Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), co-chair of the House Human Trafficking Caucus, recently introduced the bicameral End Sex Trafficking Act of 2013 with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas).
Granger said that Texas’ I-35 corridor has made the state a national hub for human trafficking.
“Our law enforcement has worked hard to combat this illicit trade, but more can be done with the support of the public and Congress,” Granger said in a recent op-ed. “Current human trafficking law provides resources for victims’ services and gives prosecutors the tools to go after human traffickers. But very little is said about those soliciting the services of a trafficked individual.”
The proposed legislation would help eliminate human trafficking rings by targeting the criminals who purchase sexual acts from such organizations and by ensuring that they are prosecuted as human traffickers.
“In economic theory, we discuss the importance of the supply and demand relationship,” Granger said. “If the demand wanes, so does the supply. This concept can also be applied to human trafficking, as buyers create demand and thereby drive this criminal business.”
The Fraternal Order of Police, the National District Attorneys Association, Human Rights for Girls and the American Bar Association, among many other organizations, support the bill.