July 12, 2016
Contact: Kyle Roerink
Phone: 202-657-3219

Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District and member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure applauded the decision to include in the Federal Aviation Administration short-term extension bill her provision to require that airlines train industry employees on how to recognize and report human trafficking. Last night the House passed the short-term extension bill, H.Res.818, to authorize the FAA until September 2017 and offer a variety of public safety measures for the aviation industry.

“These crimes don’t just happen on the ground and are just as hard to spot in the sky,” said Rep. Titus, a member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation. “Airline industry employees are in the best position to recognize and report the signs of human trafficking in our skies and can play a key role in stopping the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”

"We thank Representative Titus for her steadfast leadership in combating human trafficking and getting the necessary tools to Flight Attendants to serve as more than 100,000 eyes in the skies saving lives. We all recognize the horror of this crime, but we must take action to stop it. Within a global struggle to combat this problem of epidemic proportions, aviation's first responders can play a key role in the fight against human trafficking," stated Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO.

Background on Human Trafficking Provision

Rep. Titus originally had this language in a standalone bill, the Secure Our Skies Act, but moved to attach it to the FAA extension legislation.

The human trafficking provision will require airlines and contractors to develop training materials for their employees to help spot common indicators of human trafficking and offer best practices for reporting suspected cases to law enforcement.

According to the United Nation’s International Labour Organization, 21 million people worldwide, including 5.5 million children, are reported victims of human trafficking. Cases in the United States are increasing with an estimated 17,500 people subject to sex and labor trafficking every year. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, a national hotline, reported a 10% increase in reported cases in 2015, with 6,000 cases being reported.

Nevada is among the leading states for cases of reported human trafficking. In 2013, there were 81 reported cases of trafficking. In 2015, those numbers increased to 133 reported cases, a quarter of which involved children under 18. Of those 133 reported cases, 114 involved sexual exploitation.

Background on FAA Extension

The FAA’s funding for operations is scheduled to expire on July 15^th. This extension legislation ensures the FAA will continue its operations under current funding levels until September 2017.

This bipartisan, bicameral measure provides stability for the U.S. aviation system and important aviation safety, security, and time-sensitive improvements for air travelers while Congress continues to develop a long-term reauthorization of the FAA.