Please find below past letters TvT supporters have sent to Members of Congress in an effort to pass important legislation. These can be used as a template to write a letter of your own!

TVT 2020 Letters

Letter to EARN IT House Co-Sponsors

October 6, 2020 The Honorable Sylvia Garcia 1620 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Ann Wagner 2350 Rayburn Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representatives Garcia and Wagner: Teens vs. Trafficking (TvT), a nonprofit dedicated to ending child sex trafficking, applauds your introduction of the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act (EARN IT Act) and urges the House to take up and pass the bill promptly. TvT is run by teens for teens to provide the education and tools needed to help combat sex trafficking in this country. We are grateful that the EARN IT Act would create much needed incentives for companies to “earn” liability protection for violations of laws related to online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Furthermore, the bill’s establishment of a ‘National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention’ to recommend best practices for reporting and identifying online sexual exploitation will go a long way in tackling this issue. This much needed legislation ensures that companies can no longer turn a blind eye to online child sexual abuse material. TvT stand ready to work with you and to coordinate efforts with the Department of Justice and FBI to protect young people across America. Sincerely, Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs. Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking



Letter to STIFLE Act House Co-Sponsors

September 29, 2020 ​ The Honorable Ben McAdams 130 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Anthony Gonzalez 1023 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Representatives McAdams and Gonzalez: Teens vs. Trafficking, a non-profit dedicated to ending child sex trafficking, thanks you both for introducing the “Stopping Trafficking, Illicit Flows, Laundering, and Exploitation Act of 2020” or the “STIFLE Act of 2020’, legislation that would require the General Accountability Office to work with federal agencies to study and report to Congress on such things as major routes of human trafficking and methods used to launder and move the proceeds of trafficking. TvT was pleased to see this important bill pass the House of Representatives, and we hope it can pass the Senate and be signed into law expeditiously. We sincerely believe that the fight against human trafficking must be a multi-faceted one that relies on hard data. The up-to-date data we would receive from this GAO study would help inform law enforcement and federal agencies on the needed tactics to bring down human trafficking organizations. We are heartened to see continued bipartisan effort for ending the horrible human trafficking trade. It is up to every one of us to work together to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society. We look forward to working with you in the near future.



Letter to Senate Leaders Urging Passage of Senate EARN IT Bill

July 13, 2020 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader 317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader 322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer: Teens vs. Trafficking (TvT), a nonprofit dedicated to ending child sex trafficking, applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee for reporting out the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act (EARN IT Act) and urges the Senate to take up and pass the bill promptly. TvT is run by teens for teens to provide the education and tools needed to help combat sex trafficking in this country. We are grateful that the EARN IT Act would create much needed incentives for companies to “earn” liability protection for violations of laws related to online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Furthermore, the bill’s establishment of a ‘National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention’ to recommend best practices for reporting and identifying online sexual exploitation will go a long way in tackling this issue. This much needed legislation ensures that companies can no longer turn a blind eye to online child sexual abuse material. TvT stand ready to work with you and to coordinate efforts with the Department of Justice and FBI to protect young people across America. Sincerely, Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs. Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking



Letter to Child Safety Act Senate Co-Sponsor

May 7, 2020 ​ The Honorable Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Wyden: Teens vs. Trafficking, a non-profit dedicated to ending child sex trafficking, thanks you and your colleagues for introducing the Invest in Child Safety Act. Teens vs. Trafficking endorses this bill, and if enacted, this legislation will help provide law enforcement with the necessary funding and manpower to confront the ever-growing child exploitation market. We are particularly heartened by the bill’s mandate to create an “Office to Enforce and Protect Against Child Sexual Exploitation, within the Executive Office of the President, to direct and streamline the federal government’s efforts to prevent, investigate and prosecute the scourge of child exploitation.” Having a dedicated office to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts across agencies is essential and helps ensure we hold our officials and law enforcement to the highest standard possible. While this bill is an important step, we hope this legislation will go hand-in-hand with additional legislation that will create incentives for companies acting in good faith to demonstrate that their best practices are such that they should be eligible for liability protection for violations of law related to online child sexual abuse material. It is for that reason that we also support Sen. Graham’s EARN IT Act to creative incentives for websites to “earn” liability protection. We hope you and your cosponsors will also consider supporting that legislation as well. Teens vs. Trafficking thanks you for introducing this bill and providing our law enforcement and agencies with the funding they need to end child sex trafficking. Sincerely, Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs. Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs. Trafficking



