If you prefer your Super Bowl without a side of sex trafficking, you’ve got company in Congress. An aide from Representative Randy Hultgren (R., Ill.) tells NRO he plans to have legislation drafted within a few weeks highlighting a link between prostitution and sex slavery.
That stance isn’t uncontroversial. Advocates of legal sex work argue that it would improve relationships between law enforcement and sex workers, making them more likely to work together to root out traffickers. Others say there’s a correlation between legalized sex work and sexual exploitation. Hultgren’s legislation will be predicated on the latter argument. Per the aide, his office is talking with a number of prominent anti-trafficking organizations about the efforts.
Hultgren isn’t the only one working on the issue. His fellow Illinois Republican Peter Roskam, the house chief deputy whip, has legislation designed to help children in foster care who are at risk of trafficking.