Pryce Spearheads Legislation to Combat Child Trafficking

Plan Focuses on Increasing Penalties, Reducing Demand and Protecting Victims

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) today introduced the bi-partisan Domestic Trafficking Victims Protection Act with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) that will further strengthen U.S. laws to protect children, and provide law enforcement in the U.S. with better tools to fight trafficking and assist victims. A companion bill was introduced today in the Senate by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Arlen Specter (R-PA).

“For years, trafficking rings have thrived on the exploitation of humans, especially children. And nothing in this world is more numbing than the thought of a child being enslaved and forced into sex. Given that between 100,000 and 300,000 children are victimized by unlawful sex trafficking at any point in time, we cannot rest until this tragedy is eradicated,” Pryce said.  

“Contrary to what many might think, this crisis is not isolated inside the borders of other countries. It is estimated that roughly 20,000 people are trafficked into the U.S each year. In addition, thousands of Americans travel abroad to engage in sexual exploitation and oppression.

“In the past three years the U.S. has made historic progress in implementing new tools to combat trafficking in women and children.  But we can and should do more.  It’s time build on the progress we’ve already made to eliminate this harmful and dehumanizing modern day form of slavery.  The initiative we are introducing today will help us close in on the day when no person, child or adult will ever be victimized again.”

This legislation will:

• Develop more effective means of combating unlawful commercial sex activities by targeting demand;
  
• Protect children from the predators and exploiters who use them in commercial sex activities by strengthening prosecution and punishment of traffickers, purchasers, and exploiters of commercial sex acts;
  
• Clarify that the operation of sex tours is prohibited under federal law; and
  
• Assist State and local governments in their enforcement of existing laws dealing with commercial sex activities.

“The exploitation of the world’s young women and children in sex trafficking is a tragic human rights offense,” Maloney said.  “Many of these victims are kidnapped, sold, or tricked into brothel captivity.  I am pleased to join with Representative Pryce in introducing this critical legislation to help put an end to these terrible crimes.”