State Rep. David Meeks to Seek Re-Election

State Rep. David Meeks to Seek Re-Election

District 70 Representative Promises to Continue to Advocate for Fiscal Responsibility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                
July 18, 2013                                
Conway, AR- David Meeks, State Representative from Conway announced today that he will be running for re-election to Arkansas House District 70, which covers parts of Faulkner and Perry Counties.

“After much prayer and discussion with family and supporters, I am excited to announce that I will be seeking a third term to the Arkansas House,” Meeks said.

“Last session we were able pass income tax relief for Arkansas families and made significant reforms to our Medicaid system.  It is critical that we continue that work. My promise is that I will continue to fight for hardworking Arkansas taxpayers and families.“

Meeks was the lead sponsor on Act 133, The Human Trafficking Act of 2013 which strengthened human trafficking laws in Arkansas.

Meeks currently serves as Chairman of Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs. He also serves on the Public Health Committee and the Arkansas Legislative Council.

Human Trafficking: Arkansas rated as one of the "Faltering Four"

Today, Polaris Project released its 2012 State Ratings on human trafficking laws.  Arkansas was rated as one of the "Faltering Four" due to its lack of "a basic legal framework to combat human trafficking."

Senator Jason Rapert, Senator Missy Irvin, Representative Greg Leding and myself are working in conjunction with the Attorney General's office, and other stakeholders to strengthen our laws.  Legislation has been drafted and we are working to make sure it has broad support so that it can be passed in the 2013 session.

Here is a link to the Polaris Project ratings map: http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/policy-advocacy/current-laws

Here is a link to the specific Arkansas State report: http://na4.salesforce.com/sfc/p/300000006E4S95crKiEvYLHxr2rVvrb54s0U1gA=

Here is a link to the legislation that has been drafted: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2012F/Pages/ISPIRDetail.aspx?ispid=2011-219

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at david.meeks@arkansashouse.org


*About Polaris Project*
Polaris Project is one of the leading organizations in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Named after the North Star "Polaris" that guided slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris Project is transforming the way that individuals and communities respond to human trafficking, in the U.S. and globally. By successfully pushing for stronger federal and state laws, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline (1-888-373-7888), conducting trainings, and providing vital services to victims of trafficking, Polaris Project creates long-term solutions that move our society closer to a world without slavery. Learn more at www.polarisproject.org 

For Immediate Release: *Polaris Project to Release 2012 Annual Ratings on State Human Trafficking Laws*

If you are a member of the Arkansas media or the state legislature please contact me and I can forward you the information for the conference call tomorrow. My personal email is dmeeks72@gmail.com. Phone: 501-277-9340. All others please use the contact information below.

I have accepted the invitation and will be speaking on the conference call about what Arkansas is doing to strengthen it's anti-human trafficking laws. David

*AUGUST 3, 2012*

*CONTACT*: Megan Fowler, 202-540-5231

**Telephone Briefing, Tuesday, August 7, 2012, 1:00PM CDT**

*Polaris Project to Release 2012 Annual Ratings on State Human Trafficking
Laws*

*Washington, DC* - On August 7, 2012 at 1:00pm CDT, Polaris Project will release its 2012 State Ratings on human trafficking laws via a telephone briefing from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Chicago, IL. Polaris Project has rated all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on ten categories of laws that are critical to a basic legal framework that combats human trafficking, punishes traffickers and supports survivors. Each state is placed in one of four tiers based on whether it has passed legislation in each of the ten categories.

Attorney General Martha Coakley of Massachusetts; Holly Smith, a human trafficking survivor and activist; lawmakers from the Virginia and Arkansas state legislatures will join Polaris Project to discuss which states have passed significant laws, which states are faltering, and how such laws make a substantial impact in fighting human trafficking in communities across the United States.

*WHAT:* Launch of Polaris Project's 2012 State Ratings Map on Human Trafficking Laws from the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative summit in Chicago, IL

*WHO:* Mary Ellison, Director of Policy, Polaris Project
Martha Coakley, Massachusetts Attorney General
Holly Smith, Human Trafficking Survivor and Activist
Arkansas State Representative David Meeks (*invited*)
Virginia State Senator Adam Ebbin (*invited*)

*WHEN:* Tuesday, August 7, 2012
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT)

*RSVP:* Please RSVP for this call by sending your name, email address, outlet and state to mfowler@polarisproject.org.
For additional information, or if you would like to attend the launch in person in Chicago, please contact Megan Fowler at mfowler@polarisproject.org or 202-540-5231.
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To report a tip, connect with anti-trafficking services in your area, or request information, call The National Human Trafficking Resource Center at: 1-888-3737-888.


