releases: https://walters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-walters-calls-continued-protections-sex-trafficking-survivors-trade
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://walters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-walters-calls-continued-protections-sex-trafficking-survivors-trade | Rep. Walters Calls for Continued Protections for Sex Trafficking Survivors in Trade Agreements | 2018-11-01 | 2018 | 2018-11 | Republican | House | CA | Mimi Walters | W000820 | walters.house.gov | legacy | October 31, 2018 (202) 225-5611 Rep. Walters Calls for Continued Protections for Sex Trafficking Survivors in Trade Agreements Washington, DC Today, Rep. Mimi Walters (R-California) released the following statement regarding her letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) urging the inclusion of language addressing online sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, and prostitution to be included in any new or renegotiated trade agreement. In the coming months, USTR is expected to begin trade negotiations with the European Union, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Rep. Walters recently worked with USTR to ensure her trafficking legislation, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), and the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), were included in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as part of her continued commitment to end human trafficking. SESTA-FOSTA was signed into law in April. Read the letter to USTR here. Said Rep. Mimi Walters, The effort to end human trafficking starts at home, but it also requires a global effort. I'm pleased USTR recognized this by working with me to include language to protect individuals from online sex trafficking in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. As we move forward with new and renegotiated trade agreements, I'll continue to fight to protect men, women, and children from exploitation. Background In March 2017, a large international sex trafficking ring facilitated through Backpage.com was uncovered in Irvine, California. Prior to the enactment of SESTA-FOSTA, websites that hosted sex trafficking advertisements were immune from prosecution because of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Section 230 was written to protect websites from being held responsible for any type of content posted online by users. However, the courts interpreted Section 230 to shield websites from prosecution, not just for content, but also for criminal conduct, like human trafficking. The intent of Section 230 was not to shield bad actors or allow criminal conduct online. Rep. Walters' SESTA language amends Section 230 to allow sex trafficking survivors to seek justice by enabling them to pursue federal civil claims against websites that knowingly promote, support, or facilitate online sex trafficking. FOSTA gives state and local prosecutors better tools to disrupt online sex trafficking by criminalizing the intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person. Walters represents California's 45th District and serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the House Ethics Committee. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |