With National Human Trafficking Awareness Day approaching on Saturday, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., reintroduced four bills to combat human trafficking, according to a news release.
“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,” Blackburn said in a statement. The senator reintroduced the bills Thursday.
(READ MORE: Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn to introduce DOGE Acts)
The Stopping the Abuse, Victimization and Exploitation of Girls Act would provide resources to help state and local governments and nonprofits prevent the trafficking of young women. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, is one of the bill’s co-sponsors, the release said.
(READ MORE: U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn talks bipartisanship, outlines legislative priorities)
Also co-sponsored by Klobuchar, the National Human Trafficking Database Act would create a national human trafficking database under the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. The bill would incentivize state law enforcement agencies to report data, according to the release.
The End Child Trafficking Now Act would require a DNA test to identify the relationship between unauthorized migrants and any children coming with them across the border, the release said. The bill is co-sponsored by multiple Republican senators, including Sens. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
The Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act would enable U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to fingerprint unauthorized minors, according to the release. The legislation is co-sponsored by eight Republican senators, including Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
— Compiled by Sarah Dolgin