H.R. No. 1751
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Nearly 36 million people are held in some form of
slavery today, whether through commercial sexual exploitation,
forced labor, bonded labor, or coerced service as child soldiers,
and human trafficking is the second most profitable global crime,
generating more than $150 billion annually; and
WHEREAS, Four billion of the world's poorest people reside
outside the protection of the effective rule of law; they can be
readily exploited because of inept or corrupt public justice
systems, which permit not only human trafficking and modern
slavery, but also police brutality, rape, illegal land seizure, and
more; and
WHEREAS, Organizations such as International Justice
Mission, Polaris Project, and Shared Hope International work every
day to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to bring
perpetrators to justice, and to ensure that public justice systems,
including law enforcement, courts, and laws, are effectively
protecting people from heinous crimes; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, human traffickers have
utilized Texas as a conduit, destination, and launching point for
human trafficking and modern slavery; however, the state is a
national leader in introducing and enforcing laws that address the
scourge of human trafficking and slavery, both within its borders
and in neighboring regions; moreover, the state secures
high-quality data to assess the problem through the unprecedented
Texas Slavery Mapping Project; and
WHEREAS, Texans from all walks of life, including students,
business owners, and pastors and other people of faith and
conscience, have demonstrated support for developing, funding, and
promoting effective antitrafficking and antislavery measures,
including rescue, safe houses, and aftercare for victims, as well
as prosecution and strong repercussions for perpetrators;
residents also advocate for educational initiatives and for the
enactment of antitrafficking and antislavery laws in the state, in
the nation, and throughout the developing world; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 10, 2015, as Texas Ending Modern
Slavery Day and commend the officials and organizations dedicated
to helping victims and preventing the victimization of others.
Thompson of Harris
Thompson of Brazoria
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1751 was adopted by the House on April
10, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House