Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

Bill Number: H.R. 1144
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-07-22: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Last Updated: 2026-07-01T08:09:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, titled the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025, aims to renew and strengthen the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and related laws. It focuses on preventing human trafficking, protecting victims (especially children and survivors), prosecuting traffickers, and enhancing international efforts to combat trafficking, including modern slavery and organ harvesting. The act emphasizes education, survivor support, and coordinated U.S. foreign policy to reduce trafficking globally and domestically.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into three titles addressing domestic prevention, international anti-trafficking measures, and funding authorizations.

Title I: Combating Trafficking in Persons in the United States

Modifications to Grants for Trafficking Recognition (Sec. 101): Renames existing grants as "Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Prevention Education Grants." These support programs to educate communities on recognizing trafficking signs, with a focus on children. Grants prioritize areas with high child sex or labor trafficking risks, partnerships with nonprofits, law enforcement, and tech/social media companies, and input from survivors. Requirements include trauma-informed (sensitive to victims' emotional needs), culturally responsive, and linguistically accessible training for students, teachers, guardians, and school staff. Grantees must use evidence-based methods and technology to prevent online grooming, child sexual abuse materials, and exploitation. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must collect demographic data on at-risk groups (e.g., racial minorities, homeless youth, foster children) and submit annual reports on grant outcomes, including training numbers, victim identifications, and service gaps.
Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and Education Program (Sec. 102): Establishes a new HHS program to help adult trafficking victims (domestic or foreign) reintegrate into society and avoid re-exploitation. Services include basic education (e.g., literacy, English classes), job skills training, high school completion, life skills (e.g., financial management, parenting), resume help, interview coaching, criminal record expungement for nonviolent crimes linked to victimization, college enrollment assistance, scholarships, professional development, case management, and mental health funding. Eligible victims can receive services for up to 5 years. HHS will partner with experienced nonprofits via cooperative agreements, prioritizing those skilled in serving diverse, underserved populations, including immigrants via visas like T-visas.

Title II: Fighting Human Trafficking Abroad

Modifications to Program to End Modern Slavery Grants (Sec. 201): Extends grants under the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act from 2020 to 2029, requiring competitive awards and congressional notifications.
Amendments to Tier Standards (Sec. 202): Updates the TVPA's country ranking system (Tiers 1-3 based on anti-trafficking efforts). Renames the "Tier 2 Watch List" (countries making efforts but not fully meeting standards) and refines criteria for inclusion, focusing on significant victim numbers, lack of progress in investigations/prosecutions, victim aid, and government complicity. Limits waivers for prolonged watch list status and makes conforming changes to related laws.
Counter-Trafficking in Development Cooperation and Assistance Policy (Sec. 203): Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require U.S. aid programs to include effective anti-trafficking measures and avoid creating trafficking risks, especially in disaster-prone areas.
Clarification of Nonhumanitarian, Nontrade-Related Foreign Assistance (Sec. 204): Defines what U.S. aid can be withheld from non-compliant governments (e.g., excludes humanitarian aid, disaster relief, health programs, refugee support, anti-trafficking grants, and certain arms sales). Allows presidential exceptions for U.S. security or humanitarian interests.
Trafficking for Organ Harvesting (Sec. 205): Adds organ removal trafficking to the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report requirements, mandating details on government prevention efforts.
Elimination of Duplicative Reporting (Sec. 206): Removes redundant reporting on trade agreements and trafficking from a 2015 law.
Effective Dates and Printed TIP Report (Secs. 207-208): Some changes apply from the next TIP Report cycle; requires a public printed version of the annual TIP Report.

Title III: Authorization of Appropriations

Extension under TVPA (Sec. 301): Authorizes increased funding for 2025-2029: $23 million annually for prevention activities; $30.755 million for victim services (including $5 million for a national hotline and cybersecurity/education campaigns); $111 million for international programs (up to $37.5 million for modern slavery efforts); and $35 million for housing grants for trafficking victims.
Extension under International Megan's Law (Sec. 302): Renews authorizations for notifying international partners about traveling sex offenders from 2021 to 2029.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Expands and renames domestic grants to emphasize child-focused, evidence-based education and technology integration, with new data collection and reporting mandates.
Introduces a dedicated survivor support program (Sec. 102), which did not exist before, offering long-term (5-year) services beyond immediate aid.
Refines international tiers for stricter scrutiny of countries with rising trafficking or stalled progress; clarifies aid withholding to protect essential programs while targeting non-compliant governments.
Adds organ harvesting as a tracked trafficking form and integrates anti-trafficking into all foreign aid planning.
Increases funding levels (e.g., from $65 million to $111 million for international efforts) and extends authorizations to 2029, eliminating some overlapping reports for efficiency.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: HHS gains new program responsibilities and reporting duties, requiring coordination with Education, Housing, Interior, Labor, Justice, and State Departments. The State Department will face updated TIP Report requirements and aid restrictions, potentially straining budgets but enhancing anti-trafficking integration in foreign policy. Increased funding supports hotline operations and housing.
Citizens: Improves school-based prevention in high-risk U.S. areas, potentially identifying and aiding more at-risk children (e.g., foster youth, runaways). Survivors benefit from expanded employment/education support, aiding self-sufficiency and reducing re-victimization.
International Relations: Pressures foreign governments via tiers and aid conditions, which could improve global anti-trafficking efforts but risk diplomatic tensions with downgraded countries. Enhances U.S. leadership in development aid by embedding protections against trafficking in disaster response and health programs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Victims and Survivors: Primary beneficiaries, especially children, youth in vulnerable groups (e.g., minorities, homeless, foster care), and adult survivors seeking education, jobs, and housing.
Educational and Community Organizations: Schools, local education agencies, nonprofits, and survivor-led groups receive grants and partnerships for training and programs.
Law Enforcement and Tech Sector: Involved in collaborations for prevention, online exploitation detection, and victim identification.
U.S. Government Agencies: HHS, State Department, Justice Department, and others handle implementation, funding, and reporting.
Foreign Governments and International Partners: Affected by U.S. aid conditions, tier rankings, and TIP Report scrutiny, particularly in high-trafficking regions.
General Public: Gains access to printed TIP Reports and benefits from safer communities through prevention efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Builds on the TVPA without altering core definitions of trafficking; clarifies aid withholding to avoid overreach, ensuring compliance with privacy laws in data collection (e.g., no identifiable victim info). Expungement assistance for survivors' records promotes restorative justice but requires coordination with state laws.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers over foreign affairs, commerce, and spending; no apparent free speech or due process conflicts, as programs emphasize voluntary, trauma-informed support.
Political: Signals bipartisan commitment (introduced by members from both parties) to anti-trafficking, potentially boosting U.S. moral authority abroad. Could influence trade/diplomatic negotiations by linking aid to trafficking compliance, though presidential waivers provide flexibility to avoid overly punitive outcomes.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]

Cosponsors (25)

Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

Recent Actions

2025-07-22: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
2025-07-22: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-02-07: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-02-07: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-02-07: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-02-07: Introduced in House
2025-02-07: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-07 — PDF (28 pages)