WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) and Ted S. Yoho (R-FL) Oct. 3 introduced two bipartisan bills to aid in the fight against human trafficking.
- The Collecting Official Measurements and Baselines to Assess Trafficking (COMBAT) Act – H.R. 4581 will require the United States to determine the parameters for quantifying domestic trafficking in persons and require a comprehensive study on domestic human trafficking.
- The Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act – H.R. 4580 will create a pilot program led by the Departments of Homeland Security and Education to train educators on how to identify signs of trafficking in their schools. It will also bring awareness to human trafficking and techniques to combat this abhorrent crime and ensure the community remains safe from potential traffickers.
Van Drew:
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and we should do everything we can to root out this evil. We cannot attack what we do not know and that’s why I’m proud to introduce these common-sense bills with Congressman Yoho. These vital pieces of legislation would give us a better picture of the scale and magnitude of this horrendous crime and educate teachers on how to spot signs of trafficking and tools to respond accordingly.”
Yoho:
“The fact that modern slavery exists is unacceptable. It is upsetting that victims of human trafficking are being brought into and sold within the United States daily. Progress has been made combating this horrendous industry, but more must be done. Many victims of human trafficking are students in the American school system. School administrators and staff are well-positioned to identify, and report suspected trafficking cases to law enforcement and connect victims with organizations that provide resources for prevention and rehabilitation. The two bills I introduced with Congressman Jeff Van Drew today will aid in the fight by focusing on prevention and accurately quantifying how many people are being trafficked in our country.”
