WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), offered a key amendment to S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. The amendment provides tribes the opportunity to access funding for programs and trainings to combat human trafficking in Indian country. This funding would be used for both: programs to aid survivors of sex and labor trafficking in their recovery, and for training sessions for tribal law enforcement to be able to detect trafficking activity in Indian country.
“Human trafficking is widespread in Indian country and we have to do everything we can to stop it. Violent crime rates against women and girls in Native American communities are far higher than the national averages,” Barrasso said. “This amendment delivers help to trafficking survivors and gives tribes the resources they need to battle human trafficking in their own backyards.”
Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s Remarks.