Westerman Co-Sponsors Anti-Sex Trafficking Legislation

Statement

Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs) released the following statement on his co-sponsorship of the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act, H.R. 159:

"Sex trafficking is a real and present problem in Arkansas and across the United States. By co-sponsoring the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act, we are taking action at the federal level much as we did when I was in the state legislature to stamp out human trafficking in our nation. This bill not only is modeled on state laws including the bi-partisan legislation passed in Arkansas during the last legislative session, but goes further by incentivizing states who adopt safe harbor laws with more funding for 'Cops on the Beat' grants and assisting victims rescued from trafficking with Jobs Corps benefits to be used during their recovery."

The bill, which would also establish a national human trafficking hotline, is endorsed by Fraternal Order of Police, Shared Hope International, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Arkansas's anti-human trafficking law, Act 133, passed the Arkansas House 91-0 and the Arkansas Senate 35-0 during the 2013 legislative session.

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