Senator Bob Corker on Wednesday praised unanimous passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S.178).
“By helping victims and arming law enforcement with the tools they need to fight this brutal industry, passage of this legislation is an important step in the fight against human trafficking,” said Senator Corker. “I am glad there is bipartisan focus on this issue both domestically and abroad, and I remain committed to additionally pursuing efforts to help end modern slavery worldwide.”
The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), boosts support for and protection of victims of human trafficking by increasing law enforcement resources, enhancing victims’ services and increasing penalties on perpetrators.
Senator Corker has long been a supporter of efforts to fight human trafficking and modern slavery. In addition to supporting the Cornyn bill that focuses on addressing human trafficking within the United States, Senator Corker has introduced legislation, The End Modern Slavery Initiative Act of 2015 (S.553), that would create a powerful effort in concert with the private sector and foreign governments to help eliminate modern slavery around the world. In February, Senator Corker’s legislation passed unanimously out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and he continues to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move the bill through Congress.
Senator Lamar Alexander released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan bill:
“It shocks the conscience that even in these modern times, millions of people in the United States and around the world remain victims of the evil practices of human trafficking and slavery, and that’s why this bipartisan legislation is important,” Senator Alexander said. “This legislation is also yet another bipartisan example of how our Republican majority is working to get a result for the American people and doing what we were sent here to do – govern. I look forward to taking up more legislation on these types of issues in the future, including Senator Corker’s End Slavery Act.”
The Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), would improve law enforcement’s ability to target criminals engaged in human trafficking and hold them responsible as a human trafficker under the law. The bill also adds a $5,000 penalty for convicted sex offenders, traffickers and smugglers, which will be used to pay for block grants to support victims of trafficking.