*About Polaris Project**Polaris Project is one of the leading organizations in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Named after the North Star "Polaris" that guided slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris Project is transforming the way that individuals and communities respond to human trafficking, in the U.S. and globally. By successfully pushing for stronger federal and state laws, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline (1-888-373-7888), conducting trainings, and providing vital services to victims of trafficking, Polaris Project creates long-term solutions that move our society closer to a world without slavery. Learn more at www.polarisproject.org

Awareness into Action: Arkansas' First Ever Human Trafficking Summit!

Human Trafficking IS happening right here in Arkansas.  The recent bust of a sex-trafficking ring headquartered in Little Rock is just one example of how this modern form of slavery has made its way into our state.  People from all across our state are coming together to combat it.  We are excited about holding our first ever Arkansas Human Trafficking Summit next week in Little Rock.  This summit will focus on taking action to end Human Trafficking in our state.  We will have representatives from national human trafficking groups Polaris Project and Shared Hope coming in to talk about how we can strengthen our laws and build a stronger coalition. We hope you will join us.

Here is the schedule for the first ever Arkansas Human Trafficking Summit to be held Tuesday, June 26th and Wednesday, June 27th. All events are free and open to public and press.  

TUESDAY

State Capitol

10a: Welcome/Press Conference  (Old Supreme Court Room)

Scheduled Speakers include:

Lt Governor Mark Darr

Bart Dickinson- Attorney General's office

Representatives from National Groups Polaris Project and Shared Hope

Local Groups

1p: Legislative Committee Hearings.  (Rm151, 1st floor)

Complete Agenda can be found at this link:  http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/Lists/Meetings/Attachments/16971/I10303.pdf

First Baptist Church, LR (Fellowship Hall)

7-8:30p: Human Trafficking Forum: A film by Shared Hope, breakout session, and a panel for questions and answers.

WEDNESDAY

First Baptist Church, LR (Fellowship Hall)

Coalition Building Workshop 8:30p-3:30p (Registration table opens at 8:00 am).

This is a day long seminar by Polaris Project.

To register for the Tuesday night forum and/or the Wednesday Workshop please visit:  http://artraffickingsummit.eventbrite.com/

Related News Stories and Statistics:

Polaris Project: http://www.polarisproject.org/state-map/arkansas

Shared Hope Report Card: http://www.sharedhope.org/Portals/0/Documents/Report_cards_1229/ReportCards_all%20states_FINAL_AR.pdf

Feds: Sex-trafficking ring used Backpage.com ads (Ring was HQ'd here in LR) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120524/NEWS02/705249806

Little Rock to get first shelter for Human Trafficking Victims: http://www.katv.com/story/18684640/arkansas-to-get-first-shelter-for-human-trafficking-victims

Some human trafficking reported in NEA 

http://www.kait8.com/story/17792943/some-human-trafficking-reported-in-nea

Local organizations join forces to combat trafficking in Arkansas. http://www.syncweekly.com/news/2012/feb/14/walking-path/

Lawmakers Work To Enhance Human-Trafficking Laws In Arkansas http://cdn01.swtimes.com/sections/news/state-news/lawmakers-work-enhance-human-trafficking-laws-arkansas.html

What My Opponent Hopes Conservatives Don't See

House District 70 Candidate Comparison

Issue	Rep David Meeks	Price Dooley
Gun Rights: NRA Grade	A (Solidly Pro-Gun)	D- (Anti-gun) (1)
Same Sex Domestic Partnerships, Civil Unions	Oppose	Undecided (2)
Blocking Obamacare	Sponsored Legislation/Voted multiple times against funding healthcare exchange	“There is nothing a state legislator can do, ultimately…” (3)
States Rights	Support: Co-sponsored resolution	Unsure.  See Above.
Military Service	Yes-Honorable Discharge	No
Endorsements	Arkansas Right to Life NRA
No Climate Tax Pledge (4)	Signed/ Record of voting against every tax and fee increase.	Not signed (As of  5/10/12)

In addition Price Dooley has voted in Democratic Primaries going back to at least 2004.  So the question he should answer is who did he vote for in 2008?  Barack Obama or Hilary Clinton?  Who did he vote for in 2010? Blanche Lincoln or Bill Halter?  Did he vote for Joyce Elliot for Congress?

If he is voting for the party will he continue to vote with the Democrats?  If he was voting values what values does he have common with all the liberals listed above?

 I have a solid conservative record in the legislature and I will continue to fight for hardworking Arkansas taxpayers.  I will remain focused on important issues like job creation, spending cuts, and working on comprehensive legislation to combat Human Trafficking.

I ask the voters of District 70 to reject the negative smear campaign being run by my opponent and vote to return a proven, solid conservative to the legislature.

As always, you may contact me at david.meeks@arkansashouse.org

References:

(1)   http://www.nrapvf.org/grades-endorsements/2012/arkansas.aspx?f=11308

(2)   http://arkansasvotersguide.com/index.asp?p=compare&Officesought=State+House&District=70

(3)   http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2012/may/06/battling-health-law-dispute-gop-2-20120506/

(4) http://noclimatetax.com

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day- Take Action!

