Klobuchar-authored legislation, which was signed into law in 2015, called for the creation of the National Strategy to help coordinate efforts to investigate and prevent human trafficking between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies

 

Last June, one year after passage of the legislation, Klobuchar called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to strengthen efforts to implement the bipartisan law

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Following efforts from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) today released the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking. The Klobuchar-authored Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which was signed into law in 2015, called for the creation of the National Strategy to help coordinate efforts to investigate and prevent human trafficking between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. Last June, one year after passage of the legislation, Klobuchar called on DOJ to strengthen efforts to implement the bipartisan law.

“Trafficking is now one of the third largest criminal enterprise in the world. The bipartisan bill we passed last Congress is a good start, and we’ve seen evidence of that in Minnesota and nationwide, as more perpetrators have been brought to justice. Still, there’s more we can do to crack down on this crime and help victims rebuild their lives,” said Klobuchar.This new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking that my legislation called for will help focus anti-trafficking resources between all levels of government, increase collaboration, and help bring traffickers to justice.”

The National Strategy will help set clear goals, focus resources, and encourage data sharing among law enforcement agencies, including by mandating the establishment of district-specific strategic plans by each U.S. Attorney in consultation with state, local, and tribal government agencies.

Klobuchar is a national leader in the fight to combat human trafficking. Her bipartisan legislation, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, was modeled after Minnesota’s “Safe Harbor” law, which gives incentives for all states to have a safe harbor provision to help ensure minors who are sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims. When a state passes a safe harbor law, it means that kids sold for sex should be steered towards child protection services, rather than being arrested, charged, or convicted under a state’s criminal laws. In addition to law enforcement provisions, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act helps victims rebuild their lives by using fines and penalties against perpetrators to improve the availability of victim services.

Last March, Klobuchar and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act that would require training for certain airline industry employees to recognize and report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement. A provision based on this legislation was signed into law last July as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016. 

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