A Bridgeport woman who was sold into prostitution at 7 years old will soon be testifying before Congress.

Sharron Guillemette is part of a nonprofit group called Partnership to End Human Trafficking.

The 63-year-old says a close relative sold her into prostitution at 7 and by the time she was 12 she was addicted to heroin.

"To keep me still and to keep me cooperative, I was given heroin," said Guillemette.

Guillemette says as a result, what followed was a lifetime of pain and degradation -- landing her in psychiatric wards and eventually in prison.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal is the chairman of the bipartisan Human Trafficking Caucus, whose goal is to end human trafficking through tougher laws and more help for victims.

"Sharon's story is simply one more horrific, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking example of how human lives are at stake," said Blumenthal.

Five years ago, Guillemette had a breakthrough. With help from counselors at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, she became clean and determined to get her life back.

Guillemette will be testifying before a Congressional committee on human trafficking in 2020.