Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a senior member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2283. "Human Trafficking Prioritization Act of 2014." I support this bipartisan legislation which modifies the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to elevate the status of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to that of the Bureau to Combat Trafficking in Persons. which shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary of State. The office produces the annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report). which is Congress primary resource for human trafficking reporting. analysis and recommendations for the United States and 186 countries around the world. The TIP Report also contains tier rankings of each country on which it reports. which are used to help protect victims. prevent trafficking and prosecute traffickers. Mr. Speaker. I agree with many thoughtful observers that the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking would be even more effective in carrying out the duties mandated by Congress in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 if its status was elevated from that of "Office" to a "Bureau" within the department hierarchy and the title of its chief administrator elevated from "director" to Assistant Secretary of State." Human trafficking is a problem for the United States because the U.S. State Department estimates that approximately 17.500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States. the largest number of people trafficked into the United States come from East Asia and the Pacific and the next highest numbers coming from Latin America and Europe. It is estimated 2.8 million children living on the streets of this nation are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. Children who are abused or victims of molestation are most vulnerable. If they are lured into human trafficking they are isolated from the rest of the world and start living lives controlled by pimps. escort and massage services. private dancing clubs. pornographic clubs and much worse. Mr. Speaker. this bill requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress within 90 days of enactment on how long each assistant secretary designation has been in existence. and whether the designation was legislatively mandated or authorized. According to a Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights Report Mexican authorities are working to address the problem of transborder human trafficking. but the countrys "legal framework remains largely untouched and hence limited in its crimefighting scope and effectiveness." According to the U.S. Department of Justice. Houston. Texas is one of the nations largest hubs for human trafficking. with over 200 active brothels in Houston and two new ones opening each month. Houston has also surpassed Las Vegas for the dubious distinction of having the most strip clubs and illicit spas serving as fronts for sex trafficking. Human trafficking in Texas is not limited to Houston. During the 2011 Dallas Super Bowl. 133 underage arrests for prostitution were made and during this years massive effort "Operation Cross Country" led by the FBI. several pimps were arrested. In 2006. the Department of Justice National Conference on Human Trafficking identified the 110 corridor as one of the main routes for traffickers. Interstate 110 links the major Texas urban areas Houston. San Antonio and El Paso and dozens of mid- and small sized towns in between. Mr. Speaker. one of the most important things that can and must continue to be done is to raise public awareness of the continuing prevalence of modern day slavery and human trafficking. Raising the visibility and status of the governmental entity charged with the responsibility of documenting the problems. successes. and remaining challenges confronting the United States and the international community in eradicating the scourge of human trafficking is a positive step forward in achieving this goal. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of H.R. 2283.