Wagner Statement on the Passage of the SAVE Act

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-2) and the Chairman of the Crime Subcommittee, Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05), released the following statements after the passage of the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation (SAVE) Act from the House Judiciary Committee today:

Rep. Ann Wagner:

"Today's bipartisan passage of the SAVE Act will bring the American people one step closer to ending the horrors of sex trafficking. I would like to sincerely thank Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner for all of his efforts in support of this life saving legislation," said Rep. Wagner. "The SAVE Act will amend the criminal code, and give prosecutors the tools they desperately need to investigate and prosecute those who knowingly advertise sex slavery. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance the SAVE Act. Together we can ensure that any advertisement used for the sexual exploitation and enslavement of innocent victims be shut down once and for all."

Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner:

"Domestic minor sex trafficking is a mounting crisis, and law enforcement has identified online advertisements as the primary platform for buying and selling sex with minors in the United States. It is Congress's responsibility to prohibit the advertising of illegal goods or services. Similar to prohibitions enacted on illegal advertisements involving animal cruelty, prescription drugs and counterfeit items, we must combat advertisements that offer sex with children. Advertisements to sexually exploit children have become a big business and must be stopped, and those involved should be prosecuted. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations and the Over-Criminalization Task Force, I take this issue very seriously, and look forward to enacting real reforms that prevent child trafficking in America."