Justice For Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, S. 178.

But first I would like to thank both Chairman Goodlatte of Virginia and Ranking Member Conyers of Michigan of the Judiciary Committee for bringing this important bill to the floor for consideration. I also would like to thank the gentlewoman from Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, for her leadership and for managing the bill today for the Democrats, and a special thank you to the original sponsors.

This comprehensive legislation is a major milestone in our efforts to crack down on sex trafficking and to help protect vulnerable children across America.

One of my top priorities in the 114th Congress was to pass my trafficking bill, H.R. 246, and today's bill includes it and nine other bipartisan House bills aimed at combating the scourge of human trafficking.

I thank Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Grassley of Iowa for offering the language of my bill as an amendment during the markup of S. 178 to ensure its inclusion in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, on March 2, 2015, I sat through the Senate Judiciary Committee markup to witness and hear the committee's discussion and vote. Today I am proud to stand on this House floor with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, advocating for this legislation that will provide child sex trafficking victims with greater restitution, justice, and resources.

Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. We have heard that, and it is worth repeating.

In fact, according to the United States State Department, human trafficking is the world's second-largest criminal enterprise after the illegal drug trade.

As we know, it is not just happening in faraway lands. It happens in our own backyards.

I am proud to have participated and led discussions on preventing child sex trafficking in my district. Last year, I joined a bipartisan roundtable discussion to hear firsthand stories and challenges from once child victim Theresa Flores, who is now a national spokesperson and best-selling author of ``The Slave Across the Street.''

In the United States, some 300,000 children are at risk each year for commercial sexual exploitation. In my home State of Ohio, each year, an estimated 1,100 Ohio children become victims of human trafficking, and over 3,000 more are at risk.

The average age of trafficked victims in the United States is between 12 and 13 years of age. At this early age, Mr. Speaker, children should be in middle school, making new friends, playing sports, enjoying afterschool programs, or just being children.

Mr. Speaker, these children deserve better, and today's legislation is a much-needed step in that right direction.

We know that no single system can successfully combat trafficking. Preventing, identifying, and serving victims of trafficking requires a multicoordinated approach across all levels of government as well as input and assistance from nongovernmental entities and the American people.

My provision in this bill will update Federal law to include the term ``child sex trafficking'' to reinforce that children who are trafficked should not be criminalized as prostitutes; instead, treated as victims. We need to ensure people understand that if they report an instance of child sex trafficking, law enforcement is not going to pursue the child and prosecute them as a criminal. They are victims.

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Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, let me end by asking and encouraging all people, when they see something, say something.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues today to support this legislation so we may send it to the President's desk for signature, finally bringing justice to the tens of thousands of human trafficking victims.

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