ace and later a -- rather than sending them to prison.

friends, colleagues, country men. and let's "today" welcome all of the new members and all of their

families to what we all know would be a truly -- today is an important day for our country many senators took the oath this afternoon, 13 for the first time and a new republican majority accepted it's new responsibility. we recognize the enormity of the task force. we know a lot of hard work awaits. we know that a lot of -- >> follow the gop-led congress and see the new members. the best access is on cspan television cspan radio and cspan.org. new congress best access. >> more than 1,000 american children are involved in sex trafficking, up next, several sessions from an event focused on stopping the sex trade around america and around the world.

first we hear from rob portman portman -- >> welcome, everybody here. some late arrivals. some of you may have heard the red line is running late or incapacitated or something, so we have been getting a bunch of e-mails from people who want to

it is our great honor to host the mccain inopportunity. i do want to thank the snarts for all of the work that you have done on this issue. you have been really sort of on point in having this conversation, in making a difference and getting mad. and trying to change things and we're we're -- same goes for you, for years you have been on the senate caucus for human trafficking, and u you have the bipartisan by gender conversation i guess if i can stay for one second, so first of

all, senator, thank you for being here and we are going to be joined during the day by representatives, bass, maloney, poe and wasserman schultz. in making sure -- -- however many years ago we would read these stories. they were more like a crimes section, you would read about some young girl who was somewhat faceless and probably nameless in this story and you just couldn't proceed because the truth about-the depth of human

evil that would allow people to make money off of it. so to all of you for being here today, for allowing us to have this conversation, i think brings -- it is the beginning to the end of a very sad chapter. not only around the world, but particularly in the united states. this stuff happens other places, but we in the united states are so much better than some of those other countries and in fact it is an epidemic here too i watch to than-- again, another attempt to raise the consciousness of other individuals that we all have an obligation to do something to change the situation.

technology can solve many of the world's greatest challenges, it is my belief that there are few more worthy aims than ending human slavery and trafficking. the launch the global human trafficking hot line, and i think again, that's a great achievement. but our ongoing commitment and collaboration extends far beyond, we work and i am privileged to sit on the board for missing and exploited kids. google has an engineering

residence, to help on these very difficult issues. and many of you probably don't know this, but we launched research -- when certain key words are going to be used -- are now being used in this research shows hot line phone numbers, operating hours and easy to use short text codes, so when somebody is getting to that moment where they are on their mobile phones and they have just a second to -- not the most accurate and appropriate search that help will rise to the top in terms of their search, and we're erring on the side it's -- it's led to the opening of at least 24 cases just between august and november last year. so our hope is that we continue to come up with those ideas to continue to let those people know they're so it's lathed and alone. in addition to these

commitments, we had google hold ourselves accountable. we have zero ads, or other adult sexual services. and we don't tolerate employee -- i'm proud of this work and grateful for the organization's like the mccain institute and human rights for girls, along with our legislative leaders who are instrumental in the fight to end human slavery and trafficking. it's my honor to welcome two incredible women. to talk about where we go from here. cindy doesn't talk about this too often and i asked if this was urban letting or if this was true. she does not only talk the talk,

obviously she walks the walk. so sheal called the cops and saved some young woman's life. can you just talk to us about that moment and what it meant the you and --? >> it's like anything i was driving from san diego to phoenix, pulled into a gas station in yuma and i got out of the car, and i was pumping gas and i looked and i could see these two girls and this guy kind of off to the side kind of hovering a little bit. but not right on top, and the girls were children. i mean they were little young teenaged girls ask what they were were -- i pulled my car out of

where the gas station was, i wanted to see if they were going to show up. and they did show up and i'm happy to say that the police did the right thing in how they handled it. and i never talked to the police or anything. but on the scene, i wouldn't have done that. but it was really a good thing. >> a really good thing. >> yeah it was. >> so thank you for -- >> yeah, you know. >> that's what this is all about. i think most of you in this ud yengs know malika she is an angel to all these young kbois and girls. and again, i'm done here i just want to thank you all for allowing this. we're really proud and privileged at google to have the really strong mccain here with us today. and to talk about this very important thank you solve

suzanne suzanne. and thank you all for being here on this very cold cold day. i want to ground us this morning on the children who are bought and sold for sex here many this could have been try we know there are at least 1 hun00. she was she had on her face tattooed the name of her

trafficker. her trafficker sold her to at least ten different men at once. and when she tried to escape he beat and tortured her. but girlslike sewna, they are not ---and girls like.

