Congress adopts sex trafficking legislation

WASHINGTON — Congress has adopted legislation to combat the global problem of sexual trafficking in women and children.

The Senate approved the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act without dissent, five days after the measure passed the House of Representatives. After the Senate’s action, President Clinton said he would sign the legislation into law.

Both houses had passed versions of anti-trafficking legislation, but differences in the two required a conference committee of members from the Senate and House to negotiate a bill for final approval.

The conference report approved 95–0 by the Senate and 371–1 by the House contained additional pieces of legislation, including the Violence Against Women Act.