Ann WagnerVerified account

"This is an industry that controls women and children through violence, drugs, and trauma."

"Despite all our rhetoric, sex trafficking in America seems to continue unabated."

"The venues of sexual exploitation have changed. But our laws remain stuck in time."

"Congress has consistently failed to ensure proper implementation of sex trafficking laws in America’s court system."

"Courts have construed Section 230 to mean that sex trafficking victims who have been sold on Backpage have no recourse against them."

"Section 230 also blocks states from bringing criminal cases against websites that facilitate trafficking."

"Congress obviously never intended Section 230, passed over 20 years ago, to create a lawless internet."

"I find it hard to imagine that if a business hosted a slave auction, the auctioneer could not be held criminally liable."

"State Attorneys General should be able to enforce their sex trafficking laws; victims should be allowed to bring cases against websites...

...and the federal government should be able to pursue criminal charges against websites that are recklessly facilitating the crime."

"The question now is will Congress act to protect the innocent who are sold online or let my bill fall into oblivion to protect Backpage."

"I’m optimistic, but I’m also painfully aware that Congress has unaccountably chosen to defer to mistaken courts many times before."

"I ask for your help in spreading the message & recruiting cosponsors for this bill. This is a serious battle that can't be fought alone."