Cornyn-Klobuchar Human Trafficking Bill Goes to Floor Tomorrow, Hoeven is an Original Cosponsor

Press Release

Senator John Hoeven today announced that Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have reintroduced the Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act, a bill that they originally introduced in 2013. Hoeven was an early cosponsor of that bill and is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan legislation that they introduced earlier this year. The bill helps survivors of human trafficking and child pornography.

Hoeven said the bipartisan legislation has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and will move to the Senate floor tomorrow.

"This is an important bill because it not only compensates victims of human trafficking and other crimes of exploitation for their traumatic injuries, but also provides resources to help law enforcement prevent such crimes in the future," Hoeven said. "I believe the legislation has strong bipartisan support, and we'll be able to pass it through the Senate."

The legislation creates a Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund paid for through fines on persons convicted of child pornography, human trafficking, child prostitution, sexual exploitation and human smuggling offenses. The fund will be used to increase the federal resources available for human trafficking victims by up to $30 million a year.

Funding will be awarded as block grants to help states and local governments develop and implement victim-centered programs that train law enforcement to rescue trafficking survivors, prosecute human traffickers, and restore the lives of victims. This program is funded entirely through the "Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund" created by the bill.

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