KCRG-TV9 reports that on September 11, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill that will help fight modern slavery.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017 that was written by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and cosponsored by Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), will continue the existing programs that provide federal resources to trafficking survivors, yet bring out new prevention, prosecution, and collaboration initiatives.
Grassley said, “We need a united approach to taking down human traffickers and bringing victims the justice they deserve. This bill takes meaningful steps to shed light on this terrible abuse of human rights by improving awareness and streamlining federal law enforcement’s response.”
Feinstein explained, “Sex trafficking is one of the most reprehensible crimes, and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act builds on our bipartisan efforts to combat trafficking and help victims. The key to reducing demand is addressing the exploitation of young girls on the Internet. The bill provides the Justice Department with civil injunction authority to get court orders forcing traffickers to remove their ads for underage girls.”
The bill calls for screening of trafficking victims to make certain school personnel are provided with training.
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