WHEREAS, The horrific crime of human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery; and
WHEREAS, Victims of human trafficking are tricked, lured, coerced, or otherwise removed from their home or country, and then exploited for commercial sex or labor purposes; and
WHEREAS, Human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms trade as the second largest criminal industry in the world and is the fastest growing. It is estimated that 12 to 27 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. government has estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the country each year, and thousands of U.S. citizens are trafficked within the country each year, including 100,000 to 300,000 American children; and
WHEREAS, Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all fifty states in the U.S., including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, in both urban and rural areas at places such as massage parlors, strip clubs, hotels and motels, and agricultural facilities; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is also a pass through state due to the many interstate highways that connect major human trafficking hotspots in many neighboring states; and
WHEREAS, The National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Act (SB 338) would help trafficking victims in Pennsylvania escape their situation by requiring certain establishments to post the 24-hour hotline number; and
WHEREAS, The posting will provide access to help for victims and serve as an outlet for tipsters. Calls are confidential and can be anonymous. The call specialists are able to provide an immediate response to the urgent calls by connecting callers to local referral organizations; and
WHEREAS, Similar bills have been passed in other states such as Maryland and Texas and have been proven to help victims; now, therefore, be it,
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Calls on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass Senate Bill 338, The National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Act.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk shall forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Chairs of the Pennsylvania Committee on Finance and to all members of the House delegation representing the City of Philadelphia as evidence of this Council's support of this legislation.
End