there is no such thing as a child prostitute. girls who are repeatedly raped abused and a exploited are not child prostitutes. they are children who are victims and survivors of child rape. and because they are victims and survivors of child rape, they deserve all of the protections supports and services that we provide to other abused children. so that is our work for this campaign. that is the campaign that we are doing. and i am so honored to be able to do this campaign with google. and with the mccain institute and this is cindy mccain.

for those of you who are at google susan is a force of goodness, for those of us who are working to end violence against women and girls. susan is our earth angel and she's our champion. until we and that child who

has been discarded. and i have watched how you are a constant presence of love. for those who have been most marked by this world. i want to say that you know, we are here today, has the power to --.

>> to be able to say that and so i ask each of you to use that power 0 change the language, language matters how we are named is how we are treated. so please join us, please be part of this effort to give dignity and justice to children that are being bought and sold for sex. please join us in giving dignity and justice to the way these girls are s ares are suffering and to be able to name their suffering. there is no such then as a child prostitute. there are only victims and survivors of child rape. thank you. >> i'm very happy to be here with google and with rights for

girls, and this is something that we have talked about together and girls that work with us on a daily basis, to remind people out there and to teach people it's not all about run away children or bad kids or any such thing at all. the best line i have heard and what i love to hear you say is that there is no such thing as a child prostitute. and i like to remind our men at home real men don't buy little girls. and that's something that -- that's a portion of this issue that we'll be working on in the months to come on this. but i want to thank you for what you do and google, oh, my gosh- -- with ideas and thoughts and complaints and all the things that you do when you

start out in all this, google was the first one not only to listen, but to act on it. i really want to thank you for that. because that is, that's ---this arena, this internet arena, which is mind-boggling. you all are obviously the leaders and play such an important role and by your thoughtfulness in this -- we look forward to being able to stop this, at least within the boreds of the united states you have been such an inspiration to me, throughout all this because i know you do i get frustrated at times. and i do want to go kick a door so will i think others and the important work that you do, i just want to thank all of you for being here. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> where's jenny?

round of applause. >> that's a heavy issue. >> five minutes. >> what do we do now? >> five minutes. >> all right. >> i am so grateful, that two of the most important people on this issue, not only on capitol hill, but nationally are here today to joanin us for this conversation. and i know that within this group, perhaps they don't need as much of an introduction but

others that will be watching us on cspan will know who these people are. the senator is a woman that is tenacious, she's thoughtful, she's direct. and she is hard working on this issue. and she and i have spent a great deal of time on this together, plotting, trying to figure out, sharing our frustrations and also sharing our successes and believe me she has had a few successes on this minnesota is a state that has done really well on this issue. and is making strides and is continuing to make -- she's a great travel partner. i have traveled a little bit with her and she's wonderful. and senator portman, we have known each other a long time, and i won't -- i won't tell you the story we just rekriltcited out

there. >> i have read rob portman played barack obama in the debate practice with your husband. and he will reveal it. >> and i was so glad that you got up and left the room. i love you, anyway. i know you're under a time constraint this morning. but your work on this issue has been remarkable. and like many people in this room. you're not on this because this is politically expedient to you. let me know when you have to leave. i know that everything's kind of all screwed up today in terms of timing. but thank you for being here.

first of all, what i would like the two of you to do is specifically talk to us about just what is going on on capitol hill?

third after illegal deportation of guns and the second is the photographicing of sex victims. one of the things that was mentioned earlier that we don't always think about is the prevalence of this crime in the united states whereas was mentioned, 100,000 victims, while 80% of the victims and 80% of the victims are from the u.s. and that's why you see this crime happening on the oil patches of oklahoma and in the -- laws in minnesota which basic says you don't prutst't prosecute

victims of a crime. you don't prosecute these young girls. our prosecutors and police have worked together. we have worked with prosecutors, the radisson hotels and have really taken this to a different legal. just this year our prosecutors in ramsey county got a 40-year sentence, against a perpetrator someone who ran a sex ring. and that's the kind of thing that's been done on the front line. what we did was ravrp this up to the federal level. and cornyn and i have introduced a bill to give states safe harbor laws. but not all of them have gone quite to the degree of enacting these safe harbor laws, that reese enabling the numbers in a dozen. finally allowing victims of these crimes to be eligible for

