Readers here at PJ Media are likely familiar with Operation Choke Point, an operation of Obama’s Department of Justice that wanted to cut off the use of the banking system for certain industries that were undesirable such as legal industries like pay day lenders and firearms businesses. Of course, the executive branch of government cannot make laws (or make laws they call “regulations” to try and weasel out of this constitutional restriction) because legislation is the purview of the legislative branch, or what we know as Congress. Recently, the rightful lawmakers in Congress have passed a bill to cut off some real undesirables, the human traffickers.
Last month, Congress passed a law, End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2018 (H.R. 2219), that cuts off banking services for the illegal practice of human trafficking.
…the bipartisan H.R. 2219 would amend the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 to add the U.S. Treasury Secretary to the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to increase the role of the financial industry in combating human trafficking, according to the text of the bill.
In turn, the task force would be directed to recommend revisions to Congress on strengthening the federal government’s anti-money laundering programs to specifically target money laundering related to human trafficking, among other provisions, according to the text of H.R. 2219.
Rep. Mia Love (R-UT), a co-sponsor of H.R. 2219, has worked with and supported Operation Underground Railroad to stop human trafficking. I wrote a review of the documentary “The Abolitionists,” which is about the work of Operation Underground Railroad, a group that travels the world and fights to rescue trafficked children. Kudos to Rep. Love, who not only sponsored this bill and helped pass it through the House, but who went to Haiti to expose these filthy sex traffickers and the corrupt system that supports them. So many in Congress are full of lip service and grandstanding, it’s refreshing to see an elected representative follow through with some meaningful action. You can watch Rep. Love in Haiti in some footage from Operation Underground Railroad:
I don’t know why the GOP hasn’t showcased this success on the human trafficking issue — it certainly would be a plus in a contentious November election where the left will most certainly be playing the social justice warrior card. But more important than works is action; and while I am almost universally critical of elected officials, this is one law I am happy to see move forward.
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