Washington, D.C.– The U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means unanimously passed legislation today to prevent sex trafficking by making improvements to the foster care system and developing better human trafficking data. Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03), a cosponsor of the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Improving Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care Act, wrote several provisions of the bill and voted in favor of the legislation. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 60% of missing children who are likely trafficking victims were in foster care or group homes when they ran away.

“Law enforcement, advocacy groups, and even former traffickers themselves all say that victims are sought out and chosen based on their vulnerability,” said Paulsen. “We need to protect those who are most susceptible to being trafficked. Improving our foster care system and tracking those most at risk means less homeless youth and fewer children exploited. By improving the reliability of data and ensuring it is conveyed to law enforcement, we’re helping these potential victims before they become trafficked.”

The bill, H.R. 4058, develops a plan to address the trafficking of children by identifying those in the child welfare system who have been victims of sex trafficking and ensuring that services are available for these youth. In addition, it requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and publish guidelines for child welfare agencies serving victims of trafficking. The legislation also encourages increased coordination between child welfare, juvenile justice, and social service agencies to better assist victims.

Government reports and advocacy groups point to a strong correlation between youth homelessness and sexual exploitation. A Department of Health and Human Services report states that 1 in 3 children are lured into commercial sex trafficking within the first 48 hours of being on the street. The average age of entry for victims of sex trafficking is 13 years old.

Congressman Paulsen is a long-time advocate for combating sex trafficking and has 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 is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives in May.   

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

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