Remarks by Congressman Smith
At widely attended press conference on Capitol HillRep. Smith calls for the passage of HR 1144, his Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025
The following are excerpts of remarks delivered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) at today’s Capitol Hill press conference on HR 1144, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025: Special thanks to my good friend and colleague, Congressman Kwesi Mfume of Maryland, for his steadfast leadership and co-sponsorship of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act—HR 1144. Special thanks to Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise for agreeing to schedule the debate and vote on HR 1144 within the next few weeks. We worked closely with Frederick Douglass’s great-great-great grandson, Kenneth B. Morris Jr.—who helped us double down on prevention programs. And I especially want to recognize and thank the amazing, heroic and extraordinarily compassionate survivor-leaders who helped write this bill—you will hear from them in a few minutes. Their courage, strength, tenacity, wisdom, and above all, their love for the vulnerable, not only inspires, but helped us get it right. This legislation is of, by, and for them—to help heal, restore, and empower. Last year, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)—comprehensive, bipartisan, landmark legislation that I authored and that became the cornerstone of U.S. and global efforts to combat human trafficking. That legislation—also inspired by survivors— created the U.S. government’s whole-of-government approach, includes scores of new programs and initiatives to combat human trafficking, both domestically and abroad—all under the “three Ps” framework to protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and, to the extent possible, prevent trafficking from occurring in the first place. Over the years, I’ve authored four additional laws to combat human trafficking—including in 2003, 2005, 2016, and 2019. When the TVPA was first introduced in the 1990s, it was met with skepticism. Some said it was a solution in search of a problem. Few believed that women and children were being bought and sold like commodities. But we persisted. And we proved the skeptics absolutely wrong. The TVPA radically reformed the criminal code to treat exploited persons as victims, not criminals. It authorized asset forfeiture and penalties up to life imprisonment. As of 2024—and we are awaiting the 2025 stats— 5,208 traffickers have been federally convicted under the TVPA and are serving long prison sentences, including Ghislaine Maxwell who got 20 years. In a like manner, Jeffrey Epstein was also charged using criminal offenses created by the TVPA but died awaiting trial.
The TVPA also created the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and its annual TIP Report, which has become the gold standard in holding governments accountable worldwide to address trafficking on their own soil and prevent it from reaching ours. And importantly, every single U.S. state has now enacted its own anti-trafficking law—many of them modeled after the federal framework. The progress is undeniable—but the fight is far from over. Today’s trafficking networks are more sophisticated, more global, and more brazen than ever, exploiting women, men, and children. That is why the legislation before us today is so urgent. Survivors told us clearly: healing doesn’t end when someone exits a trafficking situation—it’s just beginning. They asked for safe housing, mental health support, education, and job training. We listened. This bill authorizes the first-ever housing program for survivors. It ensures wrap-around case management, including education, life skills training, mental health services, and employment assistance—all designed with input from survivors and their families. By passing HR 1144, we will:
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