Washington, D.C.—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) fights human trafficking by securing critical funding in the final spending bill, including $2.4 billion for the Crime Victims Fund as well as money to support the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF). The Congressman also combats human trafficking in rural and underserved areas by working to improve reporting methods.

“Human trafficking affects every corner of the earth, from rural to urban areas. We must do everything to assist the 20 million victims of human trafficking and combat it in all its forms,” said Congressman Cuellar. “For this reason, I worked hard to secure funding in the final spending bill that will work to eradicate this horrible injustice and give retributions to survivors. Additionally, I also included language that will improve ways for local and federal law enforcement to recognize, report and intervene in human trafficking in rural, underserved areas. As the Vice Charmain of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I am committed to strengthening our nation’s efforts to combat human trafficking.”

Helping Human Traffic Survivors in Rural Areas

Victims of sexual assault living in rural communities are typically reluctant to report to the law enforcement for fear of being exposed. Congressman Cuellar included language in the final spending bill that instructs the Office on Violence Against Women to create and implement programs that reduce barriers in the reporting of crime in rural areas, colonias and persistent poverty counties.

Financing the Crime Victims Fund

Congressman Cuellar helped secure over $2.4 billion for the Crime Victims Fund, which serves as a major funding source for victim services throughout the country. The Crime Victims Fund covers crime-related costs such as counseling, medical treatment, funerals, and loss of income. This compensation is often a lifeline to victims who face financial setbacks on top of the emotional strife they experience.

Funding the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF)

In 2012, President Barack Obama created the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat, which includes 19 federal departments and agencies that work to prosecute traffickers, protect survivors, and prevent future crime.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Congressman helped secure various funding provisions for these departments and agencies so they can continue doing this crucial work. For example, Congressman Cuellar secured an additional $1.6 million in the final spending bill for personnel for the Blue Campaign, a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to respond to possible cases.

To read Congressman Cuellar’s Appropriations language on human trafficking, click here.

# # #