This
bill is the product of bipartisan work and much collaboration.
I’d
like to also thank Senators Cornyn and Klobuchar, who are true leaders in this
space and also introduced their trafficking legislation this week. I look
forward to continuing to work with them on this issue.
Many
Americans tend to view human slavery as a thing of the past. We read about it
in our history books and collectively cringe at the concept of such injustice.
Unfortunately, however, the reality is that human slavery is alive and well,
even today, in the form of sex and labor trafficking.
According
to the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons report, human
trafficking is a $150 billion business around the globe. Through deception,
threats or violence, the perpetrators of these crimes will do whatever it takes
to turn a profit at their victims’ expense.
With
the introduction of this bill, we are acting as a voice for these human
trafficking victims in the United States who cannot speak for themselves. To
combat this crime within our country’s borders, we’ve addressed this scourge on
multiple fronts.
The
bill we’ve championed would extend several key victims’ services programs that
were established under the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act. It would promote screening of human trafficking
victims, enhance training for federal investigators and start a pilot program
for youth at high risk of being trafficked.
Our
bill also includes the Survivor’s Bill of Rights in the States Act, a bill I
developed with survivor and advocate Amanda Nguyen which encourages states to
ensure that survivors have, at minimum, the rights guaranteed to survivors
under federal law.
Fighting
for victims has been one of my top priorities as chairman and now ranking member
of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I consider it a privilege to shape the law
to ensure that trafficking victims receive necessary services.
I
also take pride in helping law enforcement and prosecutors hold the
perpetrators accountable.
Lastly,
this bill has been supported by National District Attorneys Association,
Rights4Girls, Shared Hope International, Covenant House, National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, Rape Abuse and Incest National Network and National
Center on Sexual Exploitation.
I
am grateful for these groups and the important work they do.
This
bipartisan bill is a strong start, but of course the work doesn’t stop there. I
look forward to marking this up in the Judiciary Committee and getting it
signed into law.
