Walberg Introduces the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-05), Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP-00), and Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) introduced H.R. 443, Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. The bipartisan bill would ensure that Department of Labor employees receive the proper training to recognize instances of human trafficking and refer these cases to law enforcement agencies. According to data released by the National Human Trafficking Hotline, over 295 cases of human trafficking were identified, with 429 victims in these cases, in Michigan in 2021 alone.

“Human trafficking is a horrible crime that happens right in our backyards,” said Rep. Walberg. “To crack down on this evil practice, we must leverage every available resource and improve our ability to detect labor exploitation. This bill would ensure that Department of Labor employees have the necessary training to identify and respond to cases of human trafficking. This is an important step we can take to hold traffickers accountable and protect those who are most vulnerable. January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and I am proud to work with my colleagues on this important bipartisan legislation.”

“Human trafficking is a scourge that preys on the most vulnerable and subjects victims to horrific working and living conditions. And, unfortunately, the Marianas is not immune from the impacts of human trafficking," said Rep. Sablan. "Unscrupulous companies operating in my district have used deceptive recruiting practices to lure workers to low-paying jobs and unsafe working conditions. Some of these problems have been addressed, but we must remain vigilant and give federal agencies the tools they need to fight human trafficking. This bill will strengthen the federal government’s ability to recognize and crack down on human trafficking in order to better protect the most vulnerable in our nation’s workforce. I look forward to working with Rep. Walberg to advance this bipartisan bill through Congress.”

“Combatting human trafficking in the United States requires a whole-of-government approach," said Rep. Wagner. "This problem is getting worse, and as it evolves, government employees must be kept up to date on the trends we are seeing in the fight against trafficking and are aware of the best ways to alert law enforcement. I applaud Congressman Walberg’s steadfast leadership on this legislation and look forward to its consideration in the House.”

Congressman Walberg serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Education and the Workforce Committee. For more information on Walberg's work in Congress visit walberg.house.gov.