Sheila Jackson Lee: “Second, we must provide our law enforcement with the necessary tools to fight the epidemic. I would like to thank Agent…”

“Second, we must provide our law enforcement with the necessary tools to fight the epidemic. I would like to thank Agent Roskey, our fervent Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, and chiefs before him for their entire effort and collaboration. Houston law enforcement has been working diligently, but they have limited funds. To be able to use the Byrne grants in this effective way to save one more life, to stop another little girl from detouring from high school involuntarily and then be steered off, become pregnant, and no mercy given, driven to another country to continue to be utilized, abused, victimized, beaten, I think this legislation clearly speaks to the millions of little girls and boys who are not in line but apt to be victims from all over the world coming to the United States, finding themselves in hot points, victimized, and maybe even tragically losing their life. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss H.R. 2480, the ``Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act of 2017.'' This bill would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include an additional permissible use of amounts provided as grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, also known as the Byrne JAG Program, to combat human trafficking (including programs to reduce the demand for trafficked persons).…”