Ann Wagner: “I thank the chairman for his leadership on this very, very important issue. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my…”

“I thank the chairman for his leadership on this very, very important issue. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 285, the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation, or SAVE, Act. But Madam Speaker, I also rise today in support of all the good work done by my colleagues here in Congress on the issue of human trafficking. Madam Speaker, as a former United States Ambassador, I was exposed firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on an international level. I witnessed and reported on the devastating consequences of human trafficking, where innocent women and children were dragged into the dark abyss of sexual slavery. But never, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think human trafficking was so rampant right here in the United States of America. Madam Speaker, right now there are young women being forced into prostitution in virtually every district across this Nation. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, has been identified as one of the top 20 areas for sex trafficking in the United States. Madam Speaker, this is a problem that is hiding in plain sight. Every year, thousands of young American lives are impacted by this despicable crime. However, there is hope. I take hope from the work that is done by law enforcement professionals who are on the front lines every day protecting our Nation's children from those who would seek to exploit them.…”