Buchanan’s bipartisan bill would educate students, teachers about human trafficking

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) recently introduced the bipartisan Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2019.

“Human trafficking is a vile and monstrous crime against women and children,” Rep. Buchanan said. “Educating students and teachers about the warning signs is critical to addressing the problem.”

Rep. Buchanan cosponsored H.R. 4388 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) to authorize $75 million in funding over a five-year period for a newly created grant training program to educate young people and school personnel about human trafficking. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) is also among the cosponsors of H.R. 4388.

“This is especially important in hot spots for human trafficking like Florida,” said Rep. Buchanan.

The grant program under H.R. 4388 would be created within the Office of Trafficking in Persons in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide training for students, teachers and other school personnel on the warning signs of human trafficking. The grants would be issued by nonprofit organizations experienced in creating and teaching human trafficking and exploitation prevention curricula.

The bill also would prioritize funding for nonprofits serving geographic areas with the highest prevalence of human trafficking, and would include requirements for data collection on the impacts of the program, including the number of identified human trafficking survivors and exploited children.

The measure has garnered the support of several human trafficking prevention groups, including the Selah Way Foundation based in Sarasota, Fla.

“I look forward to working with Congressman Hastings and organizations like the Selah Way Foundation to end this modern day slavery,” Rep. Buchanan said.