Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the Stopping Traffickers and Their Accomplices Act.
The bill would require abortion providers to file a report with the National Human Trafficking Hotline if they have a reasonable suspicion to believe that a woman is a victim of human trafficking. The bill would also require abortion providers to participate in an annual training to recognize the signs of trafficking and to certify they have taken steps to assist women who are being trafficked.
Read the full text of the bill HERE
The bill is cosponsored by:
- Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)
- Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS)
- Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
- Sen. James Risch (R-ID)
- Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)
- Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
The bill is supported by:
- Concerned Women for America
- Students for Life Action
- Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America
- Heritage Action for America
Sen. Budd said in a statement:
“Human trafficking is a horrific crime that must be confronted and eradicated. Given the nature of how abortion clinics operate, it is necessary to provide needed accountability to ensure they are not aiding and abetting the abuse of women enslaved in the sex trade.”
Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, said:
“Most Americans find it hard to believe that slavery still exists, yet an estimated 27.6 million worldwide are victims with the majority being women and girls. It is no surprise that abortion facilities aid and abet traffickers by ending the life of their little one, only to be sent right back into forced sex labor. Studies show that it is common for women who are being trafficked are often the victim of at least one forced abortion. Senator’s Budd’s legislation would ensure that abortion facilities report when they have reasonable suspicion that a woman is a victim of trafficking, among other vital procedural efforts to help women out of the trafficking world.”
Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life Action, said:
“The corrupt partnership between human and sex traffickers with the abortion industry is well known, an ugly relationship that needs to be stopped to protect women caught in the crossfire. Abortion is an avenue for traffickers to continue their horrific abuse of women and girls. The abortion industry must be held accountable for aiding and abetting traffickers, and any opposition to this humanitarian bill will show that abortion’s financial interests are being placed about the needs of women. The Stopping Traffickers and Their Accomplices Act is a great step towards preventing the abortion industry from profiting off of sex trafficking and ignoring the crimes they may be facilitating. Students for Life Action asks Congress to support this commonsense effort to stop the exploitation of women.”
Background:
- The State Department’s 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report found that sex traffickers coerce women into receiving abortions against their will.
- Another study indicated that 71% of trafficked women indicated they had at least one pregnancy while they were trafficked.
- Almost a third of women trafficked indicated they received multiple abortions.
- More than half of the respondents indicated their abortion was the result of coercion.
Stopping Traffickers and Their Accomplices Act:
- Require Abortion Service Providers to complete training to identify potential victims of sex trafficking.
- Require Abortion Service Providers certify to the Secretary of HHS through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office on Trafficking in Persons that they have a plan in place to identify and respond to the needs of potential victims of trafficking that present at their facility.
- Requires Abortion Service Providers to report cases of suspected trafficking to local law enforcement within 24 hours or face criminal prosecution.
- Requires HHS to provide the report to DOJ and Local law enforcement.
- Allows State Attorneys General to enforce the bill.
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