Missing Children’s Assistance Act Amendment
by Representative Tim WalbergPosted on 2015-01-26
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WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 246) to improve the response to victims of child sex
trafficking.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 246
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RESPONSE TO VICTIMS OF CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.
Section 404(b)(1)(P)(iii) of the Missing Children's
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5773(b)(1)(P)(iii)) is amended by
striking ``child prostitution'' and inserting ``child sex
trafficking, including child prostitution''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
{time} 1700
General Leave
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 246.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 246, and I
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today, the House of Representatives continues its
commitment to bolstering enforcement efforts against human traffickers
in the United States and ensuring that we properly identify and serve
victims.
I want to thank Congresswoman Joyce Beatty for her leadership on this
issue and for introducing H.R. 246, which will improve the ability of
law enforcement officials and others to respond to and assist these
victims.
The House voted 409-0 to pass this legislation last summer, and as
previous House efforts have done, the bills being considered today
attempt to change for the better how we view victims.
For too long, these victims have been seen as willing participants
and treated as actors in the criminal scheme; however, we now know
that, oftentimes, individuals are trapped as victims by human
trafficking organizations and, sadly, many of these victims are
children.
Congresswoman Beatty's legislation will ensure that we view victims
of sex trafficking not as participants, but as victims, and ensure that
child sex trafficking crimes are reported.
Under current law, the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children operates the CyberTipline to provide online users and
electronic service providers a means of reporting Internet-related
child sexual exploitation in many areas, including child prostitution.
H.R. 246 would replace the term ``child prostitution'' with ``child
sex trafficking'' in the CyberTipline reporting categories to reinforce
that children who are sex-trafficked or sexually exploited are victims
whose situation should be taken seriously when reported.
It would also ensure the public recognizes that child prostitution is
included in how NCMEC uses the term ``child sex trafficking'' and thus
should still be reported to the CyberTipline.
Again, I want to thank Congresswoman Beatty, along with the Education
and the Workforce Committee and House leadership for recognizing the
need to steadfastly address this dreadful practice.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 246, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
