Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of a plague affecting our Nation and our world. It is called human trafficking. There are more than 40 million victims worldwide, and it happens in our backyards right here in congressional districts throughout the country. My district, because of the geographic location in California's Central Valley, sees a disproportionately high amount of human trafficking that takes place.

Fighting this atrocity requires all of us to come together with a comprehensive strategy. Organizations like Breaking the Chains in my district are needed to support survivors. Law enforcement needs to hold perpetrators accountable.

This week as the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, Congressman Pete Olson and I are introducing a resolution in the House to support the observation of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is sad that we have to bring this kind of recognition, but it is the reality.

This resolution calls for the Federal Government to coordinate its efforts and fight human trafficking between agencies and State and local governments as well as other organizations. We in the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus will continue to lead and push this effort. We need to work together.

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