Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7181) to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to seek to provide for the…
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7181) to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to seek to provide for the posting of contact information of the national human trafficking hotline in the restrooms of each aircraft, airport, over-the-road bus, bus station, passenger train, and passenger railroad station operating within the United States, and for other purposes, 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. 7181.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7181, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, would provide for the posting of the contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the restrooms of our country's transportation centers, where we know many trafficking victims pass through, as well as all Federal buildings and ports of entry to inform victims and those who witness suspected trafficking situations that help is available.
As I have said many times before, smuggling people across international borders is an equally troubling crime but distinct from human trafficking. Smugglers must be prosecuted, and the exploitation of their victims must not go unpunished. While many believe human trafficking happens only in other countries, the victimization of adults, youth, and children for the purposes of performing labor, commercial sex acts, and other services happens on an enormous scale in rural, urban, and suburban communities across the United States. We can document that by many organizations that are fighting the scourge of human trafficking.
H.R. 7181 would require the posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline contact information in all Federal buildings; require the Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with owners and operators of transportation hubs such as airports, bus stations, and train stations to post the contact information for the hotline in their restrooms; and, three, require the Department of Health and Human Services and other appropriate Federal agencies to post the hotline's contact information at every port of entry.
In 2020, more than 11,193 instances of potential human trafficking were reported to the United States National Human Trafficking Hotline.
In Texas, there are reportedly 313,000 victims of human trafficking at any given time, including 79,000 children and youth who are victims of sex trafficking and 234,000 adults who are victims of labor trafficking. The victims of human trafficking tend to be concealed, living in fear and isolated, in some cases physically and in other cases emotionally.
They might remain under the control of their traffickers for a variety of reasons, including a lack of the basic necessities to escape, like transportation or a safe place to go. Some may be afraid for their safety, while others may not recognize that they are under the control of their trafficker. Even after they are rescued or escape, there is always a possibility the victims will be revictimized.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is an essential component of the fight to end human trafficking, offering toll-free phone lines and SMS text lines that are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The hotline provides help, safety, and hope to victims and survivors by connecting them to the support and services they need.
They must know that they are not alone. That is the most important message that we want to give on the floor of the House today. The victims of sex trafficking and human trafficking, the children and the adult victims, are not alone.
Victims in crisis can receive assistance with safety planning, emotional support, and/or immediate connections
to emergency services, while survivors can get help in rebuilding their lives. Mr. Speaker, that is an important aspect of this legislation we are putting forward today.
The hotline also plays a vital role in combating human trafficking by helping law enforcement identify and rescue victims by receiving tips about a potential situation of human trafficking and by providing reports of tips to the appropriate authorities.
We must make every effort to identify victims and ensure victims and survivors of human trafficking are connected to services that can lead them to safety and help them begin to restore their lives. That begins with reaching them where they are and letting them know who they can call on for help without risking their safety.
Traffickers rely on our Nation's transportation infrastructure to transport their victims from city to city and State to State. In the brief moments victims are allowed by their traffickers to have a moment alone in the restroom of a bus station or airport, they may be able to call or even text for help. Victims, survivors, and concerned citizens need to know that help is just a phone call away because one call can mean the difference between life and death.
Despite the clandestine nature of human trafficking, we have learned from survivors that opportunities do exist to reach victims, and we should make the most of them. H.R. 7181, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, does exactly that.
I am very grateful to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), and the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace) for introducing this strategic and practical measure.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, before I yield to the gentleman for his closing, I include in the Record the ``Katy Sex-Trafficking Survivor Teams with White House to Fight Growing Threat''; ``4-Year-Old Among 31 Human Trafficking Victims Rescued in Kansas, Missouri''; ``Texas authorities rescue 70 missing children victimized by sex trafficking''; from the Houston Chronicle, November 23, 2020, ``Report: Human Trafficking Spikes in Texas Amid Pandemic''; and two additional articles relating to human trafficking.
[From Katy Magazine News, Dec. 10, 2019]
Katy Sex-Trafficking Survivor Teams With White House To Fight Growing
Threat
(By Natalie Cook Clark)
21-year-old Courtney Litvak of Katy hopes her experience as
a sex-trafficking victim can help other young people. As the
Childproof America Ambassador, she has taken her fight
against human trafficking to the White House.
After a year of ``grooming'' from various people, Courtney
Litvak, a Cinco Ranch High School student, left her Katy
home. At 18-years-old, she started a life in human
trafficking that lasted two years. Now, saved and back home,
Courtney works to raise awareness and end this epidemic
affecting students around the country, and right here in
Katy.
Cinco Ranch Student Survived Sex-Trafficking
Courtney Litvak, now 21, grew up in Katy in a loving home.
She went to church every Sunday and competed on a local swim
team. But at 18, she willingly left her home to enter a life
in human-trafficking.
``I was groomed by multiple people over the period of a
year,'' says Courtney. ``This is such a subtle process that
it's easy not to notice.'' She pointed out that social media
is often a major form of communication and makes such crimes
difficult to track.
