Briel Celebrates Illinois Support of Human Trafficking Survivors, Highlights Policy Work

OTTAWA, Ill.—State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, is applauding recent news that Illinois received an ‘A’ rating for its support provided to human trafficking survivors, while highlighting a bill she recently passed that ensures prospective foster or adoptive parents would not receive placement if background checks revealed human or sex trafficking convictions.

“This new report shows a huge step forward in advancing protections for our children and teens in foster or adoptive care,” Briel said. “The measure I led last year was guided by the need for tightened protections as we’ve seen one too many tragedies of human trafficking in Northwest

Illinois communities— it’s terrifying, and this is a space that we will continue to tighten in our laws to ensure children are being placed with safe guardians.”

The report comes from Shared Hope International’s Just Like Me Report Cards. With the state’s recent upgrade to an ‘A’ rating, Illinois now ranks second in the nation for providing protection to survivors. Briel was instrumental to House Bill 871, barring those with human or sex trafficking convictions from adopting or fostering children, which received bipartisan support this spring.

“We’ve come a long way,” Briel said. “This is such an important issue and I’m glad we’re giving it time, attention, and effort. If you seek care after enduring something as horrific as trafficking, no matter how long that may have gone on, regardless of whether it was a single incident or many, you deserve the best support and reassurance that recovery is possible.”