Bipartisan bills to fight human trafficking clear U.S. House

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed three bipartisan bills aimed at fighting the nation’s ongoing and increasingly problematic human trafficking epidemic.

The measure drew strong support from U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Fred Upton (R-MI) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), who each represent states that are grappling with a growing human trafficking problem.

Buchanan said that Florida ranks third in the nation behind California and Texas in the number of reported trafficking cases and experienced a 54 percent increase last year. Upton said that Michigan reported more than 200 cases of human trafficking in 2016, the highest number in the last five years. And Davis said Illinois now has the eighth-highest number of human trafficking cases reported among states.

“Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry that affects more than 20 million victims around the world” every year, Davis said.

Davis cited statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which reported roughly 7,500 cases last year—2,000 more than the previous year.

“Behind these startling numbers are real people who are suffering, families torn apart and heartbreaking stories from around the globe,” Upton said. “Clearly, we need to take action.”

Sitting idly by as the problem continues to grow isn’t an option, Davis added.

“Passing these bills will help the thousands of victims of crimes we couldn’t stop and hopefully prevent future women and children in our communities from becoming victims,” said Davis, who has made combatting human trafficking and sexual assault a priority, particularly on the eight college campuses in his district.

Buchanan, meanwhile, recently called for greater action against human trafficking after chairing a Florida congressional delegation meeting that focused on the alarming problem in the state.

“Human trafficking victims suffer unspeakable acts of violence and exploitation,” Buchanan said. “I’m hopeful the Senate will move swiftly to get [these] to the president’s desk.”

On Wednesday, the House passed the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act, H.R. 2664, which would allow the Department of Labor to better train employees to detect and report cases of human trafficking to law enforcement.

In addition, the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act, H.R. 2480, would allow law enforcement agencies to qualify for federal funding through the Department of Justice to develop programs to help combat human trafficking.

A third bill, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017, H.R. 2200, would reauthorize $130 million to prevent and protect victims of human trafficking and prosecute offenders.

“Here in the U.S. House, we have a long record of advancing bipartisan legislation that will combat the human trafficking epidemic. I was proud to stand with my House colleagues – Republicans and Democrats – to take much-needed action against this terrible violation of human dignity,” Upton said.