job training programs. $3 million a year by raising the fines on these perpetrators that are running the sex rings that are prosecuted federally most of them are prosecuted mostly by state and local prosecutors, but the ones that are prostituted federally you raise the fine, you raise above 30 million and that money is then used to pay for shelters and other things that are happening. because we know the answer isn't just the prosecution, but also the help that the victims of these crimes get, i would end with just one comment and that's something that nick christoph has done a lot of writing, called half the sky, based on the chinese proverb that women hold up half the sky,

so basically if you put your head in the sand and you pretending this isn't happening? you are giving up half the sky. unless our country takes a stand and cleans up our own house? it's really hard for us to be the moral compass with the rest of the world on this issue. when more women rise up in general on this countries we have more democracies, we have more progress. it's also about the future of a lot of these countries and being able to work hand in hand with them to solve this crime. >> senator portman? >> first cindy thank you, for what you do in so many ways, cindy's been very involved with refugees and just -- human trafficking issue, globally, and now she's focused right here at home. and it would be shocking to most of my constituents, to hear that

there are 100,000 every real community in our country and it's a great failing. and i got involved in part because we have an organization in cincinnati that supports the freedom center, we have got more forehuman trafficking, but really a parochial school they don't have contact be me in our first couple months about four years ago in the senate and said would you come talk to us about about ---in terms of prosecutions and in terms of other screws, and that's not necessarily an indictment of toledo. i would be careful to say that because some cities including

toledo have said yes, there's a problem, but i have been with them for not being in denial, and rather accepting, this is a problem in focusing on this prosecution, allowing the data to get out there nationally. so i couldn't go but i did a video for these girls and because of that, i got into the issue and it was so emotional, you know, that they had identified this and the more you look into it, and there are obviously examples of this, trafficking of humans goes along with so many other horrific crimes in terms of terrorism and networks. but it's happening right here too. is that kind of opened my eyes to it. we started getting involved with it.

partly there's and thoojs the center for missing and exploited children. and thanks to others we have been able to sort of raise the awareness of this issue. i'm not familiar with what's happening on the house side there ees there's but also back home, for

the work, it will take it to a new level. as google tends to do. so i know you got a personal commitment and a passion for the issue. i heknow that's driven by community involvement. and raising awareness. this is the best way to do it. the internet is a mixed blessing, is so that's also something. it's horrific and by the way, law enforcement in ohio and elsewhere are now doing a better job of identifying the problem because of that, and it's amaze

ing suck sizcesssuccesses. there is a man who listed a young girl online. the young girl happened to be a police detective in his 40s. >> that's amazing. >> and when they met, they were able to arrest him and stop one more predator. so that's what this is ultimately about. on legislation -- -- trying to get legislation out there that deals with this issue. i don't mean all of them. but malika said, a lot of these kids. the victim of sex trafficking. you think about that. we have introdiced we have a committee, we're frying to get it passed. from ohio today, i checked this

morning, there have been 67 young people in ohio who have gone missing since december 1, since last month. 67. so that's part of what our legislation does, saying let's get photographs for all these kids, let's do more to get this data out do we can know who these kids are and help to finding them. and cindy's story has been repeated all over the country. i was with some catholic nones we have done round tables in ohio around these victims it's just heart wrenching. but this is a catholic none that that ---it's not far behind.

keep your eyes open. so another piece of legislation is important knowing who these kids are, and getting better information. the data part thanks to the effort, a lot of people in this room, and a amy's help and others have actually gotten passed in the last congress. that's something we can point to in the last session. it really relates to this issue of how do you deal with children who are trafficked? what's the attitude, are they criminals or are they victims? and this legislation, these are victims. to this part of the legislation has not been enacted yet. people from megan's law -- it was mentioned that there was a new piece of legislation coming out this week,a you know this month, is a month where we have to hold this issue up, so this week, senator feinstein and i

and i filed, to combatting the human trafficking act. so not so much in identifying these kids but in -- and amy's been a part of that too. so there are a lot of good things things -- the specific legislative work. >> i'm sure that you've seen one of our co-sponsors is here. >> i told cindy this morning, that i had approached my colleague, senator mccain to say, what cindy wants singdy

gets. >> i'm kind of focusing on what i asked him to get on the bill. >> he's, as i said earlier under these kinds of issues for so many years and for decades and good to see you, my friend. thank you, cindy thank you very much for coming. thank you. >> thank you so much. thank you so much. thank you. one of the issues i raised and you and i talked a great deal about it. but is the word prostitution and victim. with all the work that is happening around the country, i still butt up against huge groups of people who say what are we going to do about these child prostitutes. so the whole language changed. and i would like to hear your thoughts on that. so we have been frustrated together on this issue. when you think about the average age is 13, not even old enough to go to the high school prom, not even old enough to drive a

