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Congresswoman Scholten Introduces Bipartisan Emergency Legislation: The Justice for Exploited Children Act

March 29, 2023

Bipartisan Congressional Moms Mace and Scholten Join Together to Seek Justice for Exploited Kids

 

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and Congresswoman Nancy Mace introduced the Justice for Exploited Children Act. This bipartisan emergency response legislation comes after revelations of widespread illegal child labor practices in West Michigan and the country.

“As a mom and a lawmaker, protecting kids is a top priority of mine. We can do so much more to make sure children are protected from exploitation in the workforce, and so I'm doing it,” said Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, “These civil penalties have not been changed since the laws were first established in 1938. We’ve crafted this bill in a simple, focused way so that it can hopefully get quick passage and immediately be used as a tool for protecting kids. This is not a controversial piece of legislation, it is a commonsense, bi-partisan one–and I’m committed to taking it to the finish line.” 

The Justice for Exploited Children Act raises the civil monetary penalties for those who violate child labor laws, and establishes, for the first time in  history, a minimum monetary penalty for guilty parties. Congresswoman Scholten is introducing this legislation with Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a Republican representing South Carolina’s First District.

“As a mother, it’s heartbreaking to see stories of children subjected to illegal work conditions here in the United States,” said Congresswoman Nancy Mace. “It is our responsibility to protect children and ensure they are not subjected to the exploitation of child labor. The current penalty is not enough of a deterrence, and we must send a strong message which shows the exploitation of children will not be tolerated in any form.”

A detailed fact sheet about the bill can be found here, and the bill text can be found here. A full recording of the press conference where Rep. Scholten introduced this legislation can be found here.

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About Representative Scholten:

Representative Hillary Scholten is the first mom and first woman to serve Michigan’s Third Congressional District. She is a social worker and immigration attorney who worked for the Department of Justice under President Obama. Congresswoman Scholten lives in Grand Rapids, MI with her husband, Jesse, and two sons. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates from the official office.