5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty has introduced two bipartisan bills to combat human trafficking. One piece of legislation is called the "Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act".  It focuses on preventing human trafficking. The bill would designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator at the U.S. Department of Transportation and increase outreach, education, and reporting efforts at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The bill is supported by Truckers Against Trafficking, National District Attorneys Association, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, and ECPAT-USA.

The other bill is called the "No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act" would disqualify individuals from operating a commercial motor vehicle for their lifetime if they used such a vehicle to commit a felony involving human trafficking.

Esty called Human trafficking an inhumane crime.  She notes that it is occurring in communities all over the state and throughout America.  Esty says anyone can become a victim of human trafficking, regardless of race, age, gender, or socio-economic status.