Chavez-DeRemer, colleagues introduce bill to combat human trafficking, expand funding
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) recently joined Reps. Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) to introduce the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act. It would expand the definition of a federal grant program to include human trafficking – opening up additional funding opportunities for local law enforcement to carry out anti-human trafficking efforts.
“The Interstate 5 corridor places Oregon at the heart of sex trafficking activity, but convictions in the Pacific Northwest have not kept pace with an increase in identified victims. We must explore all options available to help local law enforcement tackle the heinous crime of human trafficking and hold perpetrators accountable,” Chavez-DeRemer said.
“By expanding federal grant opportunities for state and local governments, this commonsense proposal will provide law enforcement officials with additional resources to disrupt trafficking networks and keep our communities safe. I appreciate Congressman Luttrell’s leadership and look forward to working together to pass this critical legislation.”
Oregon victims identified by the National Human Trafficking Hotline soared from 64 in 2015 to 160 in 2021. Additionally, the number of convictions for sex trafficking in the Pacific Northwest nowhere near reflects the number of victims identified. In 2021, there were 583 victims identified in Oregon and Washington, but only 41 people were convicted, Chavez-DeRemer's news release stated.
The Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act would add human trafficking to the list of categories covered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
This program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. It currently provides states and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas, including law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and mental health programs.
