South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem says combating the human trafficking industry is a personal priority of hers.
Noem introduced legislation last week that addresses the issue in three different ways. She says her Human Trafficking, Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act launches a review of all state and federal trafficking prevention activities to better understand what’s working and what’s not, it ensures dollars are being spent efficiently in existing federal anti-trafficking programs, and improves grants for shelters for survivors.
“The number one concern that I’ve heard from anti-trafficking advocates in South Dakota is that there’s a lack of shelters for victims across the country, much less in South Dakota, so if we’re going to give kids and young individuals a way out of this industry they need a place to stay at night, they need a safe place to go. My bill opens the door for local shelters to get the support they need to house survivors and get these young folks back on the path to recovery,” says Noem.
Noem says the bill is expected to hit the House Floor today.