Truckers Against Trafficking receives Congressional Recognition award

According to the Department of Justice, human trafficking is a growing problem with 17,000 boys and girls being forced to work at truck stops and rest areas nationwide.

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Our lawmakers are working hard to do something as well. Assemblyman John Hambrick said he has been focused on the issue the past four years.

During the 2009 legislative session, he said he pushed a bill through that went after pimps financially.

When truck drivers break at a rest stop, they’re often confronted by young girls working in the sex trade — a trend a new human rights campaign hopes to combat…

In Nevada, where an estimated 400 children are being trafficked each night, Assemblyman John Hambrick hopes that the new initiative will help put a stop to this crime.

“We need to stop the demand,” Hambrick told MyNews3. ”The buyers that come who want to buy these young girls and boys need to be aware that there will be a price to be paid.”

Click here to read the full story from the Nevada News Bureau

CARSON CITY – A new campaign aimed at helping truck drivers and truck stop employees become more aware of how to identify and alert authorities to instances of underage children being forced into acts of prostitution was announced today by two Nevada organizations.

Assemblyman John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, who has pursued legislation aimed at strengthening Nevada’s laws against human trafficking, said: “I am very pleased that the Nevada trucking industry and the truck stop owners have entered the war against human trafficking. This scourge must be stopped. All of us have seen the media reports on children as young as eleven being prostituted by men who are making thousands upon thousands of dollars selling the bodies of our children. We now have two allies that can have a direct effective on fighting this war.”

In a telephone interview, Hambrick said there was anecdotal evidence presented at a press conference in Southern Nevada announcing the new campaign that it has been successful in combating the problem.

“I think there will be a new dynamic on fighting this problem,” he said. “Primarily now we’ll have people on the interstates. Many times society always thinks this is downtown, in an urban area, whether it is on the Strip or in Reno. But we always forget that these truckers are going all over the country.

“It’s a team effort,” Hambrick said. “We all have to pull together. Society has to pull together to solve this problem.”

Friends,

Republicans have an opportunity and a responsibility in 2012 to bring conservative values back to the Nevada Legislature. Yesterday the Nevada Assembly Republicans met to select the person who will lead us through one of the most important elections in Nevada’s history. I’m honored to stand behind Assemblyman Pat Hickey, the new leader of our caucus.

Over the last several weeks our caucus has deliberated over some very important issues facing Nevada. We talked about our vision for the future and the legacy we want to leave behind, but most importantly we talked about ideas and new ways of doing business.

I look forward to transparency and open discussions. I’m excited to see our caucus support rising stars who are challenging entrenched Democrats who excel at spending other people’s money. I’m humbled to know the passion our members hold for serving their constituents.

Today, I’m asking you to join us in bringing conservative values and fiscal discipline back to the Nevada Legislature. Will you please make a donation to helping our cause? Checks can be mailed directly to the Assembly Caucus or stop by one of our upcoming fundraisers.

2012 is going to be a great year for Nevada Republicans, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together.

Sincerely,

John Hambrick

On November 15, Polaris Project hosted the first ever National State Legislators Conference Call on Human Trafficking. More than 40 legislators from 26 states joined a conference call and webinar put together by Polaris Project to collaborate, share ideas, and advocate for anti-trafficking legislation. Each state has taken its own approach to combatting human trafficking and the purpose of the call was to give legislators an opportunity to learn more from each other on what has worked and the challenges others have confronted in successfully carrying anti-trafficking legislation…

Lastly, Assemblyman John Hambrick (NV) discussed another legislative success with his efforts in helping to pass a Vacating conviction bill in Nevada. This law granted victims of sex trafficking the ability to bring a motion to vacate their convictions for prostitution. This law was essential in helping victims of sex trafficking restart their lives with a clean slate. The practical effect is to enable survivors to apply for jobs, loans, and higher education without the fear of having to report a conviction for prostitution that was the result of the person having been a victim of sex trafficking.

Read more about the call and webinar here

UNR Students Raise Awareness for Human Trafficking

The Women’s Federation for World Peace, Reno in association with ASUN Unity and the Freeze Project will host a collaboration of speakers talking about the reality and effects of human trafficking Wednesday, September 28 from 6-9pm in the Wells Fargo Auditorium at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“What most people don’t realize is that human trafficking is happening all around us,” said Sarah Canak, president of the Women’s Federation for World Peace, Reno. “Our hope is that this event will inform our student body that this is not a third world issue, and there are opportunities for everyone to get involved and do their part to stop human trafficking.”

What: The panel will include activists and professionals talking about the reality and effects of human trafficking, followed by a Q & A session Wednesday, September 28 from 6:30-9pm in the Wells Fargo Auditorium at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Who: Panelists include:
Beni Hernandez, Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking, Los Angles, California
Kari Ramos, Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence
Tiffany Short, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Nevada Assemblyman John Hambrick, Las Vegas, Nevada

Where: The Wells Fargo Auditorium is located on the first floor of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center at the University of Nevada, Reno.

When: The event will be held Wednesday, September 28th from 6:30pm until 9:00pm.

Women’s Federation for World Peace, Reno is an inspiring and nurturing environment for women to work towards inner peace, family cohesion, community investment, and ultimately world peace through discovering their passions.

The Freeze Project is a fun, fresh way to bring awareness to the harrowing issue of human trafficking. It was first initiated by Charles Lee, and inspired by the Improve Anywhere group in New York. Through “freezing” their bodies for a designated time, participants and spectators can bring their attention and pause for a moment to consider the countless people trafficked around the world every year.

The Unity Commission strives to break social stereotypes and is dedicated to promoting understanding, communication, and respect among all community members. We hope to unify various groups by showing that diversity is a necessary component of life to become familiar with and understand.

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The issue of slavery was settled shortly after Nevada became a state in 1864. Most Americans believe slavery is a thing of the past that we learn about in history books, but it is still a reality for many, just with a new name — trafficking.

Trafficking is all around us, even in Nevada.

Last year the FBI conducted a three-day sweep, cracking down on child trafficking and prostitution nationwide. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported the FBI identified more than 60 children and 99 pimps, including one child located in Las Vegas. Almost 100 children were identified as being forced into sexual servitude in Las Vegas in 2010.

Even in Reno, trafficking and forced prostitution is a serious concern. Shortly after the FBI sting in Las Vegas, KOLO Channel 8 reported a similar sting by the Reno Police Department, uncovering two girls from Sacramento, ages 14 and 15. Just this summer KRNV Channel 4 reported a former IRS agent and UNR teacher was illegally transporting a teen girl to Reno so that she could become a prostitute.

Read more of Assemblyman Hambrick’s article in the Nevada Sagebrush

I was honored to support Assembly Bills (AB) 6, 106 and 112, which will protect our children and empower our judicial system, but there were many more bills I opposed because they would have killed jobs and put additional burdens on the construction industry, hospital administration and doctors attempting to run a successful practice.

I stood with the taxpayers in 2011 by opposing tax increases on hard working Nevadans, and I have always, and continue to be, a supporter of low taxes, limited government & a pro-business environment.

The election is just around the corner, and while the district lines may not be clear at this point, I will be running again and am asking for your support today. Your donation of $5,000, $2,500, $1,000 or even $500 will help me kick off my campaign. I am asking for your help to return me to the legislature, where I will continue to fight for you.

I look forward to hearing from you. Please give me a call at 702-499-6169 or email me at John@Hambrick4Assembly.com, and we can set a time and date to meet to discuss your concerns.

Sincerely,

Assemblyman John Hambrick