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Gov. Abbott announces $18M in grants to combat human trafficking in Texas

Governor Abbott announced Tuesday his office will issue $18 million in grants to help prevent and combat human trafficking in Texas.

AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that his office will award $18 million in grant funding to state, local, public and private organizations to address the issue of sexual exploitation of children and adults throughout the state.

The programs getting the funding help protect children, investigate and prosecute traffickers, recover victims and help survivors heal.

“The State of Texas will not tolerate the inhumane practices carried out by these coercive and manipulative criminals,” said Governor Abbott. “We will ensure serious penalties for human traffickers and continuously look for ways to better serve victims. Working together, we will reach our goal of eradicating human trafficking from Texas.”

Austin-based organizations receiving the grant include the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Office of the Attorney General, Texas Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs and The Refuge for DMST.

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