{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=48d26c7a-a271-40f7-a8ba-850ac04a5b70", "Heitkamp Visits Central America to Learn about Impact of Human Trafficking, Gangs, Drug Trafficking on U.S.", "2015-11-02", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp traveled to Guatemala and Honduras with a congressional delegation over the weekend to learn about how human trafficking, gang violence, and other challenges there impact the United States, and to develop solutions that will help both Central America and the United States.\r\nOur world is so connected today that what happens outside our borders can have a huge impact on us right here in the United States. Thats why I traveled to Central America with fellow members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee  to learn about challenges there that affect our country and how we can work with those nations to develop solutions, said Heitkamp. Human trafficking, drugs, and gangs in Central America can all cause families to want to leave those nations, so its important that we understand those root causes to make sense of migration within the Americas. It was particularly moving to meet with girls at a shelter for victims of human trafficking  their resilience reminded me why its critical that we fight this horrible crime in North Dakota and around the world.\r\nHeitkamp traveled with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, including Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, Ranking Member Tom Carper from Delaware, Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, and Representative Reid Ribble from Wisconsin. Heitkamp helps lead the Homeland Security Committees Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management.\r\nOn her trip, Heitkamp met with a variety of law enforcement and other officials to discuss how Central American nations are working to tackle gang violence, drug trafficking, and corruption. Heitkamp met directly with the President of Honduras and the President-Elect of Guatemala to make sure those nations understand the importance of working with the United States to reduce violence and improve public safety.\r\nHeitkamp also visited a shelter for victims of human trafficking, and has long been a leader in fighting human trafficking  both in the U.S. and abroad. In the spring of 2014, shevisited Mexico with Cindy McCain  a global leader in combating human trafficking  and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN),where they met with local officials and advocates to learn about the actions Mexico is taking to stop human trafficking and what help they could provide as the U.S. looks to develop an institutional resistance to trafficking.\r\nHeitkamp launched herStrong & Safe Communities Initiativeto address emerging challenges throughout North Dakota in the wake of the states energy boom, including human and sex trafficking.To help the state combat the issue, Heitkamp has led three training sessions in North Dakota with U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials totrain North Dakotans,women leadersin the state, andlaw enforcement and victims service providerson how to identify, report, and investigate incidents of human trafficking.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=48d26c7a-a271-40f7-a8ba-850ac04a5b70"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7821270264685154, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}