U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Ann Wagner (R-MO) on Nov. 22 introduced a bipartisan bill to help provide support and services to individuals impacted by human trafficking, as well as the law enforcement officers working to combat such crimes.
“I’m proud to introduce this bill so that we can provide survivors and law enforcement officers who investigate these terrible crimes with the resources and support they need,” Rep. Joyce said. “With Ohio ranking among the worst states in the nation for human trafficking, I am committed to doing everything in my power to prevent these crimes from happening, support survivors, and bring traffickers to justice.”
Rep. Joyce sponsored the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, H.R. 9352, with three original cosponsors, including Rep. Wagner and U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV). H.R. 9352 is companion legislation to the same-named S. 4611, introduced on July 26 by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) in their chamber.
If enacted, the measure would improve services for trafficking victims by establishing, in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma (IMPACTT) Program and the Victim Assistance Program, according to the text of the bill.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked with federal law enforcement to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to combat human trafficking in our community and across the country,” said Rep. Wagner. “The brave men and women who investigate these traumatic and heinous cases are on the front lines of this fight, saving vulnerable individuals from the modern sex trade every day.”
Specifically, the bill would make permanent and expand the HSI Victim Assistance Program and the IMPACTT Program, which aims to ensure the well-being of HSI employees and partners who are exposed to repeated stress and associated trauma through their work to support victims and investigate human trafficking, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“The IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act includes my [HSI] Victim Assistance Act and will provide the necessary support for investigators who deal with their own stresses from these cases,” Rep. Wagner said. “My provision will expand the HSI Victim Assistance Program to help survivors assist HSI investigators in apprehending and building a case against their traffickers while also informing survivors about the multiple resources available to them.
“I will always support survivors and our HSI investigators, and I look forward to advancing this legislation,” added the congresswoman.
The bill also would increase the number of victim assistant specialists to ensure every office participating in a human trafficking or child exploitation task force would have an assigned specialist and ensure that victims are provided with referrals for support services throughout the investigative and prosecutorial process, among other provisions, the summary says.
“The horrible truth is that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing forms of transnational crime,” said Rep. Joyce, a co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. “These crimes pose a threat to communities nationwide, with traffickers using violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people into modern-day slavery where they often become victims of sexual violence as well.”