Enduring Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4929
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-08: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-12T16:04:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Enduring Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act" (H.R. 4929) aims to provide ongoing financial support for victims of human trafficking by making a special court assessment permanent, rather than allowing it to expire. This ensures sustained funding for victim services without a set end date.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 3014(a) of Title 18, United States Code, which deals with special assessments on convicted individuals.
- Requires courts to impose a $5,000 assessment on any non-indigent (meaning those who can afford to pay) person or entity convicted of specified trafficking offenses.
- This assessment is in addition to any other fines or penalties under Section 3013 of the same title.
- The offenses covered are those listed in the existing law, primarily related to human trafficking (e.g., sex or labor trafficking).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Removes the temporary time frame from the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, which limited the $5,000 assessment to the period starting from its enactment until September 30, 2025.
- Transforms the assessment from a temporary measure into a permanent requirement, effective immediately upon enactment.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Increases revenue for the Department of Justice and related programs, as collected assessments fund victim assistance services, potentially enhancing anti-trafficking enforcement and support programs without needing new appropriations.
- On citizens: Benefits victims of trafficking by providing more consistent funding for services like counseling, housing, and legal aid; imposes financial penalties on convicted non-indigent traffickers, which may deter such crimes or aid in victim restitution.
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly strengthen U.S. efforts in global anti-trafficking initiatives by bolstering domestic resources.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Victims of trafficking: Primary beneficiaries through expanded funding for support services.
- Convicted traffickers: Non-indigent individuals or entities face ongoing $5,000 penalties upon conviction, increasing financial accountability.
- Courts and judicial system: Must routinely apply the assessment in relevant cases, with administrative duties for collection.
- Victim service organizations and nonprofits: Receive boosted funding from assessments to provide aid.
- Federal agencies (e.g., Department of Justice): Gain sustained resources for trafficking prevention and prosecution.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of anti-trafficking laws by ensuring perpetual funding mechanisms; no changes to the underlying offenses or indigency determinations (where courts assess ability to pay to avoid undue hardship).
- Constitutional: Aligns with existing authority under Congress's power to regulate federal crimes and impose penalties; unlikely to raise due process concerns, as it targets convicted parties and spares indigent individuals.
- Political: Signals bipartisan commitment to combating trafficking by extending a 2015 law, potentially influencing future budgets and anti-crime legislation without introducing new mandates or controversies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-08: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-08-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Enduring Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act — issued 2025-08-08 — PDF (2 pages)