I’m extremely proud of the efforts accomplished at the legislative session in June of 2020 combating Human Trafficking. We sponsored legislation that makes it easier to shut down organized trafficking and the individuals and businesses that support the horrendous enterprise. At the same time, we sponsored a bill that helps victims of human trafficking escape the industry and gain meaningful employment. According to legislation SB 158, 435 and 393, a legal division for the GBI may assist local prosecutors with eliminating organized crime, including human trafficking and gangs.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will. Force, fraud, or coercion need not be present if the individual engaging in commercial sex is under 18 years of age.
Brian stood up to unaccountable and costly pharmacy benefit managers and forced them to lower the cost of prescription drugs, which will provide affordably and accessible medicine to all Georgians. Doing this lead Brian to support the “Maternal Mortality Bill", which extends Medicaid benefits for low-income mothers from two to six months postpartum, a critical time frame when conditions left untreated could be fatal. Brian will continue working tirelessly to fight the rising healthcare costs, ensure access to quality care and protect Georgia’s most vulnerable.
Mother’s need a break, which is why I stood behind the Foster Family Bill (HB 912). This bill allows foster parents to leave children in the care of a babysitter up to three days without having to get approval through the state Division of Family and Children Services. It was a unanimous approval through the Georgia House. The bill also removes red tape for foster and respite care parents by providing flexibility in training requirements.
Georgia State Senate District 17 encompasses parts of Newton, Henry, and Rockdale counties with nearly 150,000 registered voters. Brian Strickland entered his second full term in the Georgia Senate in 2020. Brian, his wife Lindsay, and their two children reside in McDonough, GA. Through Brian’s leadership position at the capitol where he fights for District 17, and all of Georgia, he has impacted Georgia for the better through various executed actions. Not only did Brian support the First Responder bill which aids police, firefighter, and EMS personnel but he was a key player in the passing of the Georgia Criminal Justice reform bills and Georgia Surprise Medical ills. Above and beyond that, Brian labored to bring funding to Southern Crescent Technical College making it one of the top technical schools in Georgia and is constantly raising the bar in the fight against human trafficking.
