Ayanna Pressley: “I thank Chairwoman Waters for her lifetime of service and commitment to those who are ignored, left out, and left…”

“I thank Chairwoman Waters for her lifetime of service and commitment to those who are ignored, left out, and left behind. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 502, the FIND Trafficking Act. Moreover, I rise today on behalf of the survivors of sex trafficking in my district, Massachusetts' Seventh Congressional District, and across our Nation. The sex and drug trafficking industry is a $150 billion industry across the globe and throughout our communities. This bill would bring us one step closer to combating this pervasive and insidious industry. I rise today to lift up the lived experience of one of its survivors: Casey, a 13-year old who grew up in the care of the child welfare system after surviving an abusive home. Before being referred to My Life My Choice, a program in my district that is survivor led that works with those impacted by trafficking, Casey had been placed in multiple residential programs. Just this year, Casey went missing for 1 week. Casey describes an experience that is harrowing and, unfortunately, not unique. Craving friendship, companionship, and safety, she built relationships online that turned into in-person meetings. Those meetings did not provide the safety or support Casey hoped for; rather, they led to her exploitation. She found herself at parties where men she trusted demanded she have sex with other men. She lived in fear, and endured many indignities. Her safety was compromised and her humanity marginalized.…”