State Rep. Hank Vaupel, chair of the House Health Policy Committee, today participated in a joint committee with the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services to increase awareness about human trafficking in Michigan.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of crime, according to the U.S. Department of State. Approximately $87 million is made per day from sex trafficking transactions.

“We must educate ourselves about human trafficking,” said Vaupel, of Fowlerville. “It’s an issue in third-world countries, but it’s an issue right here in our backyards as well.”

Michigan received an “F” grade from Shared Hope International’s Protected Innocence Challenge Study in 2011 but was raised to a “B” rating in 2019. Vaupel said there’s still more work to be done.

“I appreciate our speakers who came to share with us today,” Vaupel said. “I am eager to get to work on ways we can support victims trapped in the industry as well as survivors who have escaped but are still saddled with trauma.”

Delivering testimony today was human trafficking survivor Ruth Rondon, Kelly Carter, executive director of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission and representatives from the FBI.

Vaupel supported House Resolution 210 on Wednesday, declaring Jan. 11, 2020 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

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