Rep. Laurel Lee’s Human Trafficking Bill Passes Out of Judiciary Committee, Headed to House Floor
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) released the following statement after her bill, the National Human Trafficking Hotline Enhancement Act, passed out of the House Judiciary Committee by a voice vote. This legislation would require entities that contract with the National Human Trafficking Hotline to cooperate with state and local law enforcement when receiving tips through the Hotline.
“The ‘National Human Trafficking Hotline Enhancement Act’ is a crucial piece of legislation that will assist survivors and combat human trafficking by sharing the tips received through the Hotline to law enforcement agencies,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline and its operator, Polaris, have worked together with state and local law enforcement to end human trafficking. But recently, Polaris has not communicated tips to law enforcement officials unless victims self-report.”
“In order for the Hotline to operate effectively, there cannot be a divide in efforts between the Hotline and those of law enforcement. My legislation would require any non-governmental organization that receives federal taxpayer dollars that operate the Hotline to notify law enforcement agencies of information communicated through the Hotline,” said Rep. Laurel Lee.
36 attorneys general, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, recently contacted House and Senate Leadership to express outrage that the Hotline is not reporting human trafficking tips to law enforcement unless the victim self-reports. This disrupts the federal-state partnership to end human trafficking.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Earlier this year, I called on Congress to take swift action to ensure the National Human Trafficking Hotline cooperates with law enforcement—AS INTENDED! I am grateful Congresswoman Lee quickly answered this call and is pushing legislation to help ensure law enforcement rapidly communicates tips about suspicious activity so we can stop trafficking and save lives.”
“As a former prosecutor and judge, I have spent many years investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases. I know firsthand how devastating this crime can be to survivors and their families and how vital it is for tips from the community to be timely shared with our law enforcement officers to recover survivors and stop perpetrators,” Rep. Lee continued.
You can watch Rep. Lee’s remarks here.
Background:
The Hotline has provided more than 15,000 tips to law enforcement since its inception in 2007, but it was recently reported that many tips are not being reported to law enforcement. The National Human Trafficking Hotline Enhancement Act would amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, section 107(b)(1)(B)(ii), to require entities that contract with the National Human Trafficking Hotline to cooperate with state law enforcement entities when receiving tips via the Hotline.
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