Royce Launches Anti-Human Trafficking Advisory Committee

Press Release

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) today announced the launch of his Human Trafficking Congressional Advisory Committee (HTCAC) which will hold its inaugural meeting at Royce's Los Angeles County district office.

The HTCAC is comprised of victims' rights groups, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and community advocates who will meet on a monthly basis to address human trafficking concerns, as well as offer ideas that may translate into policy recommendations.

"The tragedy of human trafficking is a growing concern in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties, as well as throughout Southern California," said Rep. Ed Royce. "This form of modern day slavery crushes the lives and hopes of millions of victims, primarily women and girls, around the world. Our Human Trafficking Congressional Advisory Committee provides a unique opportunity to gather all the agencies, non-profits and advocacy groups who are working to fight this problem in one room to share ideas, experiences, and possible solutions."

Members of the HTCAC include the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit; the Anaheim Police Department; Crittenton Services for Children & Families; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Victims' Services and Investigative Departments; Salvation Army, Network of Emergency Trafficking Services; Saddleback Church, Justice & Trafficking Initiative; Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and Community Service Programs, Inc.; Vanguard University Global Center for Women and Justice; iEmpathize; Forgotten Children, Inc.; The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking; International Princess Project; and Freeing American Children from Exploitation and Sexual Slavery.

"At Crittenton, we see all too often the devastating impact human trafficking has on its victims -- many of whom are young girls," said Joyce Capelle, President and CEO of Crittenton Services for Children and Families. "I applaud Rep. Ed Royce for his work on this important issue and am excited to see how the HTCAC will positively benefit victims of human trafficking in California."

In his role as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Royce held a hearing in May of this year to examine innovative initiatives to combat human trafficking from around the world. At that hearing, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe testified that girls as young as ten years old were being trafficked on the streets of Los Angeles County. This November, Royce will convene a field hearing in Orange County to address the growing problem of human trafficking in Southern California.

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