House Focuses on Youth Sex Trafficking: Two House Committees have recently adopted bills addressing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). While national data on sex trafficking remains relatively sparse, members of Congress have become increasingly concerned about the number of youth who are being exploited. Senators and representatives have also paid close attention to statements and some data indicating a link between a youth's involvement in child welfare and the sex trade. The House Ways and Means and Judiciary Committees approved four bipartisan bills to address the issue. The bills, among other things, would require the federal and state collection of additional data to help understand the breadth of the nation's sex trafficking problem. Additionally, the bills would: seek to clarify that youth in the sex trade should be legally considered victims rather than criminals; promote collaboration among numerous governmental agencies and community organizations coming into contact with such youth; and, provide initial federal funding to serve domestic trafficking victims. According to NACHSA discussions with House majority staff, the bills are likely to be joined together and sent to the House floor later this month. 

Counties were highlighted in a recent National Press Club event on child sex trafficking. As NACo's County News reports, speakers at the press conference included Supervisor Don Knabe, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors who described his county's efforts. NACo also released findings from a survey of law enforcement agencies assessing the problem.  Among the findings, the NACo report indicates that nearly nine out of 10 large counties identify child sex trafficking as either a major or minor problem in their jurisdiction.    

Burwell Nomination Process Underway: Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to question President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Mathews Burwell. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to hold a similar hearing soon and vote on her nomination. The HELP hearing was generally cordial and her nomination is expected to sail through the Senate. Click here to view the HELP hearing and here to read her testimony. Numerous media sources reported on the hearing, including Reuters and USA Today.  Finally, a Wall Street Journal blog outlines five highlights from her career that may help her in her new job at HHS. 

Senate Reviews HHS Spending Plan: This week, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee received testimony from key agencies within HHS, including the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The hearing marks the beginning of the months-long process to determine FY 2015 funding for all of HHS. The bill is not expected to be completed until late fall.