Attorney General Becerra Testifies Before the U.S. Senate in Support of Protecting Children From Sex Trafficking

WASHINGTON, DC – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017 (S. 1693). The legislation would help protect children and other vulnerable individuals from sex trafficking.

Attorney General Becerra offered witness testimony in support of S. 1693, which was sponsored by Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and 27 additional cosponsors, and in support of amending the Communications Decency Act (CDA).

Below is an excerpt from Attorney General Becerra’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Chairman Thune, Ranking Member Nelson and all the Members of the Committee for the opportunity to be here today. It is my privilege to testify before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Senators Portman and Blumenthal’s bipartisan S. 1693, The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017.

As the Attorney General of California – our state’s top law-enforcement officer – I have a unique role to play in combating the heinous crime of human trafficking. Today, I am here to explain why the Communications Decency Act needs to be clarified so that we can more effectively do our jobs in enforcing laws that protect children and help us eradicate this crime for good.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises worldwide. All too often, criminals prey on women and children and profit from sex trafficking without fully facing the consequences of their crimes. California has more reported cases of human trafficking than any other state. As Attorney General, I am committed to doing everything in my power to prosecute traffickers and disrupt the criminal organizations that profit from the exploitation of human beings.

The perpetrators of human trafficking have become more sophisticated and organized, requiring an equally sophisticated response from law enforcement and its partners to disrupt and dismantle their networks.

A copy of the Attorney General’s written testimony is attached to the electronic version of this release here.