The real work to end 21st century slavery in this nation has begun
Last month, Harris County authorities found a 19 year old woman living in captivity at a motel on Highway 290. She was brought from her home state of Alaska to Houston “for the purpose of the commercial sex trade” after being contacted by human traffickers on Facebook. This incident is horrible, but it is no surprise. Unfortunately, Houston has become a national hub for human trafficking.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The good news is that this year we are celebrating impactful changes in both state and federal law to combat human trafficking and Texans are on the front lines. In 2015, Congress took rare bipartisan action and passed the comprehensive anti-trafficking law that I authored along with Senator Cornyn. JVTA is a comprehensive law that includes a wide variety of reforms. The legislation helps victims get the shelter and services they need, providing them with a fresh start. Furthermore, it ensures that those who have been sold into the marketplace of sex slavery are treated as victims rather than as criminals. It strengthens law enforcement tools to take down human traffickers. Finally, the law targets the predators who purchase trafficked human beings. Now that JVTA is law, the real work to end 21st century slavery in this nation has begun.
Anyone who knew me as a Judge in Harris County knows that I strongly believe in not only punishing the people who commit horrendous crimes, both seller and buyers but also helping victims rebuild their lives. As a father, I refuse to sit back while children are being bought and sold in our own country. That’s why I authored JVTA–to provide law enforcement with new tools to apprehend those who commit these heinous crimes, and to provide resources for restoration for the survivors. As Houstonians, Texans, and Americans we must make it known that our children are not for sale.
Posted by on 29 Jan 2016
About the author
Chairman and Co-Founder of the Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus & senior member of the House Judiciary Committee