Rep. Peters Helps Pass 12 Bipartisan Bills to Hit Human Trafficking

WASHINGTON – Over the past two days, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) has helped pass several bipartisan bills aimed at undercutting the practice of human trafficking both here in the United States and internationally. This comes on the heels of local law enforcement agencies announcing a joint task force to attack San Diego’s growing human trafficking problem.

“Fighting human trafficking is something that everyone in Congress can agree on and where the United States must take a leadership role internationally,” Rep. Peters said. “Tackling this heinous practice will require action at all levels of government and coordination to make sure that no one is falling through the cracks.”

According to federal reports, 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States annually. The San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, the busiest border crossing in the western hemisphere processes approximately 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians daily according to the General Services Administration (GSA). Human trafficking prosecutions in San Diego County have more than tripled over the past five years according to the District Attorney’s office, and the FBI has identified San Diego as one of the top 13 high-intensity child prostitution areas of concern.

Twelve anti-human trafficking bills passed the House of Representatives this week: HR 514, HR 515, HR 357, HR 468, HR 469, HR 246, HR 398, HR 460, HR 350, HR 159, HR 181, and HR 285. Last year, Rep. Peters introduced two bills aimed stopping international human trafficking: the ‘Partnering to Abolish Child Trafficking Act (PACT)’ and the ‘End Modern-Day Slavery Act.’

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