James Moylan
WASHINGTON D.C. (Office of the Guam Congressional Delegate) — Congressman James Moylan of along with co-lead Congressman Don Davis, NC, Congressman Buddy Carter, GA, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, TN, Congressman Don Bacon, NE and Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen, AS, introduced the C.H.I.L.D. Act of 2023.
This bill seeks to amend chapter 77, sec 1591 of title 18, United States Code, by raising the mandatory minimum years of imprisonment for engaging in the trafficking of any persons under the age of 18. The current law states that if convicted of trafficking a victim under the age of 14, there is a minimum of 15 years imprisonment. If convicted of trafficking a victim between 14 and 17 the minimum sentence is 10 years imprisonment.
Child sex trafficking unfortunately remains a pressing issue in the United States. In 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or NCMEC received over 17,200 reports of child sex trafficking in all 50 U.S. states, affecting every type of community including cities, rural areas, and tribal land. According to a NCMEC report from 2021, out of the 25,000 missing runaway children, one out of six are likely to be victims of sex trafficking.
Offenders often target vulnerable children who are of lower income, live in dangerous circumstances, and seek out better lives for themselves. Victims come from all backgrounds and become trapped in a never-ending cycle of threats, abuse, false promises, isolation, shame, and debt. These victims are deprived of something every child deserves: a future.
This legislation would
• Make the sentence for traffickers exploiting victims under the age of 18 the same regardless of their age.
A child is still a minor and there should not be differentiation.
• Increase the minimum sentence to 25 years for those who are convicted of child trafficking. This will convey the serious nature of their crime and ensure that traffickers know they will be punished if they continue to exploit minors.
By enacting more stringent penalties, this bill aims to bring justice for the victims and families affected by child trafficking and issues a strong statement to traffickers, who leave a lifetime of scars on innocent children.
“My message is clear, sex trafficking is a heinous crime that will not be tolerated. Current laws are too soft on these criminals. I am committed to ensuring stricter laws and harsher punishments are implemented for anyone who harms innocent children. If enacted, this law would send out a strong message to those who engage in child sex trafficking.” stated Delegate Moylan.
“Anyone who is found guilty of trafficking children must face justice,” said Congressman Davis.
