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CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE INTRODUCES H.R. 5238, SAVE ACT OF 2014, WHICH WILL HELP SECURE VITAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE SCOURGE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

July 29, 2014

Jackson Lee: “Trafficking in humans, and especially domestic child trafficking, has no place in civilized society. We need to ensure that state and local law enforcements agencies have the tools, resources, and training necessary to identify, apprehend, and prosecute criminals who ruthlessly traffic in children and young person”

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member of House Homeland Security Committee's Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, and Founder and Co-Chair of the House Children's Caucus, released the following statement after introducing the "Securing Assistance for Victims of Exploitation Act of 2014," or SAVE Act (H.R. 5238):

"One of the most effective resources in bringing criminals to justice is the cooperation and assistance of their victims.

"Perpetrators of crime know that they are more likely to evade detection and punishment when their victims refuse to assist or cooperate with law enforcement. That is why they make it a point to instill fear in their victims – for their own safety or that of family and loved ones.

"Unfortunately, many victims of crime and victims of human trafficking are unaware of the existence and availability of this temporary relief provided by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Act.

"And that is in part because many local and state law enforcement officers are not fully aware of all of the protections and assistance available to victims of trafficking, including eligibility to receive SNAP benefits.

"The ‘Securing Assistance of Victims of Exploitation Act of 2014' or SAVE Act (H.R. 5238), provides another tool in law enforcement's arsenal to tip the balance in favor of the victims of human trafficking by making it clear that providing victims of trafficking access to information about their eligibility to receive SNAP benefits does not constitute the type of SNAP recruitment activities or "advertising" of the SNAP program prohibited by Section 4018 of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (Public Law No: 113-079) passed earlier this year.

"The SAVE Act simply affirms the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture and other federal agency heads to provide the assistance and benefits to certain victims of trafficking already permitted by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. §7105(b), 114 Stat. 1464, Pub. Law 106-386).

"By helping victims of human trafficking, we will catch more human trafficking criminals. And that will enable us to save other children from ever becoming victims."

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Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas's 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security