car and to think that you would think of that person as the one that you should criminally prosecute, makes absolutely no sense. and if anyone has read these stories about these victims, they tend to be -- victims, they have had maybe tough lives growing up. they're out, they get promised a bunch of things. we had a girl in minnesota that just ran away from home, and this guy just took her in and promised things, she's just a lonely girl out there first time running away from home and she becomes a victim. a lot of times she gets them hooked on drugs and that's part of it. so they are clearly victims. the other way to look at practically, u if you're going to go after people who are running these rings if you're going to go after people who are these bad guys. the only way you do it is to get these victims to testify. and you're not going to get them to testify when you put them in jail. you try to help them turn their lives around. so they have something else to go to besides back to the bad

guy. so it's really that simple. and that is why we have seen it work in other states where you get much more cooperation from the victim if they feel that you have given them a safe harbor, if you have given them a place to live, and a place to get an education. and that's why this bill that we have includes not just this idea that you don't prosecute them and you don't call them prostitutes, but also that you give them the chance to be in job training programs and you find some funds through increasing the fines, the other bill i mentioned so that they have a place to find shelter. >> it's also an argument for public-private partnerships within victims services as well. that's something out in arizona that we're really pushing on right now. we don't have much in the way of victims services in arizona right now. we have got a few things, but it's not nearly enough. and of course funding is the biggest issue los angelesalong this.

these kids have broken the law they're prostitutes. and it's this whole cultural change within those of us who can do something about it. >> the other thing when you came to minnesota and some of you did a great job of speaking to the conference -- one of the interesting things that our local prosecutors are doing is they have a johns school and they literally when people are arrested, not for running the rings, but for buying sex. they make them go to this john school, which is taught by a m woman, who herself was a victim and now runs a huge shelter. and she's really tough. and they have to go constituent there and listen and hear about the stories that these girls and meet some of them. and that's part of the approach, it's really kind of taking them on and saying this is what u you've done this is who you have as victims. this is the kind of guy you are?

and our state and some of the justifications actually put the picture up as well. but that's a whole other issue. >> we used to do it in arizona we don't do it anymore. so there are things that you can do to kind of shift that culture to show who the real perpetrators are and who the real victims are. and i also want to commend the victims for the work she's doing with the super bowl coming to arizona and working with to the nfl to really call attention to the issue because we know that's not the only sporting event, or convention, including political conventions, where these kinds of things go on. but we do know it's one of the biggest events in the country. and these perpetrators gravitate to these kinds of things. and she's been working really well with the nfl with the upcoming super bowl in arizona and so that's something else to keep an eye on. >> we just stumble on an advertisement for models.

>> one of my favorite topics. it affects obviously it is affected by the internet. my neighbors i know in arizona e for exactly what we had talked about. the obvious ability -- organizations like that. i think a lot of this is trying to figure out ways. trying to introduce laws and you do run into legitimate issues on

that ground. and so i think the key is to try to figure out when things are criminal and to work to try to get this out there. because they are literally advertising these kids and that's why we appreciate what google is doing, and try to do a positive thing to make it easier for law enforcement and others to go after these cases and victims to get the information that they need. >> and obviously one of the things we talked about was whether or not offering the thought for back page and other publications like that, to simply do away with their adult services section, much like what craigslist did. and that the whole first amendment issue comes into play because they hide behind it on this particular -- on this particular issue i know many of you in here know but on this

particular show, let's talk about mapping, the ability to use the internet and other entities is to hopefully be able to map these cartels and map not only what they're doing, yes they're doing it. and then to be able to predict. i have talked a great deal about that, i would like to hear what you -- >> a lot of this we know, the victims are in the u.s. but it also involves these international cartel which as rob noted, not just victims of sex trafficking but also drugs and guns and other things that they are trafficking in and so the mapping in being able to figure out where these victims are and approximate with what's happening can make all the difference in these international prosecutions so what we saw when we were in mexico, for instance, the mexican government has actually heightened their awareness of this, and they have been a huge help in working with us as victims in the u.s., a lot of times girls that came from

mexico, who are victims in cases, so they're able to work and give us information and that kind of mapping, which also, i think involves talking to our major airlines talking to our major hotel chains and getting their employees up to speed. so it's not just about one gas station, which cindy knows well, but it's also about figuring out where these international cartels are, and again it's a private public partnership and being aware of those employees and having eyes all over the world and emploiing the technology to use those eyes all over the world and get that information together. so this is really this combination of changing the culture in our mind set, changing our laws, which we are i'm convinced we're going to do this year we're very close at the end of last year and i would note a version of this bill passed through the house, we want to see it upgraded a little bit and back to our original senate version, but we have worked well with the house that's not the issue.

