South Michigan News

The House of Representatives has unanimously passed the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Tim Walberg, Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, and Congresswoman Ann Wagner. The bill, known as H.R. 443, aims to ensure that the Department of Labor effectively trains its employees in recognizing and responding to human trafficking.

In a statement, Congressman Walberg emphasized the importance of this legislation in the fight against human trafficking. He highlighted the failure of multiple agencies to track unaccompanied minors crossing the open border, resulting in over 85,000 lost children within the country. He called this humanitarian crisis unacceptable and stressed the need for legislation like H.R. 443 to educate Department of Labor staff and establish clear reporting guidelines.

Sheriff Troy Goodnough of Monroe County, Michigan, praised Congressman Walberg's efforts to combat human trafficking. He acknowledged that Michigan is not immune to this despicable crime and highlighted the launch of a task force in Monroe County to crack down on trafficking. Sheriff Goodnough commended Walberg for establishing clear reporting guidelines and identification abilities for Wage and Hour Division staff, as well as his ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement to address this criminal enterprise.

Kelly Castleberry, a resident of Lenawee County and a veteran anti-trafficking advocate, emphasized the vulnerable populations that are most at risk of being trafficked. Castleberry stated that fraud and coercion are the most commonly used methods and the most challenging to prosecute. She applauded Congressman Walberg for his bipartisan approach to protect these vulnerable populations, support victims and survivors of trafficking, and provide education to federal agencies on identifying and stopping human trafficking.

The provisions of the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act include directing the Department of Labor to educate its staff on effectively detecting instances of human trafficking. It also ensures that personnel receive regular information on current trends and best practices. The bill allows for flexible education options, including in-class and virtual learning, and establishes a clear course of action for referring suspected instances of human trafficking to law enforcement. Additionally, the legislation requires a report to Congress on the implementation of the education program and the Department's processes for measuring and tracking the response to human trafficking.

The unanimous passage of the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act in the House of Representatives demonstrates a strong bipartisan commitment to combating human trafficking. Congressman Walberg expressed hope that the Senate will swiftly pass the bill in their chamber, furthering the fight against this heinous crime.