upon the most vulnerable in our 
society.
  The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act is a robust and aggressive 
response that does three main things.
  First, the bill targets demand. Going after those who buy and sell 
our children will help decimate this industry. The legislation treats 
those who pay for sex with minors and other trafficking victims as 
criminals and will help prosecutors put them where they belong: behind 
bars.
  Second, the bill focuses on restoring the victims. Children who are 
sold for sex are victims, not prostitutes, and it's time to treat them 
as such by ensuring that they have a safe place to stay, resources they 
need for rehabilitation and services uniquely tailored for human 
trafficking survivors.
  Lastly, the bill provides resources to train law enforcement and 
others who may come into contact with human trafficking victims to 
better identify and respond to their needs. The bill creates a fund 
built from fees and fines collected from convicted traffickers.
  We urge the House to bring S. 178, the Justice for Victims of 
Trafficking Act, to the floor for a vote and send it to the president's 
desk for signature. It will be a powerful day when Washington can stand 
together to proclaim, ``Our children are not for sale.''

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