At the summit – which included an estimated 2,000 legislators from across the country – Klobuchar and McCain headlined the “Stopping Human Trafficking in America” session to discuss strategies to combat sex trafficking; yesterday, Klobuchar and McCain led a roundtable discussion with local advocates, law enforcement and other stakeholders to highlight their efforts to crack down on sex trafficking

 Klobuchar has introduced bipartisan legislation modeled after Minnesota’s “Safe Harbor” law that helps make sure minors sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants but are instead treated as victims

Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Cindy McCain today spoke together at the National Conference of State Legislatures 40^th Annual Legislative Summit. At the summit – which included an estimated 2,000 legislators from across the country – Klobuchar and McCain headlined the “Stopping Human Trafficking in America” session to discuss strategies to combat sex trafficking. Yesterday, Klobuchar and McCain also led a roundtable discussion with local advocates, law enforcement and other stakeholders to highlight their efforts to crack down on sex trafficking. Klobuchar has introduced bipartisan legislation modeled after Minnesota’s “Safe Harbor” law that helps make sure minors sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants but are instead treated as victims. 

“Cindy and I have worked closely together in the fight against sex trafficking and it’s great to have her in Minnesota to discuss the important steps our state is taking to combat this crime,” Klobuchar said. “As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen firsthand the horror and violence women and children suffer as victims of sex trafficking. We need to take action and crack down on this heinous crime while ensuring trafficking victims have access to the support they need.”  

“Thank you to my good friend Senator Klobuchar for inviting me to Minnesota to see first-hand the great strides being made to stop sex trafficking and help those who have been victims,” McCain said. “It was a great opportunity for me to learn more about Minnesota’s innovative work on trafficking and I look forward to bringing those same practices to life in my state but with an Arizona twist. I was especially  honored to visit Brittany’s House and speak with Mrs. Clardy who lost her daughter to trafficking and others involved to see their great to help children who have been trafficked.”

Senator Klobuchar and Cindy McCain have worked in partnership to combat sex trafficking. Klobuchar, McCain, and Senator Heitkamp of North Dakota recently met with the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power to talk about shared strategies for fighting human trafficking. Klobuchar also led a panel with McCain at the McCain Institute in Arizona on international sex trafficking. In the lead up to the Super Bowl, Klobuchar and McCain met with the NFL to discuss efforts to crack down on sex trafficking ahead of the Super Bowl.

Klobuchar has introduced bipartisan legislation to combat sex trafficking. The Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act (SETT) would give 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.

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