Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, every year, there are thousands of people who are victims of human trafficking in America.

Over the past two decades, the number of trafficking victims has steadily and disturbingly increased.

Human traffickers subject their victims to forced labor, debt bondage, or sexual exploitation by using violence, manipulation, or false promises.

This criminal activity are not just human rights abuses; they compromise national and economic security and harm the well-being of communities everywhere.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leads the Federal Government's efforts to identify, disrupt, and dismantle complex domestic and cross-border human trafficking organizations.

Given that multiple DHS components are involved in this effort, it is important that there be standing and robust coordination mechanisms to ensure the Department is working to combat this threat effectively and efficiently.

That is why I support passage of the ``Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2021,'' the Senate version of legislation introduced by my friend and the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Representative John Katko, and which I am a proud original cosponsor.

This legislation codifies DHS's Center for Countering Human Trafficking, a cross-component operations center that brings together 16 DHS agencies and offices to ensure they are working collaboratively.

As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, I have long supported legislative efforts to improve the capabilities of U.S. law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle these dangerous human trafficking organizations.

Furthermore, Ranking Member Katko and I led an effort last year to include important anti-human trafficking legislation in the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.''

Known as the ``DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act,'' this legislation improved DHS's communication and education materials on human trafficking awareness and prevention.

I am confident that S. 2991 will build upon the success of the Blue Campaign.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to come together to stand against the exploitation of the most vulnerable among us and join me in supporting S. 2991.

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