Secretary of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has appointed 15 members to DOT’s new Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking.

The committee is required by the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act. It consists of stakeholders for trafficking advocacy organizations, law enforcement, and trucking, bus, rail, aviation, maritime, and port sectors, including industry and labor.

The following individuals are being appointed to the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking:

• Chairperson: Catherine Todd Bailey, Former U.S. Ambassador to Latvia

• Vice Chairperson: Linda Burtwistle, President & COO, Coach USA; Board Member, American Bus Association

• Paul Anderson, President and CEO, Port Tampa Bay

• Nicole Clifton, Vice President, Global Public Affairs, United Parcel Service

• Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, President and CEO, Garner Transportation Group; Vice-Chair, American Trucking Associations

• Michelle Guelbart, Director, Private Sector Engagement, ECPAT-USA

• Greg Hynes, Alternate National Legislative Director, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD)

• Kristen Joyner, Executive Director, South West Transit Association

• Loretta Kennedy, Director, Domestic Operations and Investigations, JetBlue Airways

• Laura J. Lederer, President, Global Centurion

• David Lorenzen, Chief, Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Iowa DOT

• Kendis Paris, Executive Director, Truckers Against Trafficking

• Mi Yung Park, Government Relations Director, A21

• Eric Smith, Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Hendry Marine Industries

• Lynn Thoman, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

“Members of this committee have extensive experience in combatting human trafficking, and the Department looks forward to receiving their recommendations and reports,” said Secretary Chao.

The committee will submit recommendations to Secretary Chao by July 3, 2019, whic are to 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 will build on DOT’s work with stakeholders across all modes of transportation to prevent human trafficking through the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative. 

DOT also partners with the aviation industry through the Blue Lightning Initiative, led by DOT, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  The Initiative trains aviation industry personnel to identify potential traffickers and human trafficking victims, and to report their suspicions to federal law enforcement.  To date, more than 100,000 personnel in the aviation industry have been trained through BLI, and actionable tips continue to be reported to law enforcement.