DOT, DHS, Amtrak launch partnership to combat human trafficking

Recently, President Obama reaffirmed America’s commitment to the global movement against human trafficking, calling it one of the great human rights causes of our time. Today, I'm proud to announce that DOT is partnering with the Department of Homeland Security and Amtrak on a new effort to combat these crimes.

Amtrak will use training and awareness materials developed by DHS and DOT to educate its 20,000 employees to better recognize and report human trafficking.  It's all part of the Blue Campaign, which DHS launched in 2010 to more effectively combat human trafficking through enhanced public awareness, training, victim assistance, and law enforcement investigations.

This partnership fits perfectly with DOT efforts to ensure that America's transportation system is not being exploited for human trafficking.

We are currently training the more than 55,000 professionals at DOT to identify and report human trafficking. We're also working with representatives from all modes of transportation to secure their assistance in stopping this crime, and we're grateful to Amtrak for its leadership in stepping forward as our industry partner.

I also want to thank the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Janet Napolitano for working with us on this important issue.

And it is important. We may not think that human trafficking is happening around us, right here in America, but it is. Right now, in cities and in small communities across the country, this hidden crime persists.

DOT is committed to doing everything we can to stop human trafficking in its tracks. We can't let our transportation system be an enabler for these criminal acts. Those of us who work in transportation have a responsibility to watch for the signs of human trafficking, report suspicious activity to the authorities, and educate others.

Just last week, for example, Sabre, a Texas-based travel technology company, brought together industry people from travel agents to cruise line operators and asked them to make a commitment to help end trafficking,

Today, by ensuring that Amtrak employees have the proper training to know exactly what to do if they suspect someone is being trafficked, we're taking this effort one step further.

And you can help, too. Anytime any of us travel by plane, train, bus or car, we have a responsibility to keep our eyes open for harmful activity. It can be as simple as speaking up if you see a child on a bus, plane,or train who doesn't appear to know the people he or she is traveling with.

Together, we can fight human trafficking. Even the smallest step could help save a life.