With January being Human Trafficking Awareness Month, U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) on Jan. 10 reiterated his support for bipartisan, bicameral legislation to end what he calls “a modern-day form of slavery.”
“I rise today to renew my resolve to eradicate the horrific injustice that is human trafficking,” said Rep. Stauber on Friday from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. “It has absolutely no place in our society.”
The congressman, who said his home state currently ranks ninth in the nation for missing and murdered indigenous women, called on his colleagues in Congress to take action on Savanna’s Act, H.R. 2733/S. 227, which would direct the U.S. Attorney General to review, revise and develop law enforcement and justice protocols appropriate to address missing and murdered Indians, among other purposes, according to the text of the bill.
“As members of Congress, I believe we have a moral obligation and legislative duty to protect the most vulnerable,” he said.
Rep. Stauber joined bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) and 39 other cosponsors in supporting H.R. 2733, which remains under consideration in both the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.
Meanwhile, the same-named S. 227, introduced in January 2019 by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), languishes in the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
At the same time, the lawmaker plans to “also ensure that the recently created federal task force on missing and murdered Native American women coordinates with state, local and tribal officials to more effectively solve unresolved cases and prevent similar violence.”
A Nov. 26, 2019 executive order issued by President Donald Trump established the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives to “enhance the operation of the criminal justice system and address the legitimate concerns of American Indian and Alaska Native communities regarding missing and murdered people — particularly missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.”
“While these are steps in the right direction, our work is far from done,” said Rep. Stauber. “I will not stop until human trafficking is eliminated and the criminals who have chosen to exploit others have been brought to justice.”