it was just some last-minute finagling at the end e, and we need to get this done, i would hope in the first six months of the year, so that we can set an example in this country not just to the rest of the countries, but also working showing our private sector partners that we are serious about this. >> and i guess we have time for one more but one of the things that i would like to hear from you is now that we get through like you said, this sporting season, or at least in arizona we're getting through january and we're packed with events going on. >> i thought you meant the sporting season was congress at the end of a year. >> we are done with the sporting season. but, no, continue on. >> but, what do we do? is there a way that we as citizens and the activists and groups around here can really encourage these large convention conventions and large events

that occur to not put up with this and to help stop it before it starts. >> well, i love your idea, which was looking at this as a criteria, when groups are looking at where to locate their conventions, look at the criteria of whether or not the local law enforcement and the states have this as part of maybe law enforcement routine. just as you would look at other things when you decide where you're going to locate a convention. you know that major conventions, that this attracts some of these sex traffickers that is a fact. so if you're the organization, you're deciding where your convention is going to be you should look at what the laws are on the books and how involved law enforcement is, and you don't necessarily have a black or white criteria of how it looks, and if a lot of national organizations start doing that, then the local chambers and the local tourism bureaus are going why don't we get laws on the books for that. it makes people feel better about coming to our state or to

our city. >> exactly, i want to thank you, i have been given to the high sign i want to thank you so much for coming. i just want to say i'm really proud to be able to work with the senator on this issue. and a few other little things too and i will let you know how we survived the superbowl. -- when they really turned to bid for the super bowl in minnesota. they kept talking about how -- they didn't mention like the temperature yesterday, which the windchill was below -- 20 below zero. so that -- and i will note this is the week of the super bowl coming up. i think it might be a little warmer in arizona, but we welcome everyone to minnesota. >> thank you so much. thank you. >> the unemployment rate has fallen to 5.6%.

on the next washington journal "new york times" economics correspondent neil irwin on what it means for the economy. and then the latest in the paris terror attacks, with the national journals, james kitfield, and the report released by the centers for disease control, shows alcohol poisoning kills more than six people each stay in the u.s. the cdc's dr. bob brewer joins us washington journal airs live every morning at 7:00 eastern. p and you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter. >> here are some of our featured programs. on cspan 2, saturday night at 10:00, cass sunstein on group decision making, and sunday afternoon at 1:00, we talk with recently published professors and johns hopkins university. and the u.s. government's

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combatting child sex trafficking including ted poe andcare lynn maloney who reintroduced legislation on the issue. good morning. we're going to start our second panel in just a moment if you could all take your seats. so thank you all for being here. i'm jasmine. as director of law and policy for rights for girls, i have the enormous privilege of working with lawmakers here in washington to advance policies to protect vulnerable children. today we're joined by some of the key members of congress who are really leading the effort to protect vulnerable youth by

combatting child sex trafficking. one of our members, we are waiting for, congressman david reichert, but we are honerred to have with us new york congresswoman, congressman ted poe of texas. congresswoman karen bass of california and wassermann schultz from florida. thank you all so much for being here. i first wanted to give our members -- we're joined by congressman reichert. thank you so much. no. no problem. welcome to all and thank you so much for being here on this very cold day. i first wanted to give our panelists an opportunity to talk to you all about why this is such an important issue and one that commands our attention. so, i thought that we would get things started with you,

congressman wasserman schultz f you don't mind. >> thank you very much. thanks to the right for girls. thank you both to google and to rights for girls for hosting this important discussion and yasmine, thank you for your leadership. i want to congratulate you on being such an incredible product of the university of florida and give you a hearty "go gators." always bleed orange and blue. this is annish sthu is something i've been passionate about and i have had the privilege of working on all the way back to my days as a state legislature. i passed the first state human and sexual trafficking law that made it a state crime in florida as one of the last pieces of legislation i passed as a member of the florida house of representatives. and subsequently with then senator now vice president biden passed a protect our children act in 2007.