Below you will find links to groups who combating Human Trafficking. This is by no means a complete list. I hope you will pick at least one, find out what they are doing and get involved to help end modern day slavery!

Arkansas:

Rush Hour Traffic- http://rushhourtraffic.tv/
P.A.T.H.- http://thepathinitiative.com/

National:

Polaris Project- http://www.polarisproject.org/
Not For Sale- http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
A21- http://www.thea21campaign.org/who-we-are.php

National Human Trafficking Prevention Day Press Conference

National Human Trafficking Prevention Day- Press Release

Date: January 11th, 1pm

What: National Human Trafficking Prevention Day Press Conference

Where: Arkansas State Capitol Rotunda, 2nd floor

Who: Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, Senator Rapert, Representative Meeks, Representative Leding, Sheriff Doc Holladay, Partners Against Trafficking Humans (PATH), Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), Not for Sale, Catholic Charities, and Rush Hour Traffic.

Legislators, local groups observe National Human Trafficking Prevention Day, Jan. 11

LITTLE ROCK, AR — National Human Trafficking Awareness Day will be observed with a news conference at 1 p.m., Jan. 11, in the 2nd floor Rotunda area of the State Capitol by Arkansas legislators, representatives of local and national anti-human trafficking groups, law enforcement and others who want to help eradicate the problem of modern day slavery.

Legislators represented include Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, who says that upon researching the problem he found Arkansas to be “shockingly” one of nine states lagging behind in enacting meaningful anti-human trafficking legislation. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, Senator Rapert, R- Conway, and Representative Leding, D- Fayetteville, will also be in attendance and in support of the fight against sex- trafficking in the state of Arkansas.

Through the educational efforts of such local groups as Partners Against Trafficking Humans (PATH) and Rush Hour Traffic and national groups such as Not For Sale and Truckers Against Trafficking (all of which will be represented at the news conference), Meeks found that young women and girls as young as 9 years old are being brutalized and sold for sex right here in Arkansas.

PATH and its sister groups are not just engaged in educating the public about the problem but in providing respite and healing for trafficking victims with a planned shelter and other facilities. 

Unfortunately, says Louise Allison, PATH co-founder, if a human trafficking victim is rescued off the street from her captors, there are no medium- or long-term facilities available.

President Barack Obama has declared January National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and in light of that, legislators, members of local law enforcement, such as Sheriff Doc Holladay and Detective Haskins, and local and national human trafficking groups hope the media and anyone interested will join them at 1 p.m. Jan. 11 to learn more about what has become the second-largest money-making criminal activity in the world and how to stop it.

Human trafficking statistics:

• It’s estimated that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 American children at risk of entering the sex trade each year (Truckers Against Trafficking)

• Victims are hidden in plain sight in the house down the street, at massage parlors, truck stops and rest areas

• The I-40 corridor through Arkansas is a major artery along which trafficking victims are transported from one part of the country to another (Truckers Against Trafficking)

• Numbers are vastly under reported because of victims being arrested for drug, prostitution and other crimes and not reported as a trafficking victims

• Craigslist has been commonly used as a source of trafficking victims

• Between July 1 and Sept. 30 of 2011, alone, there were 16 trafficking-related calls to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center from Arkansas, 5 of those from Little Rock (reported from the Polaris Project)

• Worldwide human trafficking is a $32 billion industry with 27 million modern-day slaves (from Truckers Against Trafficking)

About:

Partners Against Trafficking Humans: Goal is to provide residential treatment, in a safe, caring environment to promote restoration and reintegration for exploited women and children. The goal of PATH is to provide a safe place where the healing can begin in a Christ-like environment

Rush Hour [Traffic] exists to raise human trafficking awareness in Arkansas and beyond. One step at a time, we work together, inviting others with the same passion to join us in our fight. While RH[T] seeks to promote awareness of modern day slavery, we also exist to provide recovery and restoration for victims of trafficking. This includes helping them find shelter, healthcare, counseling, and other various support. Together we can stop this injustice - one life at a time.

The vision Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) started with in 2009 was of educating, equipping, empowering and mobilizing members of the trucking industry to play a critical role in the fight against human trafficking.

Not For Sale AR is a branch of the Not For Sale campaign and works on addressing the issue of human trafficking and modern day slavery in AR as well as all over the U.S. and the world. We know that in order for us to end slavery in OUR lifetime it will take all of us doing our part! With all of us working together we CAN re-abolish slavery!

Contact: 

Representative David Meeks:  david.meeks@arkansashouse.org

Louise Allison, founder of PATH: la@thepathinitiative.org

Emily Boedeker, founder of Rush Hour: emily@newlifechurch.tv

Dorothy Cox, Truckers Against Trafficking: dorothyc@targetmediapartners.com

Stephanie Jira, Not For Sale: sjira@notforsalecampaign.org