Klobuchar, Cornyn Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

Press Release

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have announced that their bipartisan legislation, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislation strengthens and reauthorizes key programs that support survivors of human trafficking and provide resources to federal, state, and local law enforcement officials on the front lines of the fight against modern-day slavery.

"As a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand how horrific human trafficking can be--and I know that it's happening in our own backyards," Klobuchar said. "Our bipartisan legislation equips law enforcement with the resources to crack down on this crime and provides victims with the support they need to get back on their feet. I'm proud to work with Senator Cornyn in this fight against human trafficking."

Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Richard Burr (R-NC) are original cosponsors of the legislation.

Klobuchar and Cornyn authored the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, a 2015 law that increased the resources and tools available for combating human trafficking in the United States. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act ensures that American law enforcement is equipped to fight this crime, while helping victims rebuild their lives by using fines and penalties against their exploiters to fund restorative services and compensation. The legislation was modeled after Minnesota's "Safe Harbor" law, which gives incentives for all states to have a safe harbor provision to help ensure minors who are sold for sex aren't prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims. When a state passes a safe harbor law, it means that kids sold for sex should be steered towards child protection services, rather than being arrested, charged, or convicted under a state's criminal laws. The Abolish Human Trafficking Act enhances and expands the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

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