Mr. Chairman and Subcommittee members,

Thank you for convening this hearing on modern-day slavery and for giving me an opportunity to share with you our experience combating the trafficking networks in the United States. I want to begin with a personal note of thanks.  We work every day with women in the sex trafficking networks either through direct outreach to the brothels or through case work.  We work with women who have been brutally abused, raped, and threatened with death – and who often, understandably, have little hope or trust.  It means a tremendous amount to me to be able to say to them that my government cares about their situation - something that I know cannot be said in every country.  Thank you again for demonstrating your commitment today to us and to all of the victims with whom we work.  

This framework reviews strategies at the policy level that are intended to institutionalize counter-trafficking measures in law and in government agencies, and at the ground-level, to ensure efficient and effective implementation of those measures in partnership with the citizen sector and communities. The strategies address the four major groups involved in the trafficking industry: traffickers, customers (who create demand), victims of the crime, and the support structure.