Congress Enacts Legislation to Fight Child Trafficking, Strengthen Child Welfare Protections

Press Release

Last night, the U.S. Senate approved bipartisan child welfare legislation aimed at reducing child sex trafficking, increasing adoptions and improving child support collections. The legislation was approved by the House on July 23, 2014.

Specifically, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 4980) would encourage states to combat sex trafficking among youth in foster care; promote normalcy for foster youth; help move more children from foster care into adoptive homes or the homes of relatives; and, increase the amount of child support provided to families in which one parent resides outside of the U.S. The legislation is fully paid for.

In June, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., and Ranking Member Sander Levin, D-Mich., along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, announced this bipartisan legislation. The legislation, which ultimately passed both the Senate and House reconciled differences on three bills previously approved by the House (H.R. 1896, H.R. 3205, and H.R. 4058) and the Senate Finance Committee (S. 1876, S. 1877, and S. 1878).

The following are key provisions of the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. The bill was introduced in the House by Camp, Levin and House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert, R-Wash., and Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas:

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Overall, the entire bill would save $1 million over 5 years and $19 million over 10 years.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden said: "This sends a clear message that states can't turn a blind eye to child sex trafficking, and that there's a responsibility to identify victims and build a systemic response. This law will help also foster children build stable relationships with permanent families, where they are much less likely to fall victim to pimps and traffickers and other predators. I urge the President to quickly sign this legislation which Congress has enacted with overwhelming support and will help keep vulnerable children from ending up in the streets, homeless shelters or the juvenile justice system by creating permanent, healthy, and supportive relationships."

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Hatch said: "This bill takes crucial steps to improve the lives of children and youth in the foster care system who are vulnerable to sex trafficking and other negative outcomes. I am pleased that a number of provisions I introduced last year in my bill, I O Youth, are included in this legislation. While there is more to be done to reform child welfare, such as ending the over-reliance on group homes, this bill takes a critical step forward."

House Ways and Means Chairman Camp said: "We must do all we can to protect and improve the lives of children in foster care. This bill will help protect vulnerable youth from becoming victims of the horrible crime of sex trafficking, as well as ensure that foster youth have a better chance of living safe, healthy and normal lives. Importantly, it will encourage more adoptions of children in foster care so they can live in permanent, loving homes. I am pleased we have done this in a bipartisan, bicameral way so this bill can quickly become law."

House Ways and Means Ranking Member Levin said: "This legislation will help protect vulnerable children from exploitation, move foster children into permanent homes and strengthen child support enforcement across international borders. I hope we can use a similar bipartisan process to further strengthen families, reduce hardship and safeguard children."

House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Reichert said: "The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act makes key changes to our nation's child welfare system to improve the lives of kids in foster care. We have committed to protect these children and we are responsible for their safety and success, yet for too long we have not lived up to that that promise. This legislation will help protect children from the horrors of sex trafficking and give them opportunities to lead more normal and successful lives. It also encourages states to move children into permanent, loving homes more quickly. Passage of this bill is a victory for America's children, and the President needs to sign this legislation without delay."

House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Ranking Member Doggett said: "Much more is needed to protect vulnerable children, but this bill represents a constructive step forward."