Klobuchar: New Human Trafficking Hotline Data Underscores Urgent Need to Take Action to Crack Down on Sex Trafficking, Support Victims

Press Release

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today said that new data from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline underscores the urgent need to take action to crack down on sex trafficking and support victims. The data released by Polaris shows that in 2014, 5,167 cases of human trafficking were reported in the United States to the Hotline and Polaris. The NHTRC received a 26 percent increase in calls directly from survivors last year. Klobuchar has introduced bipartisan legislation to combat sex trafficking modeled after Minnesota's "Safe Harbor" law that helps make sure minors sold for sex aren't prosecuted as defendants but are instead treated as victims. The Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking (SETT) Act would also strengthen the National Human Trafficking Hotline by ensuring it's backed by the full force of law.

"This new data provides fresh evidence that human trafficking is not just a problem plaguing countries half a world away--it's happening in our own backyard," Klobuchar said. "We need to do more to ensure that victims of sex trafficking are supported, not thrown behind bars. It's time to pass my bipartisan bill that will expand Minnesota's Safe Harbor model across the country to provide victims the support they need, authorize the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and help law enforcement crack down on the criminals who perpetrate these heinous crimes."

Klobuchar's bill, which she introduced with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), is supported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Fraternal Order of Police, Shared Hope International, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, United Methodist Women. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dan Coats (R-IN), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven (R-ND), John McCain (R-AZ), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) have cosponsored the bill.

Source