Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - April 28, 2005)
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By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. SPECTER):
S. 937. A bill to combat commercial sexual activities by targeting demand, to protect children from being exploited by such activities, to prohibit the operation of sex tours, to assist State and local governments to enforce laws dealing with commercial sexual activities, to reduce trafficking in persons, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation to combat the scourge of sex trafficking within our borders, by targeting and reducing demand. The bill is entitled the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
For the last four years, the President has been a stalwart champion of strengthening efforts to combat the scourge of human trafficking and slavery, not just abroad, but within our very own borders as well. Last July, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing I chaired, highlighted many of the Administration's landmark efforts in this area to date.
Most Americans would be shocked to learn that the institutions of slavery and involuntary servitude--institutions that this Nation fought a bloody war to destroy--continue to persist today--not just around the world, but hidden in communities across America. It has been nearly two centuries since the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, and well over a century since the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. Yet to this day, men, women and children continue to be trafficked into the United States, and coerced into lives of forced labor and sexual slavery. The stories they tell are tragic, disturbing, and heart-rending. And the acts they endure are not just unconstitutional, not just criminal--they are profoundly evil, immoral, and wrong.
Shortly after the Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing I chaired, the President made clear that ending the demand for trafficking is a critical component of this effort, in remarks he delivered before the first national training conference on Human Trafficking in the United States: Rescuing Women and Children from Slavery, hosted by the Justice Department in Tampa, Florida, and attended by a representative from my office. As the President stated, ``we cannot put [human traffickers] out of business until and unless we deal with the problem of demand.''
Moreover, as the State Department's 2004 Trafficking in Persons Report notes, ``[c]onsiderable academic, NGO, and scientific research confirms a direct link between prostitution and trafficking. In fact, prostitution and its related activities ..... contribute[] to trafficking in persons by serving as a front behind which traffickers for sexual exploitation operate....... [P]rostitution directly contributes to the modern-day slave trade and is inherently demeaning. When law enforcement tolerates ..... prostitution, organized crime groups are freer to traffic in human beings.''
So it is appropriate to expand our fight against the most coercive forms of human trafficking and slavery our society has ever witnessed, to include an effort to combat sex trafficking and prostitution as well. And it is appropriate to target the demand for sex trafficking as an essential element of our strategy to eliminating sex trafficking within our borders.
Accordingly, for the past several months, I have been working with various anti-trafficking organizations to craft legislation to focus attention on the demand for sex trafficking within our own country. Last October, Senators SCHUMER and SPECTER and I introduced an earlier version of the legislation I introduce today (S. 2916). Representatives PRYCE and MALONEY introduced a companion bill on the House side that same day. And today, I am introducing a revised version of the bill, designed to achieve precisely the same objective: ending demand for sex trafficking. I am pleased that Senator SPECTER has again agreed to co-sponsor the legislation. Moreover, Senator SCHUMER remains a close partner on this bill. Our offices are still working out some drafting issues with some of the anti-trafficking groups, and I am hopeful that Senator SCHUMER will once again be the lead Democrat co-sponsor of the bill. A parallel bill will be introduced in the House later today by Representatives DEBORAH PRYCE, CAROLYN MALONEY, and BOBBY SCOTT.
This legislation is the product of extensive discussions over the last several months between my office, Senator SCHUMER's office, and major anti-trafficking organizations, as well as the offices of Representatives PRYCE and SCOTT. I am pleased to report that, as a result of those discussions, we now have a bill that is supported by a broad coalition of anti-trafficking and human rights organizations--including the Ministerial Alliance of Midland, Texas, Faces of Children, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, Concerned Women for America, the Hudson Institute, the Institute on Religion and Democracy, the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, the Leadership Council for Human Rights, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Polaris Project, the Protection Project, the Religious Freedom Coalition, the Salvation Army, Shared Hope International, the Southern Baptist Convention, Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE), the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, World Vision, and other organizations and advocates. I ask unanimous consent that letters of endorsement from various anti-trafficking organizations be included in the RECORD.
In conclusion, this is important legislation to protect the victims of sex trafficking and to reduce demand. I hope that the Senate will act favorably on the bill.
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There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION,
Nashville, TN, March 11, 2005.
Mr. JAMES HO,
Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Border Security, Immigration and Citizenship, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Mr. DEREK LINDBLOM,
Counsel, Office of Senator Chuck Schumer, Hart Senate Building, Washington, DC.
Ms. SHILOH ROEHL,
Legislative Director, Office of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Mr. BOBBY VASSSAR,
Minority Counsel, House Committee on the Judiciary, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR JIM, DEREK, SHILOH, AND BOBBY: I am pleased to notify you that the following members and organizations of the National Coalition for Religious Freedom and Human Rights fully support the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005, including myself. Others have already notified you of their support through personal letters. I am also confident that additional organizations from our Coalition, and groups closely aligned with us, will join in supporting this historic legislation.
