releases: https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=389539
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=389539 | Jaime Herrera Beutler Joins House in Confronting Sex Trafficking with Legislation to Help Vulnerable Youth | 2014-07-25 | 2014 | 2014-07 | Republican | House | WA | Jaime Herrera Beutler | H001056 | herrerabeutler.house.gov | legacy | Jaime Herrera Beutler voted with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of her U.S. House colleagues to pass eight bills aimed at assisting victims of sex trafficking and increasing protections for vulnerable individuals this week. share: f t Jaime Herrera Beutler voted with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of her U.S. House colleagues to pass eight bills aimed at assisting victims of sex trafficking and increasing protections for vulnerable individuals this week. These bills complement the package of bills passed by the House in May to strengthen laws and penalties for purchasers of commercial child sex. With stories of trafficking in or just outside of Southwest Washington coming forth with startling regularity, Jaime has taken a lead role in Congress to combat the problem. She was a cosponsor of all eight bills passed by the U.S. House in the last three days. Five of these bills would equip professionals with training and provide resources to victims of trafficking – specifically runaway and foster youth. Three bills are aimed at stemming international trafficking. FACTS: · One out of every seven runaways in the United States becomes a victim of trafficking. · In 2013, 60% of the trafficking victims recovered nationwide were from foster care or group homes, according to The National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges. ·There are only 267 emergency bed spaces for trafficking victims in the U.S. “Foster care and runaway youth are some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and I cannot stand by while they are treated as prey,” said Jaime. “The bills we passed give the professionals who are entrusted with caring for these kids the resources and training they need to better identify when a child has become a victim and to help give them appropriate care. We also begin to address the need for emergency housing for those children who have been successfully removed from trafficking. As we continue to fight to stop this crime, we also need to help former victims regain structure and normalcy in their lives.” “One of the greatest needs we have once we get trafficking victims away from their exploiters is safe housing,” said Kay Vail, Probation Counselor, Clark County. “These kids often need to be removed from their environment and have a safe place to go receive restorative care. The Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act makes existing grants available for housing for victims of trafficking, which is a big need here in Clark County. There are new adult facilities, but, because of licensing, there aren’t as many for youth. There is only one I know of in the state of Washington.” “I applaud Jaime for supporting these bills. The vulnerable youth or ‘street’ kids who are often runaways and state dependents are preyed upon by men and women who exploit their weaknesses, drug addictions and lack of caring family figures in their lives, to name just a few,” said Detective Jason Mills, Vancouver Police Department. “The bottom line is that we need to find a way to keep the vulnerable youth in the foster care system and ensure their success.” Legislation passed this week: H.R. 5135, The Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act · Allows existing Department of Justice grants to be used for emergency housing for trafficking victims. · Uses a three part approach of prevention, integrated law enforcement and strengthened resources. H.R. 5081, Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act · Ensures every state has updated child welfare policies and trains child welfare workers to better identify and assess child victims of trafficking. H.R. 5076, Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act · Allows the Department of Health and Human Services to use street outreach programs to identify and help homeless youth and move them off the streets. H.R. 4980, Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act · Empowers and promotes normalcy for foster youth, transitioning more children from foster care into adoptive homes or the homes of relatives more expeditiously. H.R. 5111, To improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking · Changes the language used in the reporting categories of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s from the term “child prostitute” to “child sex trafficking” to ensure children are treated as victims and not criminals. H.R. 2283, Human Trafficking Prioritization Act · Elevates the status of the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from and office to a bureau and puts pressure on other countries to combat sex trafficking. H.R. 4449 Human Trafficking Prevention Act · Requires training for federal personnel who come into contact with trafficking. H.R. 5116 Human Trafficking Detection Act · Directs training for the Department of Homeland Security personnel to effectively deter, detect, disrupt, and prevent human trafficking. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |