Goodlatte Applauds House Approval of Legislation to Combat Human Trafficking

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved four bills by voice vote to combat human trafficking in America. These bills were unanimously approved by the House Judiciary Committee last week. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) applauded House passage of these important bills in the statement below. Chairman Goodlatte: “The sale of children for sex sounds like something that could only happen in faraway places, but tragically it is happening right here in the United States every single day. According to the FBI, sex trafficking is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world.  Sadly, this immoral and illicit industry is also a profitable one. It’s estimated that child sex trafficking in the United States alone is a $9.8 billion industry. Together as a nation, we must send the strong message that our children are not for sale. “The House of Representatives acted today by passing legislation to hold everyone involved in these crimes accountable, whether they sell, buy, or market these children to potential buyers. These bills ensure that exploited children are treated as victims rather than as criminals and provide much-needed resources to victims of sex trafficking that will help them reclaim and rebuild their lives. I thank my colleagues, Representatives Ted Poe, Kristi Noem, Erik Paulsen, and Ann Wagner, for working on these important bills and urge the Senate to take up these bills as soon as possible. There is no more important duty than to protect our children.” Below are summaries of the four bills that passed today that were recently approved by the House Judiciary Committee. The Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act (H.R. 350): This bill, authored by Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and approved by voice vote, launches a review that will look into federal and state trafficking prevention activities in order to identify best practices to stop human trafficking; requires an inventory of existing federal anti-trafficking efforts to make sure all federal agencies and programs work together and that federal resources are being targeted where needed; and improves existing Department of Justice grants, ensuring that the grants also support shelters for survivors. The Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act (H.R. 159): This legislation, sponsored by Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) and approved by voice vote, provides incentives to states to adopt safe harbor laws that treat trafficked children as victims, rather than as criminals or delinquents. The bill also provides an avenue for victims to access job skills training so that they can begin to rebuild their lives. The Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation (SAVE) Act (H.R. 285): This bill, authored by Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) and approved by voice vote, criminalizes those who knowingly advertise or profit from advertisements that offer the commercial exploitation of children and trafficking victims. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (H.R. 181): This comprehensive anti-human trafficking bill, authored by Congressman Ted Poe (R-Texas) and approved by voice vote, boosts support and protection for domestic human trafficking victims by increasing and streamlining law enforcement resources, enhancing victims’ services, and strengthening our laws to ensure that both buyers and sellers engaged in sex trafficking are held accountable for their crimes. The House passed similar legislation in the 113^th Congress, but the bills were not signed into law.