To improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 5111, a bill I introduced which would help victims of child sex trafficking by decriminalizing their behavior.

I thank Chairman Kline from Minnesota and Ranking Member Miller from California of the Education and the Workforce Committee for bringing this important bill to the floor for consideration. I also thank Representative Walberg from Michigan, who is managing the bill today for the Republicans.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank Senator Portman, whom I partnered with on this legislation earlier this year. Together we introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation in order to assist victims of child sex trafficking and ensure that they are viewed and treated as victims and not criminals. We participated in a roundtable discussion with the Dominican Sisters of Peace in my district with diverse stakeholders who shared stories of victims and ideas of what we could do to further help these children who are trafficked.

We heard story after story, just like on the House floor today: the story of Caroline, in my district; the story of Teresa, who was a victim herself at a very young age and now is a national advocate against child sex trafficking.

As we know, human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. In fact, according to the United States State Department, human trafficking is the world's second-largest criminal enterprise after the illegal drug trade.

In the United States, some 300,000 children are at risk each year for commercial sexual exploitation. Many of them come from family and social backgrounds that render them particularly at risk. These are children who fall through the cracks in our society.

Mr. Speaker, many are runaways, homeless, and in and out of foster care. These children deserve better. The average age of a traffic victim in the United States is 12 years of age.

Mr. Speaker, this is shameful. At 12 years of age, girls and boys should be playing youth sports, participating in their school science fair, learning a new language, or just being able to be a child.

In my home State of Ohio, each year, an estimated 1,078 Ohio children become victims of human trafficking, and over 3,000 more are at risk. Ohio is the fifth leading State for human trafficking because of its proximity to a waterway that leads to an international border and a system of interstate highways that allows an individual to exit the State within 2 hours to almost anywhere.

The I-75 corridor--which runs through Toledo, Dayton, and Cincinnati--is infamous for subjecting children to the horrors of sex trafficking, with reports of victims being repeatedly abused.

Just last week, my hometown paper, The Columbus Dispatch, reported that Ohio children younger than 6 years old have been sexually trafficked by their parents in exchange for drugs, for rent, or cash.

Mr. Speaker, I will enter a copy of this article into the Record.

[From the Columbus Dispatch, July 11, 2014.]

Ohioans Selling Sex With Their Own Kids

(By Alan Johnson)

Ohio children younger than 6 have been sexually trafficked

by their own parents in exchange for drugs, rent and cash, a

new report indicates.

Information from the Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy

Centers shows that 51 minors from across the state were

potential human-trafficking victims--five of them age 6 or

younger--over a nine-month period. The network has a state

contract to screen children referred by law enforcement,

children's services agencies and others, to determine whether

they may have been trafficked.

Statistics from July 2013 to March 2014 showed all but five

of the 51 minors reported were 13 to 18 years old. Only one

case involved a male. They came from both urban and rural

areas of the state.

``I'm most shocked that families are doing this to their

own children,'' said the director of the advocacy center that

originally detected three of the cases involving the youngest

children. She asked not to be identified for this story to

avoid pinpointing specific details about the cases that might

cause problems for the children, or jeopardize legal

proceedings.

``We think it happens to young girls who are runaways. But

with these youngest kids, it's their actual families who are

trafficking them.''

She said more information about what happened to very young

children gradually comes out over time as they are in

counseling and other therapeutic programs.

Information on at least three of the five youngest victims

indicated they were trafficked sexually by one or both of

their parents in ``exchange for drugs, rent, goods or

money,'' said Amy Deverson Roberts of the children's advocacy

network.

She said some cases have been referred for prosecution and

others are pending. She could not release specifics about any

cases.

The suspected victims were referred for help to law

enforcement, children's services, mental-health providers and

other agencies as needed, Roberts said.

``It's all about collaboration to provide the best services

for victims,'' Roberts said.

The network last year received a $523,000, two-year grant

from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to

provide training to detect signs of trafficking, to put on

education programs, and to handle child referrals. The grant

came from a trafficking task force created in an executive

order by Gov. John Kasich.

Officials estimate that 1,100 children are forced into the

sex trade each year in Ohio; 13 is the most common age for

children to be victimized.

Mr. Speaker, more must be done to assist these children, these children who are victims, not criminals, and need our help.

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. We need to encourage all people, when they see something, say something.

Currently, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children operates a CyberTipline, which receives leads and tips regarding suspected crimes of sexual exploitation committed against children. More than 2.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been made to the CyberTipline between 1998 and March of this year.

In identifying the types of sexual exploitation that should be reported to the CyberTipline, current law does not specifically mention ``child sex trafficking'' as one of its reporting categories, even though the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children encounters child victims of sex trafficking and currently uses this term on its Web site in order to encourage the public's reporting of these types of crimes.

Instead, the statute uses the term ``child prostitution,'' which we know does not fully and accurately capture these types of crimes against children.

My bill would add the phrase ``child sex trafficking,'' including ``child prostitution'' to the section b(1)(p) of the Missing Children's Assistance Act.

