Pennsylvania House unanimously passes anti-human trafficking bills

PA Rep. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe/Pike) hailed the House's unanimous passage, "in true bipartisan fashion," of a landmark anti-human trafficking bill package.

A press conference was also held prior to the Jan. 22 session vote to bring awareness to this urgent and growing problem, she said.

The chamber approved more than a half dozen landmark bills aimed at stopping the scourge of human trafficking in the commonwealth.

"The problem exists in big cities, small towns, and everything in between," she said. "It is especially prevalent in communities near major interstates. Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or purchase of persons for the sole purpose of exploitation."

Since 2007, more than 1,200 human trafficking cases have been reported in Pennsylvania, said Brown. In addition, Pennsylvania is ranked 10th on Insider Monkey’s list of top human trafficking states, she said.

The International Labor Organization estimates human trafficking is a $150 billion industry, of which $99 billion is generated by sexual exploitation, Brown said.

Among the bills passed by the House are those that would increase penalties for anyone knowingly patronizing a victim of human trafficking and anyone connected to trafficking victims. Other bills would assist victims and aim to increase resources and protections.

To further draw attention to the problem, the House approved a resolution to recognize January 2020 as “National Human Trafficking Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania.

"The General Assembly is working to not only raise public awareness, but arm prosecutors and law enforcement with every tool possible to take down traffickers and protect victims," said Brown. "With stronger legislation, Pennsylvanians will be safer from violent criminals."

See related story, "VIP explains the stark realities of human trafficking," at pikecountycourier.com.