Victims Lose All Control
``They (victims) don't understand what will be their
reality when they lose control,'' explains Courtney. She felt
she was targeted when she was vulnerable after experiencing a
traumatic event.
``I was assaulted and I became a changed person,'' says
Courtney. ``You should not go through a loss and then become
a target.''
Childproof America Supports Families, Educates Communities
In 2017, Courtney's mother, Kelly Litvak founded Childproof
America, a non-profit organization aimed at educating
families and communities about the warning signs that can
ultimately save children from becoming victims of this
growing trend in our country.
``It's key for people to understand this issue,'' says
Kelly. ``Every household in Katy needs to be informed about
human trafficking. Denial is a coping mechanism and it's
difficult for parents to comprehend. Child and sex should
never go into the same sentence. It's because of this mindset
that this is a threat to Katy. These people are counting on
families to be naive and it makes us sitting ducks.''
Informal Interventions
In addition to her duties as spokesperson, Courtney meets
informally with teens and young adults going through the
grooming process or trafficking.
``A parent will reach out to Childproof America and we talk
for about an hour on what they have found and are going
through,'' explains Kelly. ``Then Courtney is filled in and
if the youth is willing, she will sit down with them and can
help in key activities.''
These meetings are very effective. Since becoming the
Childproof America spokesperson this past August Courtney has
spoken to about 10 students, 3 of whom were boys. Currently,
Courtney and Kelly say that these sessions are seen as being
100 percent successful in getting these young people out of a
harmful and dangerous situation. However, they stress that
these cases will be followed up on.
``You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped,''
says Courtney.
Katy-Based Childproof America Averages 2-3 Calls a Week
Since Childproof America is Katy-based and many in Katy
know the Litvak's story about 80 percent of their calls come
from Katy residents. They average 2-3 calls a week but it
comes in waves. Recently Childproof America worked with the
Children's Assessment Center to host a Childproof America
emergency safety seminar when calls reached a sudden
increase.
``We started receiving so many calls that we felt something
was going on,'' says Kelly.
This is Not the Student's Fault
``I wish someone would have looked at me and said I get
it,'' says Courtney. ``I wanted to be validated and heard,
just listened to. We need to do better at recognizing these
groups and knowing this doesn't happen over night and this is
not the person's fault.''
When Courtney was trafficked, the city of Katy and Houston
community accepted that she chose this.``That is not true,''
says Courtney.
Master Manipulators
Courtney describes the people involved with human
trafficking as master manipulators.
``Everything is in their control,'' explains Courtney.
``All of your decisions are theirs. You're a commodity, a
property.''
According to the University of Texas, more than 79,000
children are being trafficked for sex in Texas alone.
``I've never seen so much coverage especially on social
media,'' says Courtney. ``It's really a combination of more
awareness being brought to it and such organizations are
growing. It (human trafficking) is continuing to get more
sophisticated and growing.''
Interest from the White House
A major initiative launched by Childproof America is the
education and outreach initiatives, specifically Family
Guides, which is exclusive to their group. Family Guides is
inspired by parents of victims and is designed to meet the
need of families in crisis. During a time of stress and fear,
families need a trained advocate who knows how to navigate
the issue quickly to help. Families with minor children and
18+ are matched with a compassionate advocate who can assist
with critical questions in a quick and effective fashion.
It's this program that has really piqued the interest of
officials in our nation's capital.
Success in D.C.
Just before Thanksgiving, Courtney and her mother were
invited to meet with lvanka Trump, advisor to the President.
In that meeting, they discussed how the current
administration could help fight against human trafficking.
``Ivanka was amazing and a champion for this cause,'' says
Kelly. ``We were prepared to present our mission in a short
time.''
The Litvaks say that lvanka was interested and has followed
up since their initial meeting.
``We're going back to D.C. in January,'' says Kelly. ``We
developed a true trust and lvanka's administration has asked
up for our opinions on top leaders on this topic.''
Putting Everything into Perspective
``What we're doing really didn't sink in until I was there
(meeting Ivanka),'' says Courtney. ``It was really emotional,
which is hard for me to be vulnerable. Our trip to D.C. put
everything into perspective. I'm repurposing the pain and
it's the beginning of something great.''
``There are so many areas where people are suffering,''
says Courtney. ``No matter where the suffering is, I hope to
help and use my platform to establish relationships with
leaders to get the ball rolling.''
Passion for other Areas
Courtney is passionate with other areas of service that she
hopes one day to be able to work with her connections to make
a difference.
``I'd love to help the homeless,'' says Courtney. ``Growing
up in Katy I could never wrap my head around it. I've seen
the gap and want to help.''
Local Schools Need to Open Doors to Expert Training
Childproof America is working with local schools and groups
to help spread their education initiative and educate people
on this difficult subject.
``We have been talking to Fort Bend ISD and now they are
organizing a massive training for everyone from students,
parents, and teachers,'' says Kelly. ``Every school district
needs to swing open their doors to experts to train people on
this subject. Schools need to get over the mindset that if
they have training, people will think that they are having a
problem. We need to empower the community.''
