U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley met constituents in multiple town hall meetings in the Carroll Broadcasting listening area to discuss his most recent work in the U.S. Senate. Grassley said one of the most recent bills to have passed the Senate was the non-controversial bi-partisan bill co-lead with Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) to increase protection and support for victims of human trafficking. The Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2024 passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate.
This act is endorsed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network to encourage a stronger coordinated effort between the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS). In a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, there were findings of a lack of a dedicated network to combat child trafficking. Specifically, this legislation would set a timeline for implementing the antitrafficking recommendations in GAO’s report, ensure agencies with the DOJ and HHS establish a plan to guide offices’ collaboration efforts, and require the DOJ to develop achievable performance goals for the program. Grassley says by raising more preventative measures, federal agencies can step in to prevent abuse, like the famous case of U.S gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
The DOJ settled with Nassar for $138.7 million, which will be distributed among the victims. Grassley convened the first congressional hearing on sexual abuse of young athletes back in 2017 and led congressional oversight in 2021 for the FBI’s mishandling of the Nassar investigation. Grassley says he will continue to support bills to protect and support victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse and lead prevention efforts to make the world a safe place for everyone.
