Washington, D.C.– Legislation authored by Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) combating sex trafficking passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bill, H.R. 4980, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, includes provisions from previous Paulsen legislation that improves data and law enforcement reporting for youth who are at-risk of being trafficked. In addition, H.R. 4980 makes critical changes to the foster care system to decrease the likelihood that children will run away or become homeless. A study by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 1 in 3 children are lured into sex trafficking within 48 hours of being on the street.

“Preventing vulnerable children from falling into sex trafficking is one step closer to becoming law,” said Paulsen. “Improving the way law enforcement reports and collects data about at-risk children means we can protect potential victims from exploitation before they are even contacted by pimps and traffickers. I’m hopeful this is a sign that Congress will take even more action to combat sex trafficking, including adopting safe harbor laws so these young children are treated as victims, not criminals.”

Congressman Paulsen is a long-time advocate for combating sex trafficking and testified in front of a Ways and Means Subcommittee about what can be done to address the issue. He also is the author of H.R. 3610, the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act, which expands safe harbor laws and ensures that minors who are trafficked are treated as victims instead of criminals. That legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May. A recent report released by the Polaris Project, an anti-sex trafficking group, found that a majority of states lack safe harbor laws to protect victims.     

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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