For immediate release Contact: Wayne Hoffman

Tuesday, October 02, 2007 Office: (208) 336-9831

**SALI LEADS BIPARTISAN COALITION ASKING FOR REPORT ON**

**HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST**

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Leading a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers,
Congressman Bill Sali is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to
provide an accounting of human trafficking in the Pacific Northwest.

Sali, a member of the bipartisan Congressional Human Rights Caucus and
its Task Force on International Religious Freedom, is calling on federal
officials to describe what is being done about human trafficking in the
region, noting that reports indicate that there are people here at home
who have been forced into the modern day human slave trade and that the
problem -- euphemistically referred to as human trafficking -- may be
understated.

"Addressing the issue of human trafficking is critical to recognizing
the equality, dignity and worth of every person," Sali wrote in a letter
to the U.S. attorney general's office. The letter is cosigned by Mike
Simpson (R-ID), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Jay Inslee
(D-WA), David Reichert (D-WA), Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) and Adam
Smith (D-WA). In the letter, the lawmakers ask the U.S. Department of
Justice to update them on the current state of human trafficking in the
Northwest and on the efforts to combat the problem.

Human trafficking is the practice of victimizing men, women and children
for labor and sexual exploitation. According to U.S. government
estimates, 800,000 to 900,000 victims are trafficked globally each year
and 17,500 to 18,500 are trafficked into the United States.

The letter continues, "Sadly, the northern border of our country is a
point of entry for this horrific practice. In 2004, it was estimated
that there were between 1,500 and 2,000 people trafficked through Canada
to the United States, numbers that some observers believe significantly
understate the problem. As we consider it our responsibility to be aware
of issues within our districts, we respectfully write to request a
briefing on the topic of human trafficking in the United States, and
particularly along the northern border of the U.S. We would like to
learn more about what the Department of Justice is currently doing to
combat this horrific practice."

Sali has been a strong advocate of efforts to combat human trafficking.
In July, Sali addressed the House of Representatives, advocating for a
human trafficking taskforce in the Pacific Northwest. Earlier this year,
Sali's staff participated in community workshops intended to help people
recognize the signs of human trafficking so that they can report
suspicious activity to law enforcement. As a state legislator in 2006,
Sali voted in favor of Idaho's current law against human trafficking.

Sali has taken a leading role in working on human rights issues.
Included in his efforts are:

Original cosponsorship of H.Con.Res. 139, urging the U.S. government to
address the ongoing problem of the Dalits ("untouchables") in India

Original co-sponsorship of a resolution condemning Human Rights Council
for ignoring abuses while targeting Israel.

Co-sponsorship of H. Con Res. 50, calling on the government of Venezuela
to uphold the human rights and civil liberties of the people of
Venezuela.

Co-sponsorship of the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007.