Working with my colleagues on the Education and the Workforce Committee and Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey, we have crafted legislation in order to improve and update the law in order to reflect the current state of Federal law and to reinforce that children who are sex-trafficked or sexually exploited are victims and not criminals.

Mr. Speaker, children in sex trafficking situations are often misidentified as ``willing'' participants. We know there is widespread lack of awareness and understanding of trafficking.

By adding the term ``child sex trafficking,'' including ``child prostitution,'' the Missing Children's Assistance Act will continue to fight the perception that sex trafficking is a voluntary, victimless crime.

Child sex trafficking is an issue of abuse and exploitation of children.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass).

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

Let me conclude by saying that I urge all of my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to support H.R. 5111.

This is a very important piece of legislation that will help the victims of child sex trafficking. It will decriminalize their behavior. It will help rescue them from the horrible situations that we have heard tonight.

Let me also share that it is not only about H.R. 5111, but it is about all of the bills that we are hearing tonight that I ask this House to support.

I would certainly be remiss if I did not thank the House leadership on both sides of the aisle for allowing us to bring these important bills forward and also my entire staff, but specifically my legislative director for all of her hard work.

Lastly, to Congresswoman Bass, let me say thank you for being someone who has led this charge and has been willing to work with me and others on helping bring all of our bills forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5111) to improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5111.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and rise in support of H.R. 5111.

Today, Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives continues its commitment to providing the necessary tools and policies to help reduce child sex trafficking and better serve these victims in the United States. I want to thank Congresswoman Joyce Beatty for her leadership on this issue and for introducing H.R. 5111, which will improve the ability of law enforcement officials and others to respond to and assist these victims.

For too long these victims have been viewed as willing participants and have been treated as actors in the criminal scheme. However, we now know that oftentimes individuals are trapped as victims by human trafficking organizations, and sadly, many of these victims are children.

As previous House efforts have done, the bills today attempt to change for the better how we view these victims. Congresswoman Beatty's legislation will ensure that we view victims of sex trafficking not as participants but as victims, and ensure that child sex trafficking crimes are reported.

Under current law, the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children, NCMEC, operates a CyberTipline to provide online users and electronic service providers a means of reporting Internet-related child sexual exploitation in many areas, including child prostitution. However, children who are sex-trafficked or sexually exploited should be treated as victims, not criminals. In fact, approximately one out of seven runaway youth are likely victims of sex trafficking, and roughly one out of three youths are lured into prostitution within 48 hours of running away from home.

For this reason, H.R. 5111 would replace the term ``child prostitution'' with ``child sex trafficking'' in the CyberTipline reporting categories to reinforce that children who are sex-trafficked or sexually exploited are victims whose situation should be taken seriously when reported. It would also ensure the public recognizes that child prostitution is included in how NCMEC uses the term ``child sex trafficking,'' and thus should still be reported to the tip line.

Again, I want to thank Congresswoman Beatty, along with the Education and Workforce Committee and

House leadership, for recognizing the need to steadfastly address this dreadful practice. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5111.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time.

The passage of this legislation, Mr. Speaker, shows the House's commitment to not only bolstering enforcement efforts against human traffickers, but also ensuring that we properly identify victims.

I urge all Members to lead efforts in their districts, to continue the conversation, as I have done in mine, about human trafficking, to learn what more we can do in our communities to curtail this hideous crime.

During the human trafficking roundtables I have held in my district, law enforcement officials have consistently raised the need to make community members aware of the real and present threat of human trafficking. We must work to not only educate children, but also families and the general public about the safety risks.

H.R. 5111 is another step to educating our communities about human trafficking victims, and it continues our work to ensure that we are doing what we can to help reduce this horrible crime.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5111, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am, in its present form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It won't kill the bill, and it will not send it back to committee. If this amendment is adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, there are 5 legislative days remaining until this House recesses for the August district work period. It is unacceptable that the House would recess without taking meaningful action on one of the most important issues confronting students and parents and middle class families in my district in Massachusetts and all throughout the country--student loan debt.

Throughout this week, I have offered amendments and motions that provide student loan borrowers the opportunity to refinance their existing high-interest loans to a lower rate, much like homeowners and businesses are often able to do. It would help them save thousands of dollars over the life of their loans. It would serve as an economic stimulus, as the savings generated from the refinanced loans would increase students' discretionary funds that would likely be reinvested and spent at local businesses, and it would help reduce the deficit.

It would also enable tens of millions of Americans to pursue their goals and move forward with their lives. I continue to hear from those whom I represent who share their personal stories. They tell me what a priority student loan refinancing is for them and their families.

A young woman from Reading, Massachusetts, emailed me this morning, and she said:

My husband and I, already struggling to make ends meet,

scraped together enough money to make my loans current, but

the payments are almost too much to bear. With the cost of

living steadily rising and our incomes staying flat, it is

becoming more and more difficult to provide for our family

let alone pay back these loans at exorbitant rates. Being

able to refinance them would be a godsend to myself and my

family.

