A package of bills addressing human trafficking in Pennsylvania passed a House of Representatives vote Wednesday with little resistance.

The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a person by improper means, like through force, abduction, fraud or coercion, for an improper purpose, including forced labor or sexual exploitation.

Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, joined fellow representatives in a news conference Wednesday morning to talk about the package.

The bills aim to increase penalties for human trafficking offenses and further protect victims of that form of abuse.

Mustello, whose bill was included in the package, said the response to the package was largely positive.

Most of the bills received unanimous support — including Mustello's bill, which was approved with a 187-0 vote.

“It felt good that we could all work together on both sides of the aisle. It's an issue we're all facing all over the Commonwealth,” she said.

Mustello's bill will amend how the crime of unlawful contact with a minor is defined through additional circumstances to warrant the charge, including sexual offenses, human trafficking, incest, endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of minors.

The package now goes to the state Senate for approval.

“We really hope it's going to be about the same package we get back on the concurrence,” Mustello said. “We hope we can get it done very soon.”

Mustello said the issue demands attention and she is thankful to be part of a package that sheds light on a terrible trend of human trafficking in the state. She also credited judiciary committee chairman Rob Kauffman for bringing this topic to the forefront of the House's attention.

Another bill in the package will also recognize January as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Pennsylvania.