Walorski supports legislation to combat human trafficking

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Published: Wednesday, 28 January 2015 18:19

WASHINGTON D.C. – This week, Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) supported a package of legislation to combat human trafficking.

The 10 bills were passed with bipartisan support and would help prevent human trafficking in the U.S. and internationally.

"Enough is enough. Human trafficking is the second fastest growing crime in the U.S. and sitting idly by while traffickers advertise innocent women and children is not an option,” said Walorski. “Ending this repugnant industry as quickly as possible should be the goal of every member of Congress, regardless of party or politics.”

In Walorski’s home state of Indiana, Indianapolis hosted the 2012 Super Bowl, a major human trafficking event.  State Senator Randy Head (R-Logansport) authored SEA 4, now law, to train and combat human trafficking. Thanks to his legislation, 4,000 people were trained before the event and 68 arrests were made during the week of the Super Bowl.

Head thanked Walorski for her support of federal legislation to help end this practice.

“I commend Representative Walorski for her conviction to put an end to human trafficking,” Head said. “Indiana has taken great strides to combat this atrocious crime, and I’m encouraged to see that Congress is joining the fight.”

The bills passed by the House this week included:

·         H.R. 514 - Human Trafficking Prioritization Act

·         H.R. 515 - International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking

·         H.R. 357 - Human Trafficking Prevention Act

·         H.R. 468 - Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims for Youth Trafficking Act of 2015

·         H.R. 398 - Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act of 2015

·         H.R. 460 - Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015

·         H.R. 350 - Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2015

·         H.R. 159 - Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2015, as amended

·         H.R. 181 - Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, as amended

·         H.R. 285 - Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation Act of 2015

The bills now head to the Senate for further consideration.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District in Indiana, where she serves as a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs’ Committee, House Armed Services Committee, and House Committee on Agriculture.