The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022 (TVPRA) was passed in July by the House of Representatives. This piece of legislation reauthorizes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), legislation that allows the United States to combat human trafficking crimes. This bill funds trafficking education, strengthens U.S. support and resources, and awards grants to assist in trafficking efforts. The TVPA was the first federal bill in the United States to address human trafficking, and has continued to be a focal point for the movement.
The TVPRA authorizes $1.6 billion to be used over the next five years to combat trafficking through social service programs, skill training, education, economic empowerment, employment aid, and scholarships.1
The TVPRA is a follow-up extension to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA). The TVPA was the first law to address trafficking in persons in the United States on a federal level. The approach of the law is one of prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. This legislation has been reauthorized through the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Acts of 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2017, and now 2022.2
According to Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), “The enormous support in the House for this critical human rights and law enforcement legislation is a testament to a widespread consensus and underscores the absolute urgency for securing the funds needed to protect victims, prosecute perpetrators and prevent trafficking from occurring in the first place.”3 Rep. Smith and Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) introduced this bill in Congress on February 8, 2022.
Although the House of Representatives passed this bill, senators still need to vote on TVPRA legislation. In the Senate, unlike in the House of Representatives, this piece of legislation has been broken down into three bills:
1: The Abolish Human Trafficking Reauthorization Act,
2: Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act,
3: International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
The TVPRA was introduced to the Senate by U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ). In the Senate, this bill builds upon the existing Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 by proposing reforms to expand U.S. efforts relating to forced labor. In this new bill, the Senate requires the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to integrate prevention efforts into the agency’s international system.4 This Senate measure was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 14, 2022, but the third installment of this bill needs to be passed.
Historically, the TVPA has received bipartisan support. We call for the continued support of all political parties in order to combat human trafficking. It is important that all leaders recognize the power that the TVPA has held since 2000, and how it continues with each authorization to be leveraged to create a path forward together.
Take Action: Reach out to your state senators to support the following legislation.
1: The Abolish Human Trafficking Reauthorization Act,
2: Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act,
3: International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
1 https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/3528409-congress-must-act-on-human-trafficking-victims-bill/
2 https://humantraffickinghotline.org/what-human-trafficking/federal-law
3 https://www.ijm.org/news/ijm-welcomes-passage-frederick-douglass-trafficking-victims-prevention-protection-reauthorization-act-2022
4 https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/ranking/release/risch-menendez-kaine-rubio-introduce-international-trafficking-victims-protection-reauthorization-act-tvpra-of-2022