Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act, H.R. 2283, and commend my friend and colleague Rep. Chris Smith for introducing it. Congressman Smith is a leader in the global fight against sex slavery and I thank him for all he has done and the leadership he continues to provide.

The State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) does a fantastic job of maintaining U.S. leadership and accountability in the worldwide effort to combat human trafficking.

Today, human trafficking represents a modern form of slavery. It is a crisis that victimizes 21 million people worldwide.

In my home state of Illinois, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center estimates 25,000 women and girls are exploited each year by sex traffickers.

More than 130 countries have created or strengthened their anti-trafficking laws largely due to the work carried out by the J/TIP. It's important, therefore, to provide the J/TIP with the standing it needs to maintain the momentum that has resulted in increased prosecution of traffickers, protection of victims, and prevention of human trafficking.

The Human Trafficking Prioritization Act does just that. By raising the status of the J/TIP ``office'' to that of a ``bureau'' and encouraging the Secretary of State to upgrade the ``ambassador-at-large'' position to that of an ``assistant secretary,'' H.R 2283 builds upon the acknowledged accomplishments of the J/TIP.

It will give the J/TIP and the Ambassador-at-Large who leads it level standing with regional and functional bureaus within the State Department and prevent countries and other bureaus at the agency from gaming the tier ranking system. It achieves this without creating additional bureaucracy or additional cost to the government.

As a member of the Congressional Human Trafficking Task Force working with the congressional leadership, J/TIP, and international anti-trafficking groups to end sex slavery, I know it is critical to keep the fight against human trafficking from being consumed in a bureaucratic shuffle. I am convinced that the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act will only serve to enhance the vital work undertaken by the J/TIP.

Human trafficking targets the most vulnerable in a society. The Human Trafficking Prioritization Act will give the J/TIP the integration and voice it deserves within the Department of State to ensure nations are diligent in their efforts to protect the victims and punish the perpetrators of human trafficking.

Again, I thank Mr. Smith for introducing this bill and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source