Cotton Votes to Combat Sex Trafficking

Cotton Votes to Combat Sex Trafficking

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cotton (R-Dardanelle) today released the following statement on the passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act, the Stop Advertising to Victims of Exploitation Act, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Improving Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care Act, and the International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking Act:   “Human trafficking is an egregious—and unfortunately all too common—crime in the United States. In the first 6 months of 2013, a staggering 69 percent of all trafficking cases in Arkansas reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center were related to sex trafficking. The problem is only getting worse.   “The package of bills passed by the House today include necessary reforms to reverse this trend.  Among other things, the bills would crack down on Internet advertising of trafficking victims and strengthen existing anti-sex-trafficking laws by providing states with incentives to treat trafficked minors as victims, rather than as criminals or delinquents. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join in the fight against sex trafficking and pass these bills immediately.”