Letter to EARN IT Senate Co-Sponsors

March 6, 2020 The Honorable Lindsey Graham Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee 290 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Dianne Feinstein Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Richard Blumenthal 706 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 ​ The Honorable Josh Hawley 212 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senators Graham, Feinstein, Blumenthal, and Hawley: ​ Teens vs. Trafficking (TvT), a nonprofit dedicated to ending child sex trafficking, would like to thank you for introducing the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act (EARN IT Act). TvT is run by teens for teens to provide the education and tools needed to help combat sex trafficking in this country. We are grateful that the EARN IT Act would create much needed incentives for companies to “earn” liability protection for violations of laws related to online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Furthermore, the bill’s establishment of a ‘National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention’ to recommend best practices for reporting and identifying online sexual exploitation will go a long way in tackling this issue. This much needed legislation ensures that companies can no longer turn a blind eye to online child sexual abuse material. TvT thanks you for introducing this bill and coordinating efforts with the Department of Justice and FBI to protect young people across America. Sincerely, Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs. Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking cc: Senators Kramer (R-ND), Jones (D-AL), Ernst (R-IA), Casey (D-PA), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Durbin (D-IL).



Letter to House and Senate Appropriators

February 5, 2020 The Honorable Richard C. Shelby Chair Senate Appropriations Committee 304 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy Ranking Member Senate Appropriations Committee 437 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 ​ The Honorable Nita M. Lowey Chair House Appropriations Committee 2365 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 ​ The Honorable Kay Granger Ranking Member House Appropriations Committee 1026 Longworth House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senators Shelby and Leahy and Representatives Lowey and Granger: ​ Teens vs. Trafficking (TvT), a Maryland based organization dedicated to ending child sex trafficking, would like to thank you for appropriating $502.5 million in funding for Violence Against Women programs in the FY2020 appropriations bills passed this past December. TvT is run by teens for teens to provide the education and tools needed to help combat sex trafficking in this country. We are particularly grateful for the funding this appropriation will give to programs dealing with the sexual abuse of young people, including: (1) Consolidated Grant Program to Address Children and Youth Experiencing Domestic and Sexual Assault and Engage Men and Boys as Allies, (2) Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program, (3) Engaging Men and Youth Program, (4) Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to Violence Program, and (5) Services to Advocate for and Respond to Youth Grant Program.

These important grants ensure that non-profits like TvT have the necessary resources to fight sex traffickers and protect our most vulnerable communities. TvT again thanks you, the Appropriations committees, the rest of Congress, and the Department of Justice for their commitment to protecting young people across America. Sincerely,
Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs. Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking
cc: Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees



Model Letter Template for FIND Trafficking Act

[date] The Honorable [name of Senator) [Address street name]
Washington, D.C. [zip code] Re: S.410 Fighting Illicit Networks and Detect Trafficking (FIND Trafficking) Act Dear [Senator X]: I am writing to you as a constituent and as a member of “Teens vs. Trafficking,” a student-led organization dedicated to ending the sex trafficking of minors. I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor S.410, the “Fight Illicit Networks and Detect Trafficking (FIND Trafficking) Act.” This bipartisan bill would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the role of virtual currencies and online marketplace in sex and drug trafficking. GAO’s study has four objectives: to determine (1) how money from trafficking moves is in the US banking system (2) how state and non-state actors are involved or benefitting from these illicit behaviors, (3) how federal and state agencies should respond to this issue, and (4) how virtual currencies can track trafficking on their platforms. Sex trafficking is a significant problem in the United States. From 2007-2017, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 34,000 reports of sex trafficking cases in the United States. Each year, 14,500-17,500 people are victims of sex trafficking in the United States. Virtual currency forums and online marketplaces are common transaction spots for in sex and drug traffickers. Many drug and sex traffickers use cryptocurrencies--such as Bitcoin, Dash, Zcash, and Monero—to avoid detection and prosecution. According to a 2017 Drug Enforcement Administration’s report, transnational trafficking organizations are increasingly using online marketplaces. It is difficult for financial regulators to track these transactions because traffickers can remain anonymous online. The purpose of the bill is to help ensure that Congress and law enforcement have the understanding and tools to fight crime in the 21st century. The legislation is an excellent first step in a better understanding of online sex and drug trafficking transactions, which will allow Congress to create meaningful legislation to stop these practices. I hope you will help stop sex and drug trafficking via cryptocurrency by co-sponsoring the Senate version of the FIND Trafficking Act. (An identical House version of the bill (HR 502) passed the House with over a 2/3 majority.) Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [your name] Teens vs. Trafficking Member and Dedicated [insert state] Constituent www.teensvstrafficking.com [your contact info—whether that be phone number or email address]



