senate resolution no.98

Senators Santana, Chang, Wojno, Alexander, Bayer, Geiss, Bullock and Hollier offered the following resolution:

A resolution to call for human trafficking hotline postings to be displayed at financial institutions.

Whereas, Human trafficking is a terrible crime in which victims are exploited for financial or other gain. These crimes occur throughout the country and across the entire world. Through fraud, force, or coercion, human trafficking victims may be compelled to commit sexual acts or perform labor or service against their will. Put simply, it is a form of slavery; and

Whereas, While there are strong and increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, more can be done to make known and stop this persistent injustice. In particular, all avenues to bring attention to human trafficking crimes and alert victims of their circumstance and options for help must be pursued to end this awful practice; and

Whereas, Financial institutions, including banks and credit unions, are important venues to display a human trafficking notice. For some victims, one of the few opportunities to be in a public place is when they are in a bank or credit union building. Financial institutions that have information on human trafficking and the contact number for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline posted and readily visible may be the difference for some victims in being freed from a dire situation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we call upon the federal government to take a stand against human trafficking by requiring financial institutions to display human trafficking hotline postings at their buildings; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon financial institutions to take a stand against human trafficking by voluntarily displaying human trafficking hotline postings at their buildings; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the American Bankers Association, and the Credit Union National Association.