Best regards,
Barrett Duke, Chairman, National Coalition for Religious Freedom and Human Rights, Vice President for Public Policy and Research, Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals; Janice Shaw Crouse, Senior Fellow, The Beverly Lahaye Institute, Concerned Women for America; Lisa Thompson, Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking, Salvation Army; Nathan J. Diament, Director of Public Policy, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America; Faith McDonnell, Director, Religious Liberty Programs, Institute on Religion and Democracy; Donna M. Hughes, Professor & Carlson Endowed Chair, Women's Studies Program, University of Rhode Island; Kathryn Porter, President, Leadership Council for Human Rights; Peggy Birchfield, Executive Director, Religious Freedom Coalition; Michael Horowitz, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute; Debbie Fikes, Director, Basic Ministries, International, Midland, TX; Margaret Purvis, Chairwoman, Faces of Children, Midland, Texas; Dr. Jae Joong Nam, President, AEGIS Foundation.
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March 15, 2005.
Hon. JOHN CORNYN,
U.S. Senate,
Washington DC.
Hon. DEBORAH PRYCE,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
DEAR SENATOR CORNYN AND REPRESENTATIVE PRYCE: I am writing to express my support for the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
Though I and several of my colleagues had some serious concerns about earlier versions of the legislation, I appreciate your willingness to address our proposed changes. I believe the bill introduced is greatly improved and will have a positive effect on reducing demand for commercial sex practices in the United States. Reducing demand for commercial sex will help reduce the number of trafficking victims and help prevent the sexual exploitation of women and children.
I commend you for commitment to helping end sex trafficking and your commitment to human rights.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Linda Smith,
Founder and Executive Director,
Shared Hope International.
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INSTITUTE ON RELIGION
AND PUBLIC POLICY,
Washington, DC., March 15, 2005.
Hon. John Cornyn,
U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR SENATOR CORNYN: I am writing in support of the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005. This historic legislation would bring significant attention to the true roots of sexual trafficking: the demand for illegal sexual activity. It would also combat the commercial sexual trade by focusing law enforcement effort on consumers, traffickers, and exploiters, ending the current isolation of the individuals exploited in the illegal activity.
The End Demand for Sexual Trafficking Act of 2005 is the result of many hours of work by lawmakers, religious leaders, and NGOs under your ledership and is a much-needed addition to the United States' sexual trafficking laws. This bill will hopefully focus the attention of sexual trafficking prosecution on the traffickers and the ``johns'' who pay for the illegal activities, thereby solidifying America's position as the world leader in working to end sexual trafficking and prostitution.
With warm personal regards and best wishes, I am,
Sincerely Yours,
Joseph K. Grieboski,
President.
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FACES OF CHILDREN,
MIDLAND, TEXAS,
March 11, 2005.
Re End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005
Hon. JOHN CORNYN,
U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR SENATOR CORNYN: On behalf of Faces of Children an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas, we endorse the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
Faces of Children is a prayer ministry that focuses on and provides prayer support to children in crisis and in distress. We care deeply about providing assistance to victims, especially the youngest and most vulnerable ones, of sex trafficking and about prosecuting those who take advantage of them in the sex trade.
We are most grateful to you for sponsoring this important bill!
Blessings,
Margaret Purvis, Chair,
Faces of Children, Midland, TX;
Chris Laufer, Coodinator,
Faces of Children, Midland, TX.
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COALITION AGAINST TRAFFICKING
IN WOMEN,
March 9, 2005.
DEAR SENATOR CORNYN: The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, an international organization working against sex trafficking and prostitution in many parts of the world, would like to express its support for the proposed ``End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.''
We are confident that this bill, when passed and implemented, will go a long way in deterring purchasers of commercial sex acts, help protect children from being exploited, prohibit the operation of sex tours, and assist States and local governments in their efforts to reduce trafficking and commercial sexual activities.
We hope that this bill will soon be passed by the United States Congress and appreciate your sponsorship of this important legislation.
Sincerely,
Janice G. Raymond,
Co-Executive Director.
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[From World Vision, March 10, 2005]
World Vision Endorses Legislation to Combat Sex Trafficking and Increase Assistance to Victims
WASHINGTON.--World Vision applauds Senator John Cornyn and Representatives Chris Smith and Deborah Pryce for their steadfast work to protect children from exploitation. We support H.R. 972, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 and the introduction of the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005. The combined strengths of these two bills provide for effective measures to help combat sex trafficking by increasing law enforcement efforts, reducing demand and increasing services available to victims.
