In our own country, up to 300,000 children a year are victims of trafficking.

According to the State Department, 800,000 individuals are trafficked every year across international borders.

We strongly feel that when you treat women, children and boys as a commodity and you are willing to sell them as a commodity and treat them as a commodity, there is nothing worse than that.

In your view, what do such high marginal rates mean for low-income individuals attempting to advance up the economic ladder?

Thank you very much. And if you wonder why I did not give you the proper attention by coming here at the last minute, I was just chairing another committee on sex trafficking.

It is important, from an equity goal and just so the system seems fair, that we treat people who are equal equally.

Too often the current debate on tax reform has been preoccupied by talking points about so-called 'wealthy' not paying their fair share.

I think that, on balance, it is time to do that as well as reform the tax code.

We have a responsibility in Congress to end these crimes against the most vulnerable among us.

We intend to stay together to see that we do the very best we can to see that this industry, which is so malevolent, is curbed dramatically in our country.

This is a big issue and it requires us to be able to work together.

I hope my colleagues will all join me not only this week in passing this important legislation out of this Committee, but also next week when I hope the Majority Leader will take up this legislation on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Senator Collins has worked to help the most vulnerable youth at the risk--at risk for human trafficking by cosponsoring S.178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

These girls and boys are not criminals, as Senator Klobuchar has so powerfully pointed out, and they are not prostitutes.

I am pleased to have played a role in that enactment, 15 years ago that was, and it was called the Trafficking Victim Protection Act.

Thank you very much, Senator Grassley, for helping--calling this hearing and inviting us to be at the table to talk about this vile and violent issue of human trafficking.

and Members of the Senate, as chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, I have mentioned publicly that I am open to certain Federal sentencing, or prison, reforms, and I have tried to make it very clear that I am very opposed to others…

today, I am introducing a measure that would help us make progress in the fight against domestic human trafficking, a terrible crime. This legislation, titled the Combating Human Trafficking Act of 2015, has three objectives. First, it…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Realities of Drug Sentencing in the Federal Criminal Justice System

I thank the majority leader for moving ahead on S. 295, which we call the Amy and Vicky Act. The need for this bill arises because of the Supreme Court's 5-to-4 decision last year in Paroline v. United States. The Court at that time…

I ask unanimous consent that any time during the quorum calls be equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 5, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business…

2 days ago ABC ran a story on its ``Nightline'' program that brought to light issues with the immigrant investor program. This program is also known as EB-5. This immigration program was created by Congress in 1990. It was created to…

I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 5, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 5, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Commerce…