Washington, D.C.– Legislation authored by Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) was included in a bipartisan anti-sex trafficking bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Paulsen is a cosponsor of the bill, H.R. 4980, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. The bill will improve data and law enforcement reporting for children that are involved or at-risk of being trafficked – provisions Paulsen authored in prior legislation. The bill will also make important reforms to the foster care system. Studies have found that children in foster care often face greater risk of sexual exploitation.

“Improving our foster care and reporting systems will help tremendously in making sure that our country’s most vulnerable children are protected from sex trafficking,” said Paulsen. “There are still other measures needed to effectively combat human trafficking – expanding safe harbor laws, for example – but passing the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act will better protect the lives of at-risk children.”

A number of advocacy groups and government reports have shown strong correlation between youth homelessness and sexual exploitation. A report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services found that within 48 hours of being on the street, 1 in 3 children are lured into commercial sex trafficking. Other studies have found that on average victims are first trafficked at 13 years old.

The bill also improves foster care by promoting more “normalcy” for youth in the system. For example, reducing barriers for foster care children to participate in extracurricular activities like after school athletics and clubs. It would also allow children aged 14 and older to be a more active contributor to their case planning in consultation with child welfare agencies. H.R. 4980 ensures children that are emancipated from foster care would have access to their birth certificate, social security card, and health records so they are prepared to enter the workforce or educational institutions.

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 passed 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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