An estimated two million children currently are enslaved in the global commercial sex trade, which has destroyed the lives of countless women and children throughout history. For children, the most vulnerable victims, the impact is catastrophic, including: long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease (including HIV/AIDS), violence/abuse, drug addiction, unwanted pregnancy, malnutrition, social ostracism, a life of poverty and, in the worst cases, death. Notably, this abhorrent abuse is found in nearly every country, including the United States.
The provisions included in the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 will help remedy this problem by increasing U.S. law enforcement action against the abusers, including traffickers, pimps, brothel owners and ``customers'' (a.k.a., ``Johns''), thereby curtailing demand. In addition, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 reauthorizes much-needed program funds, provides for increased law enforcement programs and tools and bolsters the TIP office at the Department of State. Both bills measurably increase services available to victims.
World Vision is delighted to support both of these bills and we have full confidence in the U.S. Congress to resolve any differences between the two bills in order to arrive at the most effective legislation possible. We thank Senator Cornyn and Representatives Smith and Pryce for their leadership in addressing this global problem. We stand ready to work with Congress on this important issue.
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty . World Vision serves the world's poor--regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. In 2004, World Vision operated in nearly 100 countries around the world.
STANDING AGAINST
GLOBAL EXPLOITATION,
San Francisco, CA, March 8, 2005.
Senator JOHN CORNYN,
Hart Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC.
HONORABLE SENATOR JOHN CORNYN: I am writing on behalf of SAGE Project, Inc to strongly and enthusiastically endorse the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005, a bill designed to combat commercial activities by targeting demand, to protect children from being exploited by such activities, to prohibit the operation of sex tours, to assist State and local governments to enforce laws dealing with commercial sexual activities, to reduce trafficking in persons and for other purposes.
SAGE has designed and implemented cutting-edge, model restorative justice programs for customers of prostitutes (the demand), trauma and drug recovery, and job training programs for women, young men, and girls who are victims of trafficking, prostitution, sexual exploitation and violence. The personal knowledge and experience possessed by many of the survivor, peer staff enables SAGE to effectively provide support and engender trust without re-traumatizing even the most fragile of clients. Through advocacy, educational programs, and as a direct service provider for over 14 years, SAGE has assisted in raising public awareness concerning the sexual exploitation and trafficking of women and girls. As a result of our interventions, SAGE has assisted over 1500 individuals to exit the criminal justice system, escape traffickers and actively engage in prosecutions, receive emergency housing and victim services, recover from abuse and acquire appropriate services such as medical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, legal, immigration, case management, educational and vocational training. Because of SAGE's commitment to victims of exploitation and trafficking, a web of prevention education, early intervention and treatment services and a network of survivor, peer led programs throughout the United States has been created. SAGE is the co-founder of the first and largest program for customers of prostitutes in the world. This restorative justice program has been replicated in dozens of other cities and funds a wide range of services for women and girls.
Studies show that most commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) are integrated into the mainstream sex industry and tend to be concentrated in the cheaper end of the prostitution market where conditions are the worse and the concentration of customers/abusers the highest. Although some children are prostituted by and/or specifically for pedophiles and preferential abusers, the majority of the several million men who annually exploit children are first and foremost prostitute users of adult women who become child sexual abusers through their prostitute use, rather than the other way around. The world of prostitution whether legal or illegal provides an arena where laws and rules which constrain sex with minors can be evaded. Laws and social conventions make it difficult and dangerous for individuals to buy children for sexual purposes in non-commercial contexts, but prostitution potentially provides instant access, often to a selection of children. Men surveyed in San Francisco through SAGE and the First Offenders Prostitution Program respond when asked how a person justifies having sex with an underage prostituted child, ''they don't even think.'' They know that law enforcement efforts are focused on the youth/child as the perpetrator and not on them. The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 is the most historically significant step toward ending the rape and sexual abuse of children through prostitution and holding the true perpetrators accountable.
