releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=42159f71-5b5a-484d-a1f4-048cbe8c333d
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
This data as json
| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=42159f71-5b5a-484d-a1f4-048cbe8c333d | Heitkamp Pushes for Stronger Protections to Prevent Human Trafficking on Websites like Backpage.com during Senate Hearing | 2015-11-19 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Heitkamp has Called to Eliminate Online Anonymity for Traffickers by Strengthening Internet Protections and Assisting Law Enforcement EffortsWASHINGTON, D.C. During a Senate hearing, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today pressed key experts and advocates on the need for anti-trafficking measures for websites like Backpage.com which has become an online hub for human trafficking, including in North Dakota to prevent the criminal exploitation of women and children through sex trafficking. To date, Backpage.com has refused to fully cooperate with Committee-issued subpoenas regarding a U.S. Senate investigation into human trafficking, and Heitkamp and other Committee members plan to hold the company accountable for its actions. During a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Heitkamp, who serves as a member of the subcommittee, slammed Backpage.com CEO Carl Ferrer for refusing to testify on his companys continued lack of transparency in failing to disclose and discuss the safeguards the website uses to prevent traffickers from using the site as a medium to perpetuate crimes.Because of the rampant use of Backpage.com by perpetrators of human trafficking looking to buy or sell victims, often who are minors, law enforcement in North Dakota has used the site to find and arrest those committing such crimes. Long an advocate against human trafficking, Heitkamp led an initial hearing in September 2013 to sound the alarm on the prevalence of human trafficking right in our own backyard, including in North Dakota. Since then, Heitkamp has continued to look at how we can provide better protections for victims, including discussions about liability in civil and criminal cases for companies like Backpage.com, which provide platforms for the trafficking of women and children. Websites like Backpage.com exist in these shadows helping criminals traffic women and children by offering them complete invisibility. On Wednesday, Backpage.com posted 69 new ads for escorts in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot thats in just one day, said Heitkamp. There have been too many stings in North Dakota where perpetrators used Backpage.com to buy and sell victims and that cannot be allowed. The refusal of Backpage.com CEO Carl Ferrer to testify on the safeguards he claims are in place to prevent online exploitation of our countrys most vulnerable when his company is notorious for acting as an online hub for sex trafficking is deeply disturbing. As I have long said, we must hold Backpage.com liable for actions, like human trafficking, that take place through its site, and Ive spoken with federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, about accomplishing that goal. Heitkamp has consistently has worked to engage, educate, and unite North Dakotas communities and federal officials in the fight against human trafficking. Just last month, Heitkamp brought DHS Blue Campaign Chair Maria Odom a program within DHS whose agency dedicated solely to eradicating fighting human trafficking across the country across North Dakota to work with advocates, and law enforcement, and tribal officials to develop potential areas of partnerships to help the state fight these crimes. Later that month, Heitkamp collaborated with Truckers Against Trafficking to encourage North Dakota truckers who are often in locations, where human trafficking is more likely to occur, like rest stops to engage in the national effort to combat these crimes by reaching out to law enforcement when they see potential instances of trafficking. Over the past year, Heitkamp has also teamed up with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to hold multiple trainings for North Dakotans,statewide women leaders, andlaw enforcement and victims service providerson how to identify, report, and investigate incidents of human trafficking. Background: Heitkamp has been leading the charge to combat human trafficking in North Dakota and across the nation by: Passing Strong Bipartisan Legislation to Fight Against Human Trafficking: Heitkamp helped introduce, and played an integral role in passing in the Senates bipartisan Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act which the President signed into law in April. Working with Republican Senator Susan Collins, Heitkamp helped reignite the politically stalled legislation by offering a bipartisan, compromise path forward. The final bill provides greater assistance to victims of human trafficking, increased resources to law enforcement and victims services organizations, and secures greater punishments for perpetrators of these horrific crimes. The package also contains provisions Heitkamp fought for and won including stricter punishments against traffickers who transport victims across state lines, and legal protections from her Safe Harbor bill with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to make sure victims are not treated as criminals. Working on Bipartisan Solutions to Engage Health Care Providers: This spring, Heitkamp and Collins introduced bipartisan legislation to give health care providers including doctors, nurses, and social workers training to help identify and protect victims of human trafficking. Heitkamp and Collins Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act would build on Williston and New Town pilot programs to give health providers nationwide needed training on how to recognize, report, and potentially intervene when they see patients who are possible human trafficking victims. Recent studies suggest that nearly one-third of women trafficked in America saw a health care professional while they were still captive to these crimes. Advocating for Protections for Young People at Risk: Heitkamp has been a strong advocate and cosponsor of the bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking and Prevention Act which would help protect some of the most susceptible targets of human traffickers. She is continuing to push the Senate to pass the bill. In July, Heitkamp successfully secured landmark anti-human trafficking protections for children in schools in the No Child Left Behind reform legislation. Addressing Human Trafficking as a Community Issue in North Dakota: Last fall, Heitkamp launched herStrong & Safe Communities Initiativeto address emerging challenges throughout North Dakota in the wake of the states energy boom, including human and sex trafficking. Last summer, Heitkamp brought international anti-human trafficking leader Cindy McCain to Bismarck for a Strong & Safe Communities roundtable on the challenges and next steps in North Dakotas fight against human trafficking. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |