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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) today joined Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-SD), Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) and 31 other Members of Congress on a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, requesting that he take immediate action against websites, like Backpage.com, that facilitate the buying and selling of people, including young children. The letter requests that Holder pursue and prosecute any grotesque exploitation found on these websites and provide recommendations to Congress if laws are unclear or insufficient for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to take such action.

“Every year, hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sex trafficking in the United States,” said Latta. “Websites, like Backpage.com, are facilitating this horrific exploitation, and we must do everything we can to not only prevent these actions from occurring, but also take action against those who are enabling these crimes.”

In Ohio, there are more than 1,000 victims of trafficking each year. Toledo, Ohio, currently ranks fourth nationally for instances of sex trafficking.

The letter requests a response from the Attorney General by March 31, detailing how the Department will take legal action against the website or providing Congress concrete recommendations for legislation needed to give the Department the tools to do so.