In Case You Missed It, Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) spoke at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport about her legislation, passed into law this month, to crack down on human trafficking at U.S. airports. She highlighted the airport’s work to help trafficking victims and discussed the importance of expanding these efforts in Reno and nationwide.
KRNV: Reno-Tahoe Airport leads in anti-trafficking efforts
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is leading the fight against human trafficking. The recent FAA reauthorization bill, which includes $10 million in funding over four years for anti-trafficking programs at airports nationwide, further bolsters these efforts. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto helped pass the legislation that will support awareness campaigns and training for airport employees.
“The intent here is to ensure that this information is everywhere, that they can see the hotline numbers, they know where to go, where there’s a safe place, that there’s an education in the community, that when they come into these public spaces, they actually see for themselves that it’s a safe place,” said Senator Masto.
KTVN: Funding Awareness and Education Towards Preventing Human Trafficking
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto made an appearance at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport to speak on the FAA reauthorization, which emphasizes funding towards prevention, education and awareness towards human trafficking. She says we have to continue at all levels to address human trafficking in our community.
Senator Cortez Masto says the first step is the awareness and education piece of the puzzle regarding human trafficking, which she says hasn’t been funded at the federal level until now.
She says the majority of trafficking we see is from sexual exploitation, and mentions we need to do a better job at holding perpetrators accountable and make sure there are services for the victims. We also have to do everything possible as a community to share information and collect data on the issue.
KOLO (Broadcast)
Local officials are expanding efforts to combat human trafficking at airports. Legislation was passed this month to help fight this issue. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, the CEO of The Children’s Cabinet, and the Airport Authority Chief of Police were on hand at the Reno-Tahoe Airport.
This initiative includes placing more Safe Place contacts on the back of bathroom doors that young people or adults can text and call and then they will be connected with proper resources, as well as training every single badged airport employee to identify signs and prevent human trafficking.
The airport’s chief of police says there are over 2,000 badged employees who work at Reno Tahoe International…their hope is Nevada becomes a model for other airports across the country.
Univision (Broadcast)
Human trafficking is a serious problem in Nevada, and the intention is to raise awareness about this issue to help prevent it at airports. And Reno-Tahoe Airport is being used as a model to do that. These efforts are supported by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who voted in favor of… legislation [to] provide funding for this purpose at the national level. Nevada airports are also taking important steps, such as installing hotline numbers in restrooms and providing outreach services to help victims.
“The goal is to ensure that information is available everywhere: hotline numbers, visible, safe places, known, and community education. If you need help, look for informational signs or talk to trained airport staff to direct you to the right place,”said Senator Cortez Masto.
KUNR (Broadcast)
Joined by the Reno Tahoe airport Authority chief of police, airport leadership and local advocates from The Children’s Cabinet, Cortez Masto highlighted the airport’s work to help trafficking victims. Passed this month, the 2024 Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization supports Nevada’s air infrastructure and strengthens safety standards. Cortez Masto’s Reducing Human Trafficking Through Transportation Act was also included in the bill to provide grant funding to combat human trafficking at airports.
“We were able to work together… to put legislation into that authorization…so that [our airports] can invest in that educational awareness material to work with our victims,” said Senator Cortez Masto.
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