The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 clearly, strongly, and unambiguously redefines ``child prostitution'' as sexual abuse on young human beings. This sexual abuse of children through prostitution is made possible by a society that has sanctioned and institutionalized numbers of children for whom routine abuse, torture, rape, trafficking and kidnapping is considered acceptable. In essence, what society is saying and enforcing through laws and inappropriate interventions is that children and youth are consenting to their own sexual abuse and that by consenting to this abuse they are a danger to society. They are subject to arrest, they are viewed as perpetrators, not victims, and they are denied any services for their victimization. Many of these girls have been exploited for pornography or have suffered or witnessed physical and sexual violence. For these girls, the average of entry into prostitution is 13-14, an age at which these girls are entering an endless cycle of arrest, drug addiction, and violence. The result is traumatic and profound lack of self-esteem causing disempowered behaviors: dropping out of school, prostitution, addiction, selling of drugs, and violence. Their exploitation is perpetuated by continued reliance on the very people who have physically, emotionally, and sexually assaulted them. As these children age into adults they remain trapped in a system of abuse and exploitation and could not escape even if they wanted to. The legal, mental and medical health, human rights consequences of this abuse remains with the child or woman as she is arrested, prosecuted, jailed, placed on probation and forced into treatment. The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 will send the message that now these severely victimized and neglected children and women can depend on us for protection and care.
SAGE is committed to working with you and your office in passing this historic legislation. Just ask.
Truly,
Norma Hotaling ,
Founder and Director, SAGE.
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Johns Hopkins University, The Paul H. Hitze School of Advanced International Studies
Washington, DC, March 18, 2005.
Hon. JOHN CORNYN,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, D.C.
Hon. DEBORAH PRYCE,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR CORNYN AND REPRESENTATIVE PRYCE: I am writing on behalf of The Protection Project at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), to express my full support for the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
The Protection Project is a legal human rights research institute committed to the eradication of trafficking in persons. The Protection Project strongly believes that reducing demand is the most effective way to successfully combat sex trafficking.
The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 is a significant step forward in the fight against sex trafficking, since it introduces appropriate measures to promote the prosecution of purchasers of commercial sex acts, exploiters of sexual activities and traffickers. In particular, in regard to the prosecution of purchasers, I strongly endorse Section 4(b)(1), which proposes measures such as educational programs for first time purchasers of ``unlawful commercial sex,'' publication of names and addresses, the use of female decoys, statutory rape and felony assaults prosecutions, and other programs enhancing prosecution and reducing demand. I firmly believe that these measures would significantly contribute to discouraging demand.
The Protection Project is committed to working with you and supports the passage of this important legislation.
Best Regards,
Mohamed Y. Mattar, S.J.D.,
Adjunct Professor of Law
and Executive Director.
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POLARIS PROJECT,
Tokyo, Japan, March 10, 2005.
Mr. JAMES HO,
Chief Counsel, Subcommittee on Border Security, Immigration and Citizenship, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Mr. DEREK LINDBLOM,
Counsel, Office of Senator Chuck Schumer, Hart Senate Building, Washington, DC.
Ms. SHILOH ROEHL,
Legislative Director, Office of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR MR. HO, MR. LINDBLOM, AND MS. ROEHL: On behalf of Polaris Project, we write in support of the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005.
We work everyday with women and children in the sex industry who have been beaten, raped, and controlled through threats of death and extreme violence, many of them U.S. nationals who just a few years ago would be viewed as nothing more than criminals. This historic legislation will help change that injustice forever in the United States. The End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act of 2005 generates renewed hope for our clients, for the survivors on our staff, and for the rest of us who work everyday protecting some of the most vulnerable women and children in our country.
Thank you for your work.
Sincerely,
Katherine Chon,
Co-Executive Director.
Derek Ellerman,
Co-Executive Director.
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[From the Religious Freedom Coalition]
(By Peggy Birchfield)
Statement by Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman, William J. Murray
Although progress has been made in many areas since the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed in 2000, the tragic human degradation of sexual trafficking continues to increase in magnitude. The number of those adversely affected continues to grow, especially among children, the most pathetic victims.
By focusing more on the male customers and on traffickers, this proposed legislation can reduce prostitution by redirecting law enforcement efforts which now disproportionately lead to the arrest of the women involved in prostitution, some of whom are trafficking victims.
The legislators who have wisely recognized that prostitution is not a ``victimless crime'' and who have taken steps to reduce its prevalence are to be applauded. It has long been realized that prostitution brutalizes and desensitizes men, who come to view women as objects and not as human beings. A new study has shown that prostitution also leads to more criminal behavior in women, and not just in drug related offenses. It was found that 7 out of 10 women who were convicted of felonies of all kinds, first entered the legal system because of an arrest for prostitution.
Sex tourism is a growing industry that targets children in third world countries, and the United States is the home of probably more ``sex tourists'' than any other single nation. The victims are not American children in this case, but are poor and often abandoned children in foreign countries where there is lax law enforcement. This new effort to stop the victimization of these children should be supported in all possible ways. The men who travel abroad to exploit children and the tour operators who are well aware of the nature of the trips they are providing, should be prosecuted.
This bipartisan effort by members of the Senate and the House to address this serious humanitarian issue is to be highly commended, and I hope it will gain many more supporters and cosponsors in Congress.
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