U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has reintroduced a comprehensive package of four bills aimed at combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children. The legislative measures include the SAVE Girls Act, National Human Trafficking Database Act, End Child Trafficking Now Act, and PRINTS Act.
“Human trafficking is a vile crime, and we need to do everything in our power to deter criminals and trafficking rings from preying on innocent men, women, and children,” Senator Blackburn stated. “These bills would establish a national human trafficking database, authorize additional funding to prevent trafficking, combat child recycling at the border, and prevent traffickers from smuggling children across the border by requiring a DNA test to determine the relationship of accompanying children.”
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Stopping the Abuse, Victimization, and Exploitation of Girls (SAVE Girls) Act
- Purpose: Provides states, local governments, and non-profits with essential resources to combat the trafficking of young women and girls.
- Co-Sponsors: Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
- Highlights: Offers funding for prevention, victim support services, and anti-trafficking education programs.
National Human Trafficking Database Act
- Purpose: Establishes a national human trafficking database within the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime and incentivizes state law enforcement agencies to report trafficking data.
- Co-Sponsors: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
- Background: Inspired by Tennessee’s successful state-level data collection program in collaboration with Belmont University and Engage Together, an anti-human trafficking organization.
End Child Trafficking Now Act
- Purpose: Requires DNA testing to confirm the relationship between illegal immigrants and accompanying children at the border.
- Co-Sponsors: Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and others.
- Objective: Prevent child trafficking by ensuring traffickers cannot falsely claim guardianship over minors.
Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension (PRINTS) Act
- Purpose: Authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to fingerprint non-citizens under the age of 14 to combat human trafficking and child recycling.
- Co-Sponsors: Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and others.
- Impact: Strengthens identification measures to prevent repeated exploitation of children by trafficking rings.
The package reflects a collaborative effort among lawmakers across party lines to address the escalating crisis of human trafficking. Senator Blackburn emphasized the importance of leveraging resources and data to dismantle trafficking networks and support survivors.
Human trafficking remains a significant issue, with thousands of cases reported annually. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that traffickers often exploit weaknesses in border security and immigration processes to carry out their operations. Senator Blackburn’s proposed legislation seeks to close these loopholes and provide robust tools to law enforcement and communities.
The legislative package will now move to the Senate for consideration, with advocates hopeful that bipartisan support will accelerate its passage. “This is about saving lives and protecting our communities,” Senator Blackburn concluded.
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