TVT Past Letters

Letter to FOSTA House Co-Sponsor

The Honorable Chris Smith 2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515 March 18, 2019 As advocates for “Teens vs Trafficking”, an organization dedicated to ending the sex trafficking of minors, we want to thank you for championing the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA). Because of your dedication, Congress lifted significant barriers that had prevented the Federal Government, States, and victims of sex trafficking from pursuing justice against America’s modern-day slave markets. For all of its benefits, the internet can also be a very dangerous place that enabled certain illegal activity to occur right under our noses. Your bill gave law enforcement agencies the tools necessary to apprehend and prosecute those that use the internet to exploit minors for profit; it provided urgently need clarification that websites that participate in sex trafficking should not be shielded from criminal liability, and at the same time, safeguarded the freedom of the Internet. Your work on the FOSTA legislation changed lives for the better, and we look forward to working with you on ways to continue to protect our most vulnerable members of society. Thank you again. ​ Sincerely, Si Ross Teens vs. Trafficking



Letter to FOSTA House Co-Sponsor

The Honorable Carolyn Maloney 2308 Rayburn House Office Building Washington DC 20515-0001 ​ February 28, 2019 ​ Dear Congresswoman Maloney, As advocates for Teens vs. Trafficking, an organization dedicated to ending child sex trafficking, we want to thank you for co-sponsoring the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA). Sex trafficking is rampant around the globe, and thanks to your action, we have moved a step further toward its eradication. It is unconscionable that in today's day and age, children could be bought and sold online for sex. Even though the United States is one of the most developed nations in the world, children are being trafficked in this country every day. Your bill helped law enforcement remove the websites responsible for coordinating and profiting off off of this illicit trade, and because of your work, the number of children subject to trafficking will hopefully decrease dramatically. ​ Your co-sponsorship of FOSTA is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to working with you on these issues in the future. ​ Sincerely, Walt Johnson Teens vs. Trafficking



Letter to House Members Urging Passage of SESTA Bill

Office of Congressman Jamie Raskin 431 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 February 4, 2018 Dear Congressman Raskin, ​ Sex slavery is a prevalent issue around the globe. It is unconscionable that in today’s day and age children and teenagers in this country can be bought and sold online for sex as easily as one can order a pizza or a new pair of shoes. Even though the United States is one of the most developed nations in the world, more than 50,000 women are trafficked into America every year. While it is widely agreed that sex trafficking is unethical, unjust, and immoral, websites that condone this practice are operating right under our noses. For instance, backpage.com is responsible for 73% of child sex-trafficking cases. Instead of shutting this website down, the government allows it to be protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from third party content. ​ We are writing to you as the President and Vice President of a new organization in the state of Maryland called “Teens vs Trafficking” to ask you to support legislation in the House of Representatives that is similar to the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA) in the Senate, S. 1693. S. 1693 is a bipartisan bill that would allow victims of sex trafficking to seek justice against a website that knowingly facilitated the crimes against them and would be more effective in decreasing the amount of sex trafficking that occurs than the current House versions, which are considered inadequate by many advocates for victims of sex trafficking. ​ Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and we look forward to hearing back from you or one of your staff members about whether you will support meaningful legislation, like the Senate SESTA bill, to help put an end to sex slavery in this country. ​ Sincerely, ​ Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking



Letter to SESTA Senate Co-Sponsor

Senator Chris Van Hollen 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 February 4, 2018 ​ Dear Senator Van Hollen, ​ As the President and Vice President of a new organization in the state of Maryland called “Teens vs Trafficking,” we want to thank you for co-sponsoring the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA), S. 1693. Sex slavery is a prevalent issue around the globe. It is unconscionable that in today’s day and age children and teenagers in this country can be bought and sold online for sex as easily as one can order a pizza or a new pair of shoes. Even though the United States is one of the most developed nations in the world, more than 50,000 women are trafficked into America every year. While it is widely agreed that sex trafficking is unethical, unjust, and immoral, websites that condone this practice are operating right under our noses. For instance, backpage.com is responsible for 73% of child sex-trafficking cases. Instead of shutting this website down, the government allows it to be protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from third party content. ​ As teenagers, our parents and educators have taken great pains to teach us that we need to take responsibility for our actions. It is our hope that our government will allow for the same sense of responsibility to those who have supported or benefited from sex trafficking, including Internet websites where so much of this horror takes place. Your co-sponsorship of SESTA is an important step in this direction, and we thank you for that. ​ Sincerely, ​ Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking



