The Remarks Of Speaker Sheldon Silver

Human Trafficking Bill Signing

State Capitol, The Red Room
Wednesday, June 6, 2007 [12:45 P.M]

Speaking for the Assembly - for all of the Members from both sides of the aisle - let me say how proud we are to see this critical legislation signed into law this afternoon.

Let me acknowledge a few of my colleagues whose leadership and compassion are contained in every line of this bill:

• Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz, who authored and fought for this legislation for a number of years;

• Assembly Member Joe Lentol, the Chair of our Codes Committee, who has been active in crafting this legislation;

• Assembly Member Amy Paulin, who has worked for many years to achieve this legislation;

• And Assembly Member Helene Weinstein, the Chair of our Judiciary Committee, who has been a passionate advocate for this action.

Let me also acknowledge all of the great human-service organizations that joined us in crafting this strong and comprehensive legislation, most notably the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition, and Sanctuary for Families.

We are profoundly grateful for their guidance and their support.

Of course, Governor, we thank and commend you for making the fight against human trafficking a priority of your administration, and for guiding the negotiations that actually forged this legislation that will be signed into law in a few moments.

There is no finer action a government can take than to break the bonds of forced servitude and to deliver freedom, security and hope to the exploited and the enslaved.

Yet, how ironic it is that the great City of New York - the "Golden Door" engraved with the poetry and promise of Emma Lazarus - should be a recognized portal for human traffickers.

Let it be our mission to slam shut that portal once and for all.

If I might, let me close by saying that I hope our efforts do not end with this bill signing.

We need agreement on Assembly Member Scarborough's "safe harbor" law to get exploited and abused children off of the street, away from their captors, and into safe houses where they will at least have the opportunity to heal and start over.

Delivering these brainwashed and abused children from the claws of human traffickers and directly into the hands of corrections officers should not be their only way out.

We can do better. I hope that we will do better.

Now it is my honor to introduce the prime sponsor of this human trafficking legislation, Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz.