Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on an amendment that I was pleased to include in the human trafficking legislation that was passed earlier today. The amendment was based on the Human Trafficking Survivors Relief and Empowerment Act, which I introduced several weeks ago.

It has a simple purpose. It provides an incentive for States to enact laws that allow human trafficking survivors to clear their criminal records of prostitution and other low-level, nonviolent crimes that they can reasonably demonstrate were the result of being trafficked.

Many States, including my home State of New Hampshire, have vacatur laws in place. However, we need to ensure that survivors of human trafficking have access to these types of protections no matter where they are rescued, or what State they were forced to commit crimes in.

When I first introduced this legislation, I shared the story of a young woman named Katie featured in a recent NPR story on vacatur laws. In the story, she spoke about her heartbreaking experience as a trafficking victim.

Katie talked about being raped at age 11, and at age 13 being forced into commercial sex.

She talked about having her skull cracked and ribs broken, and about the regular beatings that resulted in bruises and black eyes. She talked about 7 years of the worst kinds of physical and emotional torture, and being transported nearly 1,400 miles from her home.

But Katie also talked about her recovery--about rebuilding a life with her family and young son, about working hard to make a better life.

According to Katie, one of the most important things we can do for these survivors, these brave young men and women, is to give them the tools to start over.

As Katie told NPR, ``I'm not ever going to forget what I've done, but at the same time, I don't want it thrown in my face every time I'm trying to seek employment.''

Survivors of human trafficking are victims of a crime. Yet often it is the victims who are arrested, detained, prosecuted, and convicted.

Records of these crimes, can follow survivors for life. These records limit access to safe housing and good jobs. They can even bar access to car loans and educational opportunities. They leave trafficking survivors with few options, and in some cases drive individuals back to engaging in commercial sex.

Vacatur laws help victims start fresh. They are a critical part of recovery and should be available in every State, and my amendment will help us achieve that goal.

I will close by sharing comments that Katie's mom recently sent to my office. It think it clearly demonstrates what is possible when survivors are given the time and support they need to recover.

She wrote:

As a mother and as a woman watching all those years, being totally overwhelmed by hopelessness AND helplessness, I can see a positive . ..... I think the 11 year old girl I lost is coming back to me ..... as a woman--a little battle weary but stronger and happier and filled with so much hope.

We want this kind of new beginning for every victim of trafficking. And that is exactly what this provision will help accomplish. I want to thank my colleagues for their support, and hope this bill will move quickly through the House and to the President for signature into law.

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