Human trafficking provision signed into law as part of National Defense Authorization Act

U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) announced Monday that at provision they authored to combat human trafficking had been signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Based on Peters and Portman’s DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, the provision would increase the coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and the Blue Campaign, a national human trafficking education campaign aimed at law enforcement and the public.

“Federal and local law enforcement must have the training and resources to stop human trafficking – especially as these horrific crimes continue to go underreported in Michigan and across the nation,” Peters, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said. “I was proud to help enact these reforms that will help address the threat of human trafficking. They will also provide law enforcement across the nation with additional means to disrupt and dismantle human trafficking organizations.”

The provision would require the director of the Blue Campaign to develop online, interactive training videos and other web-based training opportunities for federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers. The training aims to raise public awareness about what to look for as signs of human trafficking, as well as ensure law enforcement responds quickly and effectively to human trafficking situations. The provision also establishes a Blue Campaign Advisory Board with the Department of Homeland Security that will consult with the campaign’s director on developing effective tools to build awareness to help law enforcement identify and prevent instances of human trafficking.

U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Lou Correa (D-CA) led the provision in the House.

“Human trafficking should not be happening in Ohio or our nation. I’m pleased our bipartisan DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act is now law because this bill will help to raise public awareness about the indicators of human trafficking and ensure law enforcement can respond quickly and effectively while holding traffickers accountable for their actions,” Portman said. “As founder and co-chair of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking, I have led efforts in the Senate to combat human trafficking, and I will continue to work to ensure that no more women or children become victims of this terrible crime.”