Ted Poe: “Human trafficking victims are slaves living in fear, totally losing their identity. On this National Human Trafficking…”

“Human trafficking victims are slaves living in fear, totally losing their identity. On this National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, it is time to publicly expose the traffickers. As a former judge in Texas, I used public punishment to keep criminals from returning to my courtroom and to discourage other criminals from committing more crimes. This form of public shaming can be successful in combating human trafficking. That is why, today, I introduced the SHAME Act. This bill will give Federal judges the ability to publish the names and photographs of both convicted human traffickers and the buyers of trafficked victims. Buyers will no longer be able to hide in plain sight under a cloak of anonymity. My hope is that the SHAME Act strikes fear in those who think about purchasing young women for sex. Perhaps the thought of having their face on a billboard will make the scoundrels think twice about participating in the modern-day slave trade. It is time to shame these horrible humans out of business. And that is just the way it is. ____________________”