Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) today called on House leaders to schedule a vote on the Senate-passed Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Poe and Maloney sponsored similar legislation, which passed the House unanimously in January.

“As ardent anti-human trafficking advocates who have worked for many years to combat this modern form of slavery, we strongly support the compromise bill that passed yesterday and believe that it will have broad bipartisan support in the House,” wrote Poe and Maloney. “Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the United States. S. 178 contains funding desperately needed to serve and shelter human trafficking victims and train law enforcement to better identify and rescue victims, among a variety of important provisions.  We are eager to pass this comprehensive bill and see it signed into law.”

The full text of their letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi follows:

April 23, 2015

The Honorable John Boehner                                      The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker                                                                      Minority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives                                    U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi:

            In light of the Senate’s 99-0 vote to pass S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, we urge you to swiftly bring this legislation to the House floor for a vote. As ardent anti-human trafficking advocates who have worked for many years to combat this modern form of slavery, we strongly support the compromise bill that passed yesterday and believe that it will have broad bipartisan support in the House.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the United States.  The average age of children sold for sex is 13 years old.  We cannot stand by and allow this to happen in our great county.  S. 178 contains funding desperately needed to serve and shelter human trafficking victims and train law enforcement to better identify and rescue victims, among a variety of important provisions.  The bill will change the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society and make the United States a true leader in the fight against human trafficking.  We are eager to pass this comprehensive bill and see it signed into law.

            We hope you will consider bringing S.178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act to the floor without delay. The survivors who are counting on the assistance that will become available to them through this legislation should not have to wait any longer. Thank you for your attention for this important issue.

                                                                        Sincerely,

Congressman Ted Poe 
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney