On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a leading U.S. lawmaker in the global fight against human trafficking, commended the community of trafficking survivors and underscored the advancement of new anti-human trafficking legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

              “The United States’ unwavering commitment to combatting modern-day slavery is ongoing. Just last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act (FD TVPRA) of 2025, my legislation to reauthorize and enhance existing anti-human trafficking provisions, strengthen investigations, and combat the growing threats of child exploitation and online abuse,” said the author of several previous laws to combat domestic and international human trafficking.

              “This legislation builds upon America’s landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, which I wrote 25 years ago. To date, the TVPA of 2000 has led to more than 4,803 convictions of human traffickers for the force, fraud, or coercion of victims in sex and labor trafficking. And, there are thousands more survivors who are now freed from the horrific crime of human trafficking.”

              Domestically, the new Frederick Douglass TVPRA of 2025 will reauthorize and modernize the original law, strengthen anti-human trafficking programs across numerous federal agencies, prevent the sexual exploitation and abuse of children abroad through the continued funding of the International Megan’s Law’s Angel Watch Center, and promote situational awareness training and anti-trafficking strategies for teachers and students in both elementary and secondary schools.

              Globally, the bill strengthens the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Office at the State Department—headed by an ambassador specifically designated by Smith’s law—which functions to monitor and engage with other governments on their efforts to combat trafficking. The bill also reauthorizes the legislatively mandated Trafficking in Persons Report, a huge diplomatic tool used by the TIP Office to rank countries on their efforts to combat severe forms of human trafficking; provide a roadmap for countries to reduce this reprehensible crime; and, if need be, identify countries that will be sanctioned for their failure to address human trafficking.

              Smith noted that the advancement of the Frederick Douglass TVPRA of 2025 also highlights the strength that survivor-leaders and anti-trafficking advocates have in raising awareness and sustaining important anti-human trafficking policies and laws.

              “The Frederick Douglass TVPRA of 2025, as well its legislative predecessors, was created for the victims, in-part by the survivors—their expertise and lived experience have helped to create comprehensive and effective laws that punish perpetrators, help survivors rebuild their lives, and prevent human trafficking from happening in the first place,” Smith said.

              “For the more than 27 million men, women, and children that are still currently trapped in human trafficking worldwide, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is a day to recommit our nations and ourselves to greater awareness, enhanced coordination with law enforcement, and continued reliable resources so that we can elevate the urgency in addressing this grave human rights abuse.

              “The U. S. government must never be complacent in the fight against human trafficking,” stated Smith. “Accountability, reform, and steadfast enforcement of anti-trafficking laws must be our constant goal.”

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Contact:
Teagan Gambert (202) 225-3765
http://chrissmith.house.gov