Faith Brought Her Back
Courtney credits her faith in God for giving her the
strength to stop putting harmful substances in her body and
to breakthrough the brain washing to get help and leave that
lifestyle.
``I'm not the first person this has happened to and I won't
be the last,'' says Courtney. ``I always want to continue to
be very raw and very genuine on this subject. I'm not putting
a time stamp on my service. I will always put my full heart
into it but what that will look like I don't know.''
Human Trafficking is in Katy and Doesn't Discriminate
It is important to note that human trafficking doesn't
discriminate. It can happen to anyone, and according to
Childproof America, this activity is happening in Katy and
Katy schools, like it's happening all over.
``I always want to acknowledge that everyone who's been
through this does not need to talk or help others,'' says
Courtney. ``It is extremely difficult and it's a lifelong
recovery.''
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, as we have heard, the idea of human trafficking is not going away. This legislation, I believe, will provide us with the important instruction to give to those victims where they may find some relief.
Human trafficking is a multibillion-dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to nearly 25 million people around the world. It is an ever-present threat to the health and safety of victims, many of whom are children, but also poses grave danger to public health and safety and national security.
Although the statistics we recite daily are breathtaking, they represent a mere fraction of the instances of trafficking that occur, as human trafficking is a highly underreported crime.
H.R. 7181, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, would help identify, protect, and provide essential services to victims of human trafficking, who are often unseen, by requiring the posting of the contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline so that victims and anyone who sees someone who appears to be a victim know who to call or text for help.
This is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that I urge all of my colleagues to support, and I am seeking the support of my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7181, the ``Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022,'' would provide for the posting of the contact information of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the restrooms of our country's transportation centers--where we know many trafficking victims pass through--as well as all federal buildings and ports of entry--to inform victims and those who witness suspected trafficking situations that help is available.
As I have said many times before, smuggling people across international borders is an equally troubling crime, but distinct from human trafficking. Smugglers must be prosecuted, and the exploitation of their victims must not go unpunished.
And while many believe human trafficking happens only in other countries, the victimization of adults, youth, and children for the purposes of performing labor, commercial sex acts and other services happens on an enormous scale in rural, urban, and suburban communities across the United States.
H.R. 7181 would: require posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline's contact information in all federal buildings; require the Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with owners and operators of transportation hubs, such as airports, bus stations, and train stations to post the contact information
for the hotline in their restrooms; and require the Department of Homeland Security--in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services and other appropriate federal agencies--to post the hotline's contact information at every port of entry.
In 2020, more than 11,193 instances of potential human trafficking were reported to the United States National Human Trafficking Hotline.
And in Texas, there are reportedly 313,000 victims of human trafficking at any given time, including 79,000 children and youth who are victims of sex trafficking and 234,000 adults who are victims of labor trafficking.
Victims of human trafficking tend to be concealed, living in fear, and isolated--in some cases physically and in other cases emotionally.
They might remain under the control of their traffickers for a variety of reasons, including a lack of the basic necessities to escape--like transportation or a safe place to go.
Some may be afraid for their safety. While others may not recognize that they are under the control of their trafficker.
And even after they are rescued or escape, there is always the possibility that victims will be revictimized.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is an essential component of the fight to end human trafficking. Offering toll-free phone lines and SMS text lines, that are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, the hotline provides help, safety, and hope to victims and survivors by connecting them to the support and services they need.
Victims in crisis can receive assistance with safety planning, emotional support, and immediate connections to emergency services while survivors can get help with rebuilding their lives.
The hotline also plays a vital role in combatting human trafficking by helping law enforcement identify and rescue victims; by receiving tips about potential situations of human trafficking; and by providing reports of tips to the appropriate authorities.
We must make every effort to identify victims and ensure victims and survivors of human trafficking are connected to services that can lead them to safety and help them begin to restore their lives.
That begins with reaching them where they are and letting them know who they can call for help without risking their safety.
Traffickers rely on our nation's transportation infrastructure to transport their victims from city to city and state to state. In the brief moments that allow victims to have a moment alone in the restroom of a bus station or airport, they may be able to call--or even text-- for help.
Victims, survivors, and concerned citizens need to know that help is just a phone call away because one call could mean the difference between life and death.
Despite the clandestine nature of human trafficking, we have learned from survivors that opportunities do exist to reach victims, and we should make the most of them. H.R. 7181, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, does exactly that.
I thank Representatives Jeffries, Bass, Issa, and Mace for introducing this strategic and practical measure.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan bill.
Human trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to nearly 25 million people around the world. It as an ever-present threat to the health and safety of victims, many of whom are children, but also poses grave danger to public health and safety and national security.
Although the statistics we recite daily are breathtaking, they represent a mere fraction of the instances of trafficking that occur, as human trafficking is a highly underreported crime.
H.R. 7181, the ``Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022,'' would help identify, protect, and provide essential services to victims of human trafficking, who are often unseen, by requiring the posting of the contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline so that victims--and anyone who sees someone who appears to be a victim-- know who to call, or text, for help.
This is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that I urge all of my colleagues to support. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
