January 29, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 18 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H1253-H1254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page H1254]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise awareness of a plague 
affecting our Nation and our world. It is called human trafficking. 
There are more than 40 million victims worldwide, and it happens in our 
backyards right here in congressional districts throughout the country. 
My district, because of the geographic location in California's Central 
Valley, sees a disproportionately high amount of human trafficking that 
takes place.
  Fighting this atrocity requires all of us to come together with a 
comprehensive strategy. Organizations like Breaking the Chains in my 
district are needed to support survivors. Law enforcement needs to hold 
perpetrators accountable.
  This week as the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Victims' 
Rights Caucus, Congressman Pete Olson and I are introducing a 
resolution in the House to support the observation of National Slavery 
and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is sad that we have to bring 
this kind of recognition, but it is the reality.
  This resolution calls for the Federal Government to coordinate its 
efforts and fight human trafficking between agencies and State and 
local governments as well as other organizations. We in the 
Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus will continue to lead and push 
this effort. We need to work together.

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