Sponsors (9)
The bill increases and extends targeted federal support for trafficking victims and prevention (including new programs, housing funds, and hotline support) and boosts transparency, but includes funding uncertainties, service time limits, earmarks that reduce flexibility, and privacy and equity risks that could limit effectiveness or leave some survivors underserved.
Victims of human trafficking (including women, children, and those with chronic needs) receive increased federal funding for victim services and housing grants ($30.755M/year plus $35M/year for housing through FY2025–FY2029), expanding available support and shelter.
Homeless, foster, child‑welfare‑involved, and runaway youth in high‑prevalence areas gain prioritized, scalable, evidence‑based prevention education (train‑the‑trainer models and technology) with survivor engagement, improving detection, prevention, and trauma‑informed delivery in schools and communities.
Establishes a Survivors Employment and Education Program offering up to five years of education, job training, case management, scholarships, and legal/expungement assistance for eligible adult trafficking survivors, creating a structured pathway to independence.
The Survivors Employment and Education Program is authorized but no new appropriations are authorized, so the program may not be funded or implemented unless Congress provides future funding.
Limiting individual services to a cumulative five‑year period can leave long‑term survivors without sufficient ongoing support after the cap is reached.
Extending and increasing authorizations through FY2029 raises federal spending commitments, which may increase budgetary pressure or costs for taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Refocuses prevention education grants to trafficking hot spots, creates a survivor employment/education program, and authorizes increased funding and earmarks for FY2025–FY2029.
Introduced April 9, 2025 by Christopher Henry Smith · Last progress April 9, 2025
Expands and refocuses federal human-trafficking prevention education grants to prioritize school districts and local education agencies (LEAs) in areas with high child sex- and labor-trafficking prevalence, emphasizes partnerships with nonprofits and technology companies, and requires cross‑agency consultation and survivor engagement. Creates a new HHS survivors employment and education program offering up to five years of services for eligible adult trafficking survivors, and authorizes increased federal funding levels and earmarks for related programs through FY2025–FY2029 (authorization, not an appropriation).