Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and four additional comprehensive laws to combat human trafficking, issued the below statement following the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (HR 4323):

                “HR 4323—legislation I have cosponsored—provides a critical pathway for vacating or expunging certain non-violent criminal convictions for offenses that trafficking victims—mostly women and children—were forced to commit by their traffickers.

                “Largely due to the criminal records tied to their exploitation, many survivors face lifelong barriers to employment, housing, education, and stability. This bill ensures that survivors can no longer be punished for crimes that were the direct result of coercion and control.

                “Survivors should not have to constantly relive the trauma of their trafficking experiences through the unabating reminder of an indelible criminal record—all for actions they were forced to commit against their will. This legislation helps to ensure that survivors have a real chance to rebuild their lives and experience a future free of exploitation.

                “The passage of HR 4323 builds upon the quarter-century of anti-trafficking progress in the United States, initiated through our enactment of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations. With this new bill, we will continue to strengthen survivor-centered protections. HR 4323 is another crucial step towards procuring justice and long-overdue relief.”

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