Political Quotes

On the recordMarch 20, 2018
Mr. President, we are quickly turning to the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act legislation, coupled with the legislation that has come over from the House of Representatives, and I hope we will get a big bipartisan vote in support of that legislation when it is voted on, probably tomorrow. Let me just say that for more than two decades, the commercial internet has been an undeniable force for good. It has delivered economic opportunity to people who would not otherwise have had it. It has empowered marginalized citizens around the world to fight back against oppressors. It has expanded educational opportunities and made news and information more accessible, and more. But like any tool, the internet can be used for evil as well as good, and right now, certain corners of the internet are being exploited to facilitate sex trafficking, including the widespread trafficking of children. Each year, thousands of children are sexually trafficked within the United States. That is right. Thousands of children are trafficked each year in the United States--not in some faraway country but right here at home in our communities. More and more every day, this trafficking is being facilitated via the internet. Three out of four children who have been sexually trafficked in this country have been trafficked online. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported an 846-percent increase in reports of suspected child sex trafficking from 2010 to 2015.…
Said by
John Thune
Republican · South Dakota

Share & report

More from John Thune

Nov 11, 2025

Let’s get it done, get it over to the House so we can get this government open.

latimes.com
Nov 7, 2025

Will the far left not be satisfied until federal workers and military families are getting their Thanksgiving dinner from a food bank?

latimes.com
Nov 6, 2025

Hopefully they’ll come out of there with 10 or more that are willing to vote to open the government.

nbcnews.com

Other voices in this conversation