e-News 1/30/15

• A Bipartisan Crackdown on Human Trafficking
• Human Trafficking in America – By the Numbers
• No Strategy Makes ISIS, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan Campaigns Unwinnable
• Promoting American Job Creation through International Trade
• Salute: Code Blue in Essex County
• A Bipartisan Crackdown on Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a growing criminal industry second only to drug dealing.  Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation, physical violence or forced labor.  According to the FBI, sex trafficking is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world.  How is sex trafficking different from prostitution? The trafficked person is not free to leave.

Last year’s Super Bowl at the Meadowlands was a wake-up call for many as police and other experts warned that criminals would use the large crowds associated with tat event to sell adults and children into prostitution. Their hope was that they will find willing clients among the people attending parties or the game itself.

Across the United States, more than 17,000 people are trafficked into the United States every year, according to the Congressional Research Service. Some are forced into low-wage or unpaid work. Others are exploited for sex or sold into prostitution rings.  According to a University of Pennsylvania study, quoted by the FBI, another 300,000 American children are at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking every year. Tragically, most of the victims of this crime are vulnerable youth who have run away from home, are part of a child welfare system, and/or have been previous victims of abuse and assault.

Unfortunately, New Jersey has been described as a “hub” for human trafficking.  Why?  Our state is easily accessible via our interstate highways. Major tourist destinations like Atlantic City and New York City makes us more vulnerable and susceptible.  And since traffickers generally prey on victims of their own background, New Jersey’s great ethnic diversity makes it harder for law enforcement to observe and prosecute these activities.

Human Trafficking in America – By the Numbers

29– The number of states that do not have ANY shelter beds exclusively for human trafficking survivors (Source: Polaris Project)

300,000– American youth at risk of become victims of sex trafficking (Department of Justice)

12-14– average age at which girls first become victims of sex trafficking (DOJ)

$9.8 billion– the size of the child sex trafficking industry in the United States (DOJ)

This week, the House passed a series of bipartisan bills designed to protect children and combat this growing problem – providing support and services to the victims of this crime and boosting resources for law enforcement.  I am a co-sponsor of several of these bills which are intended to build on the bipartisan laws passed last year to reduce child sex trafficking and increase adoptions of foster care youth.  Here are summaries of the 12 bills the House approved this week:

Human Trafficking Prioritization Act (H.R. 514), prioritizes the fight against human trafficking within the Department of State according to congressional intent in the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Actwithout increasing the size of the federal government.

International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking (H.R. 515), increases communication between the U.S. and other countries regarding sex offenders’ travel and allows the Secretary of State to restrict the passports of people convicted of sex crimes in other countries.

Human Trafficking Prevention Act (H.R. 357),  increases training for State Department employees so they are better equipped to identify victims of severe forms of trafficking and providing for the protection of such victims.

Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims for Youth Trafficking Act  (H.R. 468), sponsored by Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV), improves support provided specifically to run away and homeless youth who are victims of sex trafficking. 

Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act  (H.R. 469), improves practices within state child welfare systems to identify and document sex trafficking cases.

To improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking (H.R. 246), updates the law to use the term “child sex trafficking, including child prostitution” for cyber-tipline reporting to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act  (H.R. 398), develops evidence-based best practices for health care workers to identify and assist victims of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking Detection Act (H.R. 460), directs the Homeland Security Secretary to train Department of Homeland Security personnel how to effectively deter, detect, disrupt, and prevent human trafficking during the course of their primary roles and responsibilities.

Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act (H.R. 350), directs the existing Interagency Task Force established under the2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act to review federal and state activities to prevent children from becoming trafficking victims, survey academic research on the topic, and propose best practices.  The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to review federal and state efforts, including federal grants, to combat human trafficking, and clarifies that existing grants may be used to provide shelter services to trafficking victims.

Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act (H.R. 159), encourages states to establish safe harbor laws so that trafficked minors can seek protective services and counseling as victims, without fear of facing jail and being targeted as part of the problem.

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (H.R. 181), boosts support and protection for domestic human trafficking victims.  The bill also makes improvements to current law, such as increasing and streamlining law enforcement resources, enhancing victims’ services, and holding both sellers and buyers engaged in sex trafficking accountable.

Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act (H.R. 285), criminalizes those who knowingly advertise for the commercial exploitation of children and trafficking victims.

No Strategy Makes ISIS, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan Campaigns Unwinnable

“An absence of clear policies from the White House makes it impossible for the U.S. to achieve any sort of victory in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region, according to three former top military officers who oversaw recent wars there.”

“We have to come out of our reactive crouch,” said former CENTCOM Commander General Jim Mattis. 

“Retreat, retrenchment, and disarmament are historically a recipe for disaster,” said General Michael Flynn, formed commander of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Read both stories here and here.

Promoting American Job Creation Through International Trade

No priority for our nation is more important than putting Americans back to work.  Over 6% of our workforce is officially “unemployed,” but we know the true unemployment rate is a lot higher.  In fact the labor participation rate – those people actively working or looking for jobs – has dropped to levels not seen in decades. 

While the federal government cannot wave a “magic wand” and create private sector jobs, there are steps it can take to foster job creation.

Let’s face some economic facts: in an era where the American consumer is likely to be more frugal, we cannot rely on domestic consumption alone to generate more demand for the goods and services we produce.   We must look beyond our national boundaries for overseas markets to sell the products we make here.

In fact, we do not have to look too hard to see many prospective customers, clients and consumers.  Beyond our borders are markets that represent 73% of the world’s purchasing power, 87% of its economic growth and 95% of its consumers. 

In New Jersey, we are well positioned.  Our Port of New York and New Jersey is a major gateway for the region.   Each year, $80 billion in commerce flows through the port, including $37 billion in exports.  130,500 jobs in New Jersey depend on international trade! A total of 21,051 companies exported goods from New Jersey locations in 2012.  Of those, 19,443 (92.4 percent) were small- and medium-sized enterprises, with fewer than 500 employees.

Yes, the vast majority of the world’s consumers live beyond our borders, and we need to break down economic barriers so American businesses—large and small—can sell more of their products abroad. The United States is currently negotiating several trade agreements with countries around the world. I will soon introduce a House resolution urging the completion of free trade agreements with Pacific Rim nations and the European Union in order to promote “economic development, create jobs and solidify relations with trading partners.

Salute: Essex County’s “Code Blue” initiative which launches a network of “warming stations” across the county for residents when temperatures drop to dangerous levels.