Another woman from Danvers, Massachusetts, emailed me today as well, and she said:

I am not looking for a magic solution to make my loans just

disappear. It was my decision to take them out, and it is my

responsibility to repay them, but lowering my interest rates

would lower my monthly payments. I could breathe a little

easier whenever my 9-year-old car makes a funny noise in

knowing there is a little bit of cushion in my bank account

for a mechanic. I could get my wisdom teeth out and still be

able to afford to eat. I could finally start to think that

maybe having a child just might be possible for me after all.

Mr. Speaker, these women are our customers, and this House should be in the business of serving their interests. Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues have denied or defeated all of our efforts to allow for student loan refinancing.

Mr. Speaker, we are not deterred, and we won't give up. We are here again today, fighting for students and their families. The motion I am offering today simply requires that students know what they would owe if they were permitted to refinance their loans just like consumers can do who refinance their mortgages right now.

Let's be clear. Voting against this motion is a vote to hide from students the significant benefits that refinancing would afford. Let's give them the information and allow them to decide for themselves if they, like the women I mentioned from Reading and Danvers, support student loan refinancing. I believe they do, Mr. Speaker, and I believe, if this were brought to the floor of the House, that we would have a majority in favor. I urge support for the motion.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5111, ``An Act to Improve the Response To victims Of Child Sex Trafficking.'' I would like to congratulate Representative Beatty for her work.

Youth sexual exploitation and trafficking is a major issue in this country that affects more than 293,000 young Americans.

As a Representative of Texas, this issue is close to my heart as my state is plagued by this problem. For example, multiple sporting events, conventions, and other large festivities make Houston a prime location for trafficking.

Another metric demonstrating the high level of trafficking in Houston is the high volume of calls to National Trafficking Hotline coming from Houston.

I have worked on this issue for a very long time as a member of the Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus and recognize the enormous damage that human trafficking does to its victim and to society.

There have been many efforts made to improve how our system addresses the issue of sex trafficking. However, there is still a great deal of work to be done to reframe the issue as one of abuse and exploitation of children rather than one of teenage prostitution.

The legal definition of sex trafficking states that ``any individual induced or caused to engage in commercial sex activity who is under 18 is a victim of trafficking,''

But what about those who are teenagers and voluntarily engage in this sort of activity?

We need to update the Missing Children's Assistance Act so that it better recognizes these young people as victims of a serious crime and reports the information accordingly.

Under current law, (42 U.S.C. 5773 (b)(1)(P)), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children operates a cyber tipline to provide online users and electronic service providers a means of reporting Internet-related child sexual exploitation in many areas, including child prostitution.

Children, who are sex trafficked or sexually exploited, even if they are in their teens, are victims. They are not criminals and should not be categorized as such.

H.R. 5111 would replace the term ``child prostitution'' with ``child sex trafficking'' in order to reinforce that children who are sex trafficked or sexually exploited are victims whose situation should be taken seriously when reported on the online tipline.

I believe that this bill is a step in the right direction for recognizing the broad impact of sex trafficking in the United States and assisting those who are exploited by it.

I urge all members to join me in supporting H.R. 5111 so we can all work towards a society where we no longer have to worry about our children being exploited by the sex trade.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 24, 2014, I was unavoidably detained attending to representational activities in my congressional district, including attendance at the memorial service of a distinguished educator and community leader, and thus unable to return in time for rollcall votes 442 through 450. Had I been present I would have voted as follows:

1. On rollcall No. 442 I would have voted ``no.'' (Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 4935 and H.R. 3393.)

2. On rollcall No. 443 I would have voted ``no.'' (H. Res. 680, Rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 4935, Child Tax Credit Improvement Act and H.R. 3393 Student and Family Tax Simplification Act.)

3. On rollcall No. 444 I would have voted ``yes.'' (Kilmer/Hinojosa/ Bachus/Petri/Tsongas Amendment to H.R. 4984, Empowering Students Through Enhanced Counseling Act, ensuring each individual is aware of financial management resources provided by the Treasury Department's Financial Literacy and Education Commission.)

4. On rollcall No. 445 I would have voted ``yes.'' (Motion to Recommit H.R. 4984, Empowering Students Through Enhanced Counseling Act.)

5. On rollcall No. 446 I would have voted ``yes.'' (Final Passage of H.R. 4984, Empowering Students Through Enhanced Counseling Act, Rep. Guthrie--Education and the Workforce.)

6. On rollcall No. 447 I would have voted ``yes.'' (H.R. 5111, To improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking Rep. Beatty-- Education and the Workforce.)

7. On rollcall No. 448 I would have voted ``yes.'' (Motion to Recommit H.R. 3933, Student and Family Tax Simplification Act.)

8. On rollcall No. 449 I would have voted ``no.'' (Final Passage of H.R. 3393, Student and Family Tax Simplification Act, Rep. Black--Ways and Means.)

9. On rollcall No. 450 I would have voted ``yes.'' (Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 3230, Veterans' Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014. Motion offered by Mr. Peters of California would instruct conferees to recede from disagreement with section 702 of the Senate Amendment, which is related to the approval of courses of education provided by public institutions of higher learning for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program conditional on in-State tuition rates for veterans.)