Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the chairman very much for his leadership on this issue and so many others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and all of the House-passed human trafficking legislation that was incorporated into this Senate bill.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the culmination of a long journey for myself and many Members in both Chambers who have worked on this important issue. This legislation represents a significant step forward in the Federal

Government's efforts to combat the scourge of modern-day slavery, known as human trafficking. This bill makes enormous progress in the fight against trafficking by providing resources to law enforcement officials and collecting fees from sex traffickers that go into a new fund for victims.

It also includes my signature legislation, the SAVE Act, which make it illegal to knowingly advertise the victims of human trafficking, especially on the Internet. I thank my friends and colleagues, Senator Mark Kirk and Dianne Feinstein, for offering the SAVE Act as an amendment to this very important legislation.

Beyond the multiple tools and resources it gives to law enforcement and survivors, this legislation also serves an important symbolic purpose. This bill symbolizes the longstanding and steadfast commitment that Members of Congress have towards protecting the most vulnerable members of our society.

No longer will the cruel exploitation of women and children be allowed to continue unchecked. No longer will sexual predators be allowed to torture, rape, and kill young Americans in the name of financial profit. Mr. Speaker, with this legislation, we are providing voice to the voiceless and advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of all of the good, bipartisan work done by my colleagues here in Congress on this issue of human trafficking. Years of work by many of my colleagues, including Representatives POE, SMITH, NOEM, PAULSEN, BEATTY, MALONEY, and many, many others, Mr. Speaker, have laid the foundation for this long overdue action.

I am grateful that many of my colleagues have held events in their home districts to raise awareness and educate the public about human trafficking. Awareness, training, and education are the key to preventing this horrible crime from happening in the first place. Young people must be warned about the devious and manipulative strategies employed by traffickers to ensnare them in the trap of sexual slavery.

The children at risk are not just school students. Pimps or traffickers are known to prey on victims as young as 9 years old. Traffickers may target minor victims through social media Web sites, afterschool programs, shopping malls and clubs, and through friends or acquaintances who recruit students on school campuses.

One of the best ways to combat human trafficking is through education. Many States have successful programs that train school personnel about how to identify the victims. We should work with schools to develop policies and protocols and partnerships to address and prevent the exploitation of children.

Partnership between public and private sectors is the key to combating human trafficking. Many times, frontline employees in the transportation and hospitality industry are the ones best suited to identify trafficking victims or their predators. Increased awareness and training will lead to more victims being identified, which is the critical step in breaking the cycle of exploitation and victimization.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation and all efforts to combat human trafficking, and I look forward to continuing this work in the House of Representatives, and this Congress as a whole, for years to come.

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