CPAC’S Center for Combatting Human Trafficking was proud to join the House Judiciary Committee in celebrating unanimous support for H.R. 7137, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) during a markup last week.
Too many victims of human trafficking have suffered the consequences of their offenders’ criminal acts. The TSRA provides a legal framework at the federal level for states to follow that will close the gaps in unjust victim criminalization that results from the abuse of modern-day slavery.
All too often human traffickers take advantage of their victims, forcing them to commit criminal acts and “take the fall” for the horrific actions of their abusers. The heinous acts these traffickers commit should not be punishable through their victims. The TSRA will provide relief to those who were convicted of crimes due to their association in the criminal acts as a victim of human trafficking. Statistically, there is not a problem when identifying the victims in human trafficking cases. Yet, these victims often are unable to assist law enforcement and rebuild their lives because the existing legal framework punishes the survivors instead of the traffickers.
Now, Congress is joining CPAC, victims’ advocates, and law enforcement in flipping this paradigm to punish the real offenders. Our Center remains committed to ensuring our elected leaders prioritize ending the evil of modern day slavery and looks forward to working alongside Congress to ensure the TSRA becomes law.
