Congresswoman Beatty Recognizes National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Introduces New Legislation
Congresswoman Beatty Recognizes National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Introduces New Legislation
January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. As a longtime advocate for human trafficking victims and individuals at risk of exploitation, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement:
"Human trafficking is a scourge on our nation and our world. In fact, it is estimated that over 40 million people are the victims of human trafficking—the vast majority of them being women and girls. That is why we as a nation must continue working together to raise awareness. We have made significant progress, but our work continues."
This National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Beatty is introducing two anti-trafficking bills: the Human Trafficking Accountability Act and the Trafficking Victims Housing Act. If passed, the Human Trafficking Accountability Act would require at least one Assistant U.S. Attorney in each judicial district to serve as a Human Trafficking Justice Coordinator (HTJC), who would be responsible for ensuring increased exploration of all potential cases of human trafficking, and direct the Attorney General to designate a career Deputy Assistant Attorney General as Human Trafficking Coordinator (HTC) at the Department of Justice, who would be responsible for coordinating the HTJCs across the country. These positions would: (1) prosecute cases of forced labor, international sex trafficking and similar acts of force, fraud or coercion as well as ensure restitution for victims; (2) collaborate with various federal agencies, state and local law enforcement, and victims services providers to build partnerships to better identify and prosecute human trafficking cases with a victim-centered approach; and (3) improve outreach and awareness of human trafficking.
The Trafficking Victims Housing Act, if enacted, would direct the Interagency Council on Homelessness, in coordination with the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, and other federal entities to complete a study assessing the availability and accessibility of housing and related services for victims of trafficking, or those at risk of being trafficked, who are experiencing homelessness.
Throughout Beatty's political career, she has worked in a bipartisan way to combat human trafficking, helping to spearhead two bills that were later signed into law, including the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) (P.L. 114-22) and the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) (P.L. 115-164).