Congressman Vargas Introduces Bill to Target Sex Traffickers

In a press conference in front of the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego Tuesday Congressman Juan Vargas announced a bill to remove knowledge of the victim's age as a factor in the prosecution of sex traffickers.

"It is absolutely intolerable that, because of current law, child sex traffickers can receive a lesser sentence simply by claiming they were not aware their victim was a minor," said Rep. Vargas in a statement. "Hazel’s Law would ensure that child sex traffickers receive the punishment they deserve regardless of whether or not they knew their victim’s age."

The bill is based on a San Diego case that was delayed while the prosecution struggled to prove the trafficker knew his victim was a minor, according to CBS 8.

"I would let them know that they can get out," said Hazel, who also attended the press conference. "They can recover. There is something better for them. And they are not victims. They are not destroyed. There is a life for them."

H.R. 1690 was officially entered into the Congressional record Tuesday and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. The Child Protection Act of 2013 or "Hazel's Law" is the first legislation Vargas has introduced since becoming a member of Congress in January.

San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco were among 13 cities in America labeled high-intensity child prostitution areas by the FBI.

A majority of young sex trafficking victims were foster children at one time, according to the National Center for Youth Law.