[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR BACKYARD AND IN OUR CONVENIENCE STORES

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, May 29th marked the 3-year anniversary 
of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA). This legislation 
officially declared that modern-day slavery will not be tolerated in 
our country. Since its passage the United States has seen enormous 
efforts to find and protect victims of this scourge on society. While 
JVTA took an important step forward in the fight against human 
trafficking, much more must be done.
  The International Labor Organization estimates that there are still 
hundreds of thousands of victims of human trafficking in America. One 
challenge we face in this fight is the difficulty associated with 
finding and communicating with victims.
  Since 2006, the nonprofit organization `In Our Backyard' has been 
advocating and fighting against the horrors of human trafficking. 
Recently, this group has created a program known as CSAT--Convenience 
Stores Against Trafficking.
  Not only does this program train clerks to spot signs of human 
trafficking in victims, it also utilizes the convenience and isolation 
of the convenience store bathrooms as a way to reach victims. 
Convenience stores can be found on almost every corner, and they see 
hundreds of customers each day--making them an easy place for 
traffickers to bring their victims without the fear of being found out.
  Now, In Our Backyard is attempting to turn the tables on these 
criminals and transform convenience stores into places where victims 
can come across both highly trained staff members and information on 
hotlines and websites where they can get help. With over 11,000 
convenience store locations in 29 states--including my home state of 
Texas--this organization has been able to help victims all over the 
country.
  The fight against human trafficking is not over. We must recognize 
and appreciate the volunteers and organizations such as In Our Backyard 
that have taken up this fight as well. Together, we will succeed in 
making trafficking a thing of the past.
  And that's just the way it is.

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