Domestic Sex Trafficking Bill Passed in the House...Then Shot Down

The Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act, sponsored by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), passed the House on Tuesday night. The bill would have established shelters in six regions of the country and provide treatment and services to victims and new resources to law enforcement to prosecute sex traffickers.

Mary Ellison, Director of Public Policy at Polaris Project, clarified, "This passage is a sign that America is starting to realize that children in prostitution are victims of a horrific crime called human trafficking and are in need of services and support."

Unfortunately, an amendment that was attached to the bill  killed it because it differed from the Senate bill and time ran out for the lame duck session.  Politics and politicians.  So far removed from the real world. This was a bill to help save children who had forced into human trafficking.  These are the very people we voted in, and now they turn their backs on children in need.  What is wrong with this picture?  How can they sleep at night?

According to the FBI, more than 100,000 underage girls are exploited for commercial sex in the United States each year. But despite this incredibly high number of  victims, there are only a handful of shelter beds.  Right now, there aren't enough aftercare facilities to serve even 1 per cent of estimated victims. This bill would have not only helped to prevent pimps from victimizing young girls and but would have provided  a safe place for victims to heal.

To our politicians....Shame on you!!!!