AHLA: Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act

16.07.2024 - 10:26 / traveldailynews.com / Theodore Koumelis / Kevin Carey

The AHLA supports the Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act, enhancing their anti-trafficking efforts through DHS certification for trained businesses, fostering prevention and public awareness.

WASHINGTON – American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey released the following statement regarding the introduction of the Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act, which requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a certification program for businesses that train their employees to recognize and respond to suspected human trafficking.

“The Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act would complement our industry’s anti-trafficking efforts by providing important third-party validation for hotels’ training and prevention initiatives,” said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. “We are grateful to Reps. Valadao and Carter for introducing this important bill and look forward to helping them pass it into law.”

The Act was introduced this week by Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif., and Troy Carter, D-La.

The legislation lets DHS certify businesses that have trained their employees to fight human trafficking and allows those businesses to display these annual certifications to the public. These optional certifications would be issued by the Blue Campaign at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, which works to raise public awareness of human trafficking.

AHLA, its members, and the AHLA Foundation are steadfastly committed to trafficking prevention, and hotels have been a leader in this area for many years.

“Through the AHLA Foundation’s No Room for Trafficking initiative, the hotel industry is united in the effort to prevent human trafficking and support survivors,” said AHLA Foundation President Anna Blue. “The collective impact of the industry can accelerate innovative human trafficking prevention efforts and upstream strategies to make a positive difference in the communities where we work and live.”

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