IN SUPPORT OF THE FEDERAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

            WHEREAS, the United States government has long been involved in the prosecution of human trafficking; and

            WHEREAS, more than 20 million men, women, and children worldwide are victims of human trafficking; and

            WHEREAS, according to the Polaris Project, every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world, and here in the United States; and

            WHEREAS, trafficking victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality and can be men or women, young or old, American or from abroad, with or without legal status; and

            WHEREAS, among them are victims brought into the United States under false pretenses, and coerced into commercial sexual exploitation; and

            WHEREAS, over the past year, the Administration has taken steps to highlight the issue of human trafficking and to place new emphasis on combating the issue; and

            WHEREAS, the first-ever White House Forum to Combat Human Trafficking was held earlier this year; and

            WHEREAS, this forum brought together leaders from government, the private sector, advocates and survivors, faith leaders, law enforcement, and academia to talk about ways to combat human trafficking; and

            WHEREAS, at this conference the Administration released the Federal Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States; and

            WHEREAS, this first-ever federal strategic action plan outlines steps to coordinate and strengthen services for trafficking victims in the United States; and

            WHEREAS, this comprehensive, 5-year plan is action-oriented and time-specific and embraces a collaborative approach that promises to improve services for victims of trafficking throughout the federal government; and

            WHEREAS, the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in 2000 was a turning point in dealing with trafficking victims; and

            WHEREAS, the Trafficking Survivors Protection Act was reauthorized as a part of the Violence Against Women Act; and

            WHEREAS, the President’s proposed FY 2014 Federal budget includes for the first time funding to support domestic survivors of human trafficking; and

            WHEREAS, the President signed an executive order in 2012 Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts; and

            WHEREAS, the FY 2013 Department of Justice budget includes language to direct the department to investigate possible changes to the law to help prevent the trafficking of commercially sexually exploited children over the Internet; and

            WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign is working to  combat human trafficking through public awareness, training, victims’ assistance, and   law enforcement,

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the Administration’s ongoing efforts to combat both domestic and  international human trafficking; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the Federal Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the Department of Justice to find ways to combat the trafficking of commercially sexually exploited children over the Internet; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Conference of Mayors supports efforts federal funding for victims of trafficking and efforts to combat trafficking; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that combatting human trafficking should include severe prison sentences up to and including life in prison to deter individuals from participating in any part of the crime; and

           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign.