Madame Speaker,
It’s shocking: human trafficking is the fastest-growing business of organized crime, and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world.
In my home state of Ohio, the most common age a child becomes victimized by trafficking is 13 years old. At 13, a child should be looking forward to their first days of high school, not living in fear.
In 2014 alone in Ohio, 98 arrests were made in human trafficking investigations involving 181 potential victims.
Now, the House is fighting back.
The anti-trafficking bills this week will take aim at modern trafficking networks and the criminals who seek to abuse the lives of their victims.
These bills encourage states to adopt safe harbor laws, enhance services for homeless youth, and protect children further in our nation’s foster systems. We must help survivors reclaim their lives through heightened public awareness and increased collaboration among governments.
Our founders declared inherent & inalienable the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Human trafficking violates these core rights.
A strong commitment to every human life will help the millions who suffer in the dark shadows of this heinous crime.
Related bills the House passed this week:
- H.R. 514 – Human Trafficking Prioritization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith / Foreign Affairs Committee)
- H.R. 515 – International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith / Foreign Affairs Committee)
- H.R. 357 – Human Trafficking Prevention Act (Sponsored by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney / Foreign Affairs Committee)
- H.R. 468 – Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims for Youth Trafficking Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Joe Heck / Education and Workforce Committee)
- H.R. 469 – Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Karen Bass / Education and Workforce Committee)
- H.R. 246 – To improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking(Sponsored by Rep. Joyce Beatty / Education and Workforce Committee)
- H.R. 398 – Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act of 2015(Sponsored by Rep. Renee Ellmers / Energy and Commerce Committee)
- H.R. 460 – Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Mark Walker / Homeland Security Committee)
- H.R. 350 – Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2015 (Sponsored by Rep. Kristi Noem / Judiciary Committee)
- H.R. 159 – Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Erik Paulsen / Judiciary Committee)
- H.R. 181 – Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Ted Poe / Judiciary Committee)
- H.R. 285 – Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2015(Sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner / Judiciary Committee)
Opinion Piece:
A Global Fight Against Human Trafficking