protect our children act coordinated the largest law enforcement army quarterbacks of the department of justice to instead of the silos that previously existed made sure that we had one overall coordinated effort towards going after child exploitation. specifically focussed on an often underlooked piece of this puzzle, which is the exploitation of children online. just like child pornography is not pornography, child prostitution is not prostitution. it's rape. and when you have young girls who are the most likely to be trafficked between 12 and 14 years old and the average for a girl once she begins being trafficked is to be raped 6,000 times during the time that she

is trafficked. there's no number of times that is acceptable, but that number is just horrific. the average life expectancy of a young girl once she begins being trafficked is seven years. now, as the mother of an 11-year-old and a 15-year-old girl, i mean it's hard to get your mind wrapped around that kind of horror. and the fact that in the united states of america one in four girls will be the victim of sexual violence sometime during her life time is just -- it's an epidemic. you have to be careful about throwing the word epidemic around, but it's an epidemic. now, the perspective i want to offer is that we have an opportunity, for me as a member of the appropriations committee to addition to the work my colleagues on this panel are doing to work together through

the appropriations process. try as we might and our founding fathers came up with a brilliant funnel in which a lot of really good ideas go in at the top of the wide mouth of the funnel, but very few of those good ideas come out the narrow spout at the bottom. we are able to use the appropriations process effectively to be able to make sure we can make a difference not only through appropriating dollars to combat these terrible crimes, but also by adding language that ensures that we have some agencies that are agencies and our federal i hate to use the term bureaucrats but the people responsible for helping us fight these crimes make sure that they are moving in the right direction. and so recently just to give you an idea of some of the things in the com any bus that passed, it uncolluded 42 million for doj victims support. 68 million for missing andics ploited fund and requirement that doj and fbi prioritize

traffic. yes. in the cromnibus that language was there. we need to make sure we achieve reachable goals in a targeted way. and so it's a privilege to be part of this panel and i look forward to the discussion. >> yes. let me join in thanking google and rights for girls and the mccain institute for putting this forrum on today. you know often the public talks about the dysfunction in congress and what we don't do. we don't get much publicity when we do work together and i think this is a perfect example of an issue is a bipartisan issue and everybody on this panel we have worked together and passed significant legislation in the last congress and look forward to doing the same thing in this congress.

the particular focus that i have on this issue the intersection between child trafficking and the child welfare system. let me just sum it up this way. a young woman that many of us have encountered said this to me several years ago and it just devastated me. it was like being punched in the stomach. and what she said is you know, being a foster child prepared me to be trafficked. and i just -- i looked at her you know stunned. i didn't know what she meant by that. and she said, well, you know, one, you moved me around every few months and so i was never able to attach to anybody. and everybody that was in my life was paid to be in my life. so what difference was it when a pimp came along and, in fact, the difference that he made was he was the first person that said he loved me. and i just was stunned in silence at that. but to think about what she just said because our child welfare system until we transform it,

until we fix the child welfare system, the average kid is moved multiple times. i met an 18-year-old who had been in the child welfare system since she was 2 years old, she had been moved 66 times. how could she attach to anybody or anything? and so the problem is that child abuse and negligent is defined in our country as the abuser or the negligenter is a caretaker or a parent. well where does a pimp fall in that? so this is an entire population that falls through the cracks because they're not defined in our child welfare system. so the piece of legislation that passed out of the house on a unanimous vote was a bill that said we need to look at our child welfare system and we need to make sure that the system is prepared to deal with this population. we know there's overwhelmingly girls but there's also boys involved in this as well. and just as my colleague here

said, we should not view these girls as prostitutes we should also not use the term john for the purchaser because that person is a child molester and that is how they should be viewed. and not enough attention is paid to them. that's something we need to do. i look forward to continuing to pay attention that in this legislative session. thank you. >> well, good morning. my name is ted poe. i am a member of congress from texas. in my other life, i was a prosecutor and a criminal court judge for a long time. saw a lot of outlaws at the courthouse. and in congress, i am aware, as you are, what is taking place in our country of the selling of america's youth across the nation.

trafficking -- there's two types. i first came in contact with this issue when i was in the ukraine several years ago, more recently in central and south america. i met a girl named lily in honduras. she was 10. and she was a trafficking victim. many of those young women in the americas and other places end up in the united states. so we have international trafficking of children in the u.s. we also have the issue of american children being trafficked across the country. i'm from houston. unfortunately houston, texas, is one of the hubs in the nation for the trafficking of children because of our location and because of our demographics. we have been working on this issue for a long time,