Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service on Thursday sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) in support of her anti-child trafficking bill, the bipartisan Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act (H.R. 2730).
LIRS stands with Lutherans all across America and our broad network of legal and social service partners in the fight to abolish modern day slavery.
The letter to Rep. Bass notes that:
In July 2010 the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod approved a resolution to support efforts to end human trafficking. The resolution called on the Church to provide information about human trafficking to congregants, encouraging pastors and laity to “become educated regarding this issue and to be proactive in their response.”
The letter goes on to say:
U.S. government officials estimate that there are as many as 27 million victims of human trafficking around the world, many of whom are here in the United States. Research shows that the majority of child sex trafficking victims are already involved with the child welfare system. The Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act is critical legislation that would ensure that state child welfare agencies identify child victims and provide them with the services they need.
To read the complete letter, please click here.