Letter to Senate Member Urging Co-Sponsorship of SESTA Bill

Senator Ben Cardin 509 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 February 4, 2018 ​ Dear Senator Cardin, Sex slavery is a prevalent issue around the globe. It is unconscionable that in today’s day and age children and teenagers in this country can be bought and sold online for sex as easily as one can order a pizza or a new pair of shoes. Even though the United States is one of the most developed nations in the world, more than 50,000 women are trafficked into America every year. While it is widely agreed that sex trafficking is unethical, unjust, and immoral, websites that condone this practice are operating right under our noses. For instance, backpage.com is responsible for 73% of child sex-trafficking cases. Instead of shutting this website down, the government allows it to be protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from third party content. We are writing to you as the President and Vice President of a new organization in the state of Maryland called “Teens vsTrafficking” to ask you to co-sponsor the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA), S. 1693. ​ You can do something about the scourge of sex slavery in the United States. That is why we are asking you to cosponsor SESTA, a bipartisan bill that would allow victims of sex trafficking to seek justice against a website that knowingly facilitated the crimes against them. As teenagers, our parents and educators have taken great pains to teach us that we need to take responsibility for our actions. It is our hope that our government will allow for the same sense of responsibility to those who have supported or benefited from sex trafficking, including Internet websites where so much of this horror takes place. ​ Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and we look forward to hearing from you or one of your staff members about whether you will agree to cosponsor SESTA. ​ Sincerely, ​ Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vsTrafficking



Letter to SESTA Senate Co-Sponsor

Senator Carper 513 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 February 15, 2018 ​ Dear Senator Carper, As the President and Vice President of a new organization called “Teens vsTrafficking,” we want to thank you for co-sponsoring the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA), S. 1693. Sex slavery is a prevalent issue around the globe. It is unconscionable that in today’s day and age children and teenagers in this country can be bought and sold online for sex as easily as one can order a pizza or a new pair of shoes. Even though the United States is one of the most developed nations in the world, more than 50,000 women are trafficked into America every year. While it is widely agreed that sex trafficking is unethical, unjust, and immoral, websites that condone this practice are operating right under our noses. For instance, backpage.com is responsible for 73% of child sex-trafficking cases. Instead of shutting this website down, the government allows it to be protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from third party content. ​ As teenagers, our parents and educators have taken great pains to teach us that we need to take responsibility for our actions. It is our hope that our government will allow for the same sense of responsibility to those who have supported or benefited from sex trafficking, including Internet websites where so much of this horror takes place. Your co-sponsorship of SESTA is an important step in this direction, and we thank you for that. Sincerely, ​ Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking



Letter to SESTA Senate Co-Sponsor

Senator Tester 311 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 February 5, 2018 ​ Dear Senator Tester, ​ As the President and Vice President of a new organization called “Teens vs Trafficking,” we want to thank you for co-sponsoring the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA), S. 1693. ​ Sex slavery is a prevalent issue around the globe. It is unconscionable that in today’s day and age children and teenagers in this country can be bought and sold online for sex as easily as one can order a pizza or a new pair of shoes. Even though the United States is one of the most developed nations in the world, more than 50,000 women are trafficked into America every year. While it is widely agreed that sex trafficking is unethical, unjust, and immoral, websites that condone this practice are operating right under our noses. For instance, backpage.com is responsible for 73% of child sex-trafficking cases. Instead of shutting this website down, the government allows it to be protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from third party content. ​ As teenagers, our parents and educators have taken great pains to teach us that we need to take responsibility for our actions. It is our hope that our government will allow for the same sense of responsibility to those who have supported or benefited from sex trafficking, including Internet websites where so much of this horror takes place. Your co-sponsorship of SESTA is an important step in this direction, and we thank you for that. ​ Sincerely, ​ Summer Steinmiller, President of Teens vs Trafficking Audrey Pechilis, Vice President of Teens vs Trafficking



©2018 by Teens vs Trafficking