Dhs Blue Campaign Enhancement Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2795, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act. As vice-ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, I know how important it is for us to approach protecting this great Nation in a comprehensive manner by tackling all types of threats, including: hackers, terrorists, violent criminals, and human traffickers.

Criminal organizations use human trafficking to fund their operations by defrauding, coercing, and exploiting both adults and children, forcing them into labor and commercial sex acts. The DHS Blue Campaign enables and empowers the DHS workforce and customer-facing industries they work with--industries such as airlines--to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and take the proper steps to alert authorities.

H.R. 2795 enhances the Department's existing training opportunities by developing internet-based training programs to train Federal, State, local, Tribal law enforcement officers, and others as part of the Department's Blue Campaign. This important piece of legislation also established the Blue Campaign Advisory Board within the Department to coordinate Blue Campaign efforts and work cohesively to combat human trafficking.

Empowering State and local law enforcement to recognize potential human trafficking is the first step in helping them assist these victims, many of whom have been told that they have broken the law and can't seek police assistance by their traffickers. H.R. 2795 does this and helps disrupt these criminal networks, which is an important component in dismantling criminals and the terrorists financing their acts around the world.

I want to thank Representative Meijer for his leadership, and Chairman Thompson for moving this legislation out of committee, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill to further secure the homeland.

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Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer).

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Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge Members to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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