House Resolution 1379 -- Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to domestic sex trafficking of minors

Shared Hope International worked with Congressman Ted Poe (R.-TX) to introduce a resolution that calls on the federal government as well as the states to strengthen the response to domestic minor sex trafficking. Introduced in the House on May 19, 2010, H. Res. 1379 has already attracted a number of co-sponsors, but it will need more in order to move through the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary.

H. Res. 1379 speaks to many of Shared Hope’s policy recommendations, including:

• Calling on states to enact laws to address the crime of domestic minor sex trafficking
• Encouraging the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the pilot shelter for juvenile trafficking victims authorized under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005
• Calling on states to create adequate residential housing facilities for victims of domestic minor sex trafficking
• Addressing the role of demand by calling on the federal government to prioritize the arrest and prosecution of buyers at the federal level and provide leadership to the states in crafting state laws to do the same
• Recognizing the need for a standardized response to domestic minor sex trafficking cases

Read the entire Resolution

Read Shared Hope’s press release

WHAT YOU CAN DO: 

We can get this resolution passed if we show Congress that this important issue deserves their time and support!

1.  Reach out personally to members of the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Energy and Commerce -- Find the Congressman closest to you and encourage them to become a co-sponsor of the resolution or support this crucial piece of legislation.

2.  Call your local Congressman’s office (you will likely talk to a staff member) and urge them to support this legislation. You can use this script or personalize your message:
 

"Hi, my name is [   ], and I am a constituent of [   ]. I am calling to urge [   ] to support H. Res. 1379 introduced by Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) which seeks to state the scope of the problem of domestic minor sex trafficking and calls on the federal government and the individual states to  prioritize the response to victims of domestic minor sex trafficking, prosecute offenders of commercial sex with minors on a federal and a state level,  and ensure proper treatment and shelter to victims of child sex trafficking. Will the Congressman support this important resolution?”

3. After you make your call, please follow up with a short email to thank them and restate your message.

4. Pass this information to your friends and neighbors and urge them to join the fight!

Questions?  Contact Amy English, Communications Coordinator at Amy@SharedHope.org or call us at (703)351-8062.