Two bills introduced by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) on Thursday would crack down on human trafficking by targeting logistical and transportation networks that are used to carry out those crimes.
The No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act would bar anyone convicted of a human trafficking felony from holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) at any point in the future. The Combatting Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, meanwhile, would establish a human trafficking prevention coordinator within the Department of Transportation (DOT).
“As a former organized crime prosecutor on both the northern border at home in New York and on the southern border in El Paso, Texas, I’ve seen firsthand the horrors of human trafficking,” Katko said. “As Central New York’s representative in Congress, I’ve remained engaged locally and worked together with our federal and local law enforcement and community stakeholders to continue to address this issue.”
According to the FBI, sex trafficking is one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world.
Katko introduced both bills with bipartisan support from U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT).
“Often, human traffickers take advantage of our nation’s transportation systems to transport their victims, and the U.S. Department of Transportation and the transportation industry play a critical role in preventing and stopping these heinous exploitations,” Katko said. “I’m proud to join with my colleague on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Esty, to introduce two comprehensive measures today to help recognize and prevent the crime of human trafficking.”
The No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act’s prohibition on CDL licenses for those convicted of human trafficking mirrors a similar CDL prohibition for those convicted of felony drug trafficking.
“Our bipartisan bills will empower the U.S. Department of Transportation to combat human trafficking by giving them the tools they need to stop criminals in their tracks across our nation’s transportation network,” Esty said.
The pair of bills were approved in the Senate on Sept. 14, after being introduced by U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD).