Blumenauer Has Sponsored Legislation to Award Block Grants to Local Governments That Face Significant Sex Trafficking Problem

PORTLAND, OR – Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer announced that the Department of Justice has awarded $479,000 to the Portland Police Department to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service to fight sex trafficking, child sex crimes, and to investigate and prosecute sex offenders. Blumenauer, who sponsored the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010, applauded the grant.

“Sex crimes perpetrated against minors are a heinous crime that has become all too prevalent in the Portland area,” said Blumenauer. “We are in the process of making Portland a model livable city for the rest of the country, and we must do everything in our power to stop sex trafficking and other similar crimes here and across the country. I am proud that the Portland Police Department will be receiving nearly the maximum grant allowed under this program, and I will continue to do everything in my power to bring resources to bear on this urgent problem.”

Following a Dan Rather report entitled “Pornland, Oregon” in May, 2010, Blumenauer sponsored H.R. 5575, the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010, which would award block grants to state or local governments that have significant sex trafficking to combat such trafficking.  It also requires grant funds to be used to provide shelter and services to minors who are victims of sex trafficking and for service provider training.  Congressman Blumenauer also joined the Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking to help ensure the challenges that Portland faces are strongly represented in Congress.

Download a fact sheet on the Child Sexual Predator Prosecution Program. [PDF]