Reps. Smith (R-NJ) and Mfume (D-MD) speak at their Capitol Hill press conference on the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 (HR 1144) on April 23, 2026.

                On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) announced that they will be co-chairing the new, bipartisan Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.

                Reps. Smith and Mfume also noted that they will be working alongside Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who plans to form a complimentary Caucus in the Senate.

                The Caucus—named in honor of famed abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass—will serve as a bicameral effort and the principal forum in Congress dedicated to advancing legislation that prevents human trafficking, protects victims and survivors, prosecutes traffickers, and strengthens partnerships with survivors across government, civil society, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, and the private sector.

                “I am honored to announce the formation of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus alongside my Co-Chair, Rep. Mfume, who is fiercely committed to ending the modern-day slavery that is human trafficking,” said Rep. Chris Smith, the author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) (PL 106-386).

                “Human trafficking is an ever-evolving crime, as traffickers are constantly finding new ways—both in-person and virtually—to exploit, manipulate, and abuse victims. To meet these changing and challenging demands, this Caucus will work tirelessly to advance new anti-trafficking legislation—especially and including the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 (HR 1144), which Rep. Mfume and I introduced earlier this Congress—that uplifts and empowers survivors and raises awareness of this global problem.”

                “Today, on the annual World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, I am proud to stand alongside Representative Chris Smith as we form this bipartisan Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. 

                “Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and a scourge on our collective humanity. Nearly 27 million people worldwide are trapped in forms of forced labor and human bondage, and Americans in all 50 states have been victimized as well. We owe it to every survivor and victim to pass comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation out of the Congress and send it to the President’s desk. This Caucus and anti-trafficking organizations across the country represent proof of our collective intention to get that done, no matter how long it takes,” he continued.

                In addition to announcing the formation of the Caucus, Reps. Smith and Mfume urged the U.S. House of Representatives to quickly take up HR 1144 for debate and a vote.

                “The House passage of the Frederick Douglass TVPRA will bring us one step closer to finally eradicating this modern-day slavery,” said the two lawmakers. “Delay means denial for the millions of men, women, and children currently trapped in trafficking situations. We are working every single day—especially and including World Day Against Trafficking in Persons—to get this critical legislation over the finish line to protect critical funding and programs.”

                HR 1144, developed in close collaboration with several survivor-leaders, upgrades and expands the U.S. government’s toolkit for fighting human trafficking by authorizing more than $1.2 billion in federal funding over the next five years. Once enacted, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 will:

• Reauthorize and bolster anti-human trafficking programs across numerous federal agencies, including the State Department, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services;
• Ensure robust prosecutions for human trafficking crimes, along with thorough investigations and jail time commensurate with the crime;
• Authorize the first-ever housing program for survivors, ensuring wrap-around case management, including education, life skills training, mental health services, and employment assistance;
• Continue funding the Angel Watch Center, a program mandated by Smith’s International Megan’s Law (PL 114-119) that prevents convicted child sex offenders from exploiting and abusing children abroad;
• Train instructors and students within elementary and secondary schools, in an age-appropriate manner, on building situational awareness, self-esteem, and resources to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking; and
• Strengthen partnerships among federal, state, and local authorities.

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