WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), the ranking member, issued the following statements after the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Reauthorization Act passed through committee Wednesday. The bill would require DHS to issue guidance, develop training programs, and share information across components as part of the Blue Campaign to end human trafficking.
“Human traffickers enslave new victims every day,” said Chairman Johnson. “This bill will give DHS the tools it needs to coordinate within the Department so that everyone has access to the same information in order to help prevent further tragedies. We must do everything within our power to end human trafficking and the Blue Campaign is a step in the right direction.”
“We have a moral obligation to do all we can to stop the despicable crime of human trafficking,” said McCaskill, a former prosecutor. “During my bipartisan investigation into the Backpage website for facilitating sex trafficking, I heard too many heartbreaking stories of child exploitation and abuse. This isn’t a Republican or Democratic issue, and I’m glad to be working with Senator Johnson to ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the tools it needs to help crack down on human trafficking.”
S. 1103, the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017 bill text can be found here.
Learn more about the Department’s Blue Campaign to end human trafficking here.
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