The contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline should be posted in the restrooms of all U.S. airplanes, airports, trains, train stations, busses, and bus stations to help human trafficking victims or anyone who notices a potential victim who may need support, according to U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Toward that goal, the congresswoman on March 21 signed on as an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, H.R. 7181, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“Human trafficking is a horrific crime that takes place often right in plain sight,” Rep. Mace said. “This legislation will help victims identify where help is only a phone call away.”
In 2020, almost 10,600 situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline that involved 16,658 individual victims. Human traffickers often use the nation’s transportation systems to carry out their crimes, according to information provided by Rep. Mace’s staff.
“I was shocked when I found out that 28 people faced charges after a raid by an undercover child sex crimes sting right here in my own backyard of Goose Creek, S.C.,” said Rep. Mace. “Sadly, we saw a 15 percent increase in human trafficking in South Carolina last year. This bipartisan legislation will connect victims with the help they need.”
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a toll-free service connecting victims and survivors of trafficking to support and resources. The hotline provides both a toll-free phone line and SMS text lines that are available in English, Spanish or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter, according to the congresswoman’s information.
“A phone call can save a life and stop an individual from being trafficked at their most vulnerable moment. But, to make that call, you need to know who to call,” said Rep. Jeffries.
H.R. 7181 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.