Union County Congressman Lauds Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation

Westfield’s Congressman, Leonard Lance, of District NJ-07, has announced his support for the U.S. House’s decision last week to pass numerous anti-human trafficking measures designed to eradicate the practice.

The measures expand both nation and international efforts to combat human trafficking and provide law enforcement and human services personnel the tools, resources and training they need to prevent trafficking and to better support its victims.

“Human trafficking is modern day slavery,” Congressman Lance stated. “This is not a problem a world away, but a crisis that tragically affects young children around the globe including here in the United States.”

“Survivors and those who are enslaved in this horrific industry await the leadership of the United States to combat this disgusting practice,” Lance added. “I urge the U.S. Senate to follow the lead of the House and pass these bipartisan measures into law so law enforcement has the tools and resources they need and victims have the support they deserve. Time is of the essence. These measures must become law immediately.”

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An estimated 300,000 children are at risk of being trafficked every year. The anti-human trafficking effort gained momentum last year after the extremist group Boko Haram abducted more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls and sparked international outrage. Many of this week’s measures previously passed the House last year but were not considered in the U.S. Senate.

“It is time to enact real reform and ensure that we help those victims in need and end the practice of human trafficking,” Lance concluded.

Measures passed by the House of Representatives this week include:

1) H.R. 514 – Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

2) H.R. 515 – International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking

3) H.R. 357 – Human Trafficking Prevention Act

4) H.R. 468 – Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims for Youth Trafficking Act of 2015

5) H.R. 469 – Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2015

6) H.R. 246 – To improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking

7) H.R. 398 – Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act of 2015

8) H.R. 460 – Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015

9) H.R. 350 – Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2015

10) H.R. 159 – Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015

11) H.R. 181 – Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015

12) H.R. 285 – Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2015

Photo courtesy of the Congressman Leonard Lance Facebook page.

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