Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

January 30, 2025

Addressing the Horrors of Human Trafficking

With January coming to a close, I want to highlight a horrific subject that all of us can help bring to an end, human trafficking.

Designated as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, January is a month to remind us of the millions of people who have fallen victim to human trafficking. Because of our heavily traveled highway system, Pennsylvania can be a hot bed for human trafficking activity. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH), Pennsylvania consistently ranks among the top states in reported trafficking cases. 

Referred to as “modern slavery” or “forced labor” by the International Labour Organization (ILO), researchers indicate 28 million people were forced or coerced to work against their will. The ILO estimates human trafficking is responsible for an estimated $150 billion in illegal profits per year.

Researchers for the ILO also determined 3.8 million adults are trafficked for forced sexual exploitation and 1 million children are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation.

One of the most persistent myths about human trafficking is the assumption that it exclusively involves abduction or kidnapping. In reality, fewer than 10% of trafficking cases nationwide involve kidnapping. Instead, traffickers often groom their victims over time, exploiting vulnerabilities like age, poverty, substance abuse or unstable housing. Many victims know their trafficker, whether it’s a family member, romantic partner or someone embedded in the local community. These relationships of trust make trafficking more difficult to detect. 

Children and adults of all ages and demographics can become victims. Through force, fraud and coercion, traffickers push their victims into demeaning forms of abuse, including domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation.

An important tool in addressing human trafficking is making certain that Pennsylvania laws are supportive of victims. This is why I voted in favor of Act 39 of 2023, which was unanimously advanced. It ensures sexually exploited child human trafficking victims always have full access to necessary services and support.

I also voted in favor of House Bill 394 of 2023, which would allow all lawsuits against human trafficking perpetrators to be brought either where the victim resides or where the violations occurred. The bill passed in the House during the 2023-24 Legislative Session but was not advanced in the Senate. I will be supportive of a similar bill during the current session. 

Awareness is an essential component to prevention and the NHTH website offers important information on recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking.

Labor trafficking includes situations where victims are forced to work because of debt, immigration status, threats and violence. Victims are often told they owe money to their employer but are not paid what they were promised for work. Perhaps with no identification, the workers are heavily monitored and interactions with the public are kept very brief.

Sex trafficking victims report that they often live where they are forced to work or are transported by guards or “sponsors.” The victims are not allowed to meet or speak with anyone alone, and their movements, spending and communications are always monitored. 

If you believe you have witnessed human trafficking, please contact the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be reached at 888-373-7888 or by texting 233733. There is also a chat option on the NHTH website, humantraffickinghotline.org. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Keystone Contractors Association Scholarship Program Accepting Applications - The Keystone Contractors Association Scholarship Program is committed to providing $40,000 in scholarships annually to Pennsylvania residents who are attending Pennsylvania colleges and seeking construction-related degrees.

This scholarship program is open to graduating high school seniors as well as current college students who plan to work in the construction industry. 

The deadline to apply for this year’s scholarship program is March 1. For more information, visit keystonecontractors.com.

Grant Applications Sought for WalkWorks Program - The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is now accepting grant applications for the 2025-26 WalkWorks Active Transportation Planning Program.

Any Commonwealth municipality can apply for funding to create a plan to develop more user-friendly spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as boost public transportation and increase accessibility for people with disabilities. The program’s goal is to boost Pennsylvanians’ physical and mental health through increased activity. 

The deadline for grant applications is Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. An. For more information about the program and to preregister an optional one-hour webinar available to aid potential applicants on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at noon, visit the DOH website,



Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper