- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced this week the appointment of Port Tampa Bay/CEO President Paul Anderson to DOT’s new Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. He joins 14 other leaders from around the country. “I am honored to be chosen to serve on this board,” said Anderson, who along with Attorney General Pam Bondi and other state leaders, are making it a priority to tackle the illicit and dangerous business of human trafficking. The committee, required by the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, consists of stakeholders from trafficking advocacy organizations; law enforcement; and trucking, bus, rail, aviation, maritime, and port sectors, including industry and labor. “Members of this committee have extensive experience in combatting human trafficking, and the Department looks forward to receiving their recommendations and reports,” said Secretary Elaine L. Chao. The committee will submit recommendations to Secretary Chao by July 3, 2019, that include:

Strategies for identifying and reporting instances of human trafficking.

Recommendations for administrative or legislative changes to use programs, properties, or other resources owned, operated, or funded by the Department to combat human trafficking.

Best practices for state and local transportation stakeholders based on multidisciplinary research and promising evidence?based models and programs, including sample training materials and strategies to identify victims.

The committee builds upon the Department’ work with stakeholders across all modes of transportation to prevent human trafficking along with the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.