On Friday鈥檚 鈥淏ehind the Headlines鈥� on St. Louis on the Air, we took an in-depth look at that has passed overwhelmingly in the U.S. House of Representatives and will be moving on to the Senate.
Joining us on this week鈥檚 edition was Congresswoman Ann Wagner to talk about her legislation criminalizing the advertising of sex trafficking online which passed the House this week. She is the representative for Missouri鈥檚 2nd District and has worked on the bill for a couple of years.
Host Don Marsh asked her about why the bill has taken so long to pass.
鈥淚 will tell you this has been a labor of love but, sadly, one that was born out of necessity,鈥� Wagner replied. 鈥淎nything that鈥檚 big, any piece of legislation that is consequential is a big lift and is hard to do.鈥�
She said the bill makes it criminal for the facilitation and the promotion of prostitution and reckless disregard of sex trafficking. The states that there has been an
鈥淲e now have the tools to say, 鈥榠f you are putting up and selling these women and children, and young boys and men, on the internet, we will go after you,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is a crime. It is modern-day sex slavery.鈥�
Wagner said the bill is expected to pass through the Senate the week of March 12 with full support from the White House.
Listen to the full interview here:
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