Congress·In Progress·H.R. 1144

House Committee Reviews Frederick Douglass Act Reauthorization to Expand Anti-Trafficking Programs

Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Congress Reauthorizes Anti-Trafficking Laws with Expanded Survivor Support

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Expands school-based grants to help spot and prevent child trafficking, with priority for high-risk areas and partnerships with nonprofits, law enforcement, and tech platforms.
Creates a Health and Human Services program to help trafficking survivors (18+) build job and education skills, with services available for up to 5 years.
From policy text
“The Secretary of Health and Human Services may carry out a Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and Education Program to prevent the re-exploitation of eligible individuals who have been victims of trafficking, by assisting such individuals to integrate or reintegrate into society through social services support for the attainment of life-skills, employment, and education necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.”
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Extends and updates U.S. efforts overseas, including longer-running grants to fight modern slavery and clearer standards for ranking countries’ anti-trafficking efforts.
From policy text
“the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of countries that the Secretary determines require special scrutiny during the following year. The list shall be composed of countries that have been listed pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) pursuant to the current annual report because-- ``(i) the estimated number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing and the country is not taking proportional”
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Clarifies when the U.S. can withhold certain foreign aid from governments that don’t meet anti-trafficking standards, while keeping key humanitarian and health help excluded.
From policy text
“assistance for international narcotics and law enforcement under chapter 8 of part I of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2291 et seq.); ``(bb) assistance for International Disaster Assistance under subsections (b) and (c) of section 491 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2292); ``(cc) antiterrorism assistance under chapter 8 of part II of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2349aa et seq.); and ``(dd) health programs under chapters 1 and 10 of part I and chapter 4 of part II of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.);”
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Boosts authorized funding for anti-trafficking programs for 2025–2029, including set-asides for the national hotline, public education, and housing help for victims.
From policy text
“``$30,755,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2029, of which $5,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated in each fiscal year for the National Human Trafficking Hotline and for cybersecurity and public education campaigns, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, for identifying and responding as needed to cases of human trafficking.''”
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Criminal JusticeEducationLabor EmploymentForeign PolicyConsumer Protection

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(11)

Disability Benefits

Helps

Mental Health

Helps

Chronic Illness

Helps

Criminal Record

Helps

Child Tax Credit

Helps

Housing Assistance

Helps

Student

Helps

Renter

Helps

Immigrant

Helps

Visa Holder

Helps

Green Card

Helps

Milestones

3 milestones4 actions

Jul 22, 2025House

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Jul 22, 2025House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Feb 7, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law and funding is provided

Health and Human Services Department starts (or expands) cooperative agreements for the survivor employment and education program

Adult trafficking survivors may see more places they can go for GED/ESL, job training, coaching, and scholarship help, usually through nonprofits or service providers

Next school year or grant cycle after enactment, depending on funding

School districts apply for Frederick Douglass human trafficking prevention education grants

Some K-12 schools—especially in higher-risk areas—can add training for students, parents/guardians, and staff on spotting trafficking and online grooming and responding safely

Months after grants are awarded

“Train-the-trainer” sessions roll out in grant-funded areas

Instead of training only a few staff, districts can build local trainers who can teach more educators and families over time, expanding reach

About 18 months after enactment

First public report on the school prevention education grants is due 540 days after the new reporting requirement takes effect

Families, schools, and communities can see how many schools were reached and whether training improved knowledge, without publishing kids’ identities

The next full annual reporting cycle after enactment

Changes to the State Department’s annual trafficking report start with the first full reporting period after enactment

The annual report would include clearer country categories and information on organ-removal trafficking, which can affect how the U.S. limits certain foreign assistance

FY2025–FY2029 funding years, depending on appropriations

Housing assistance grants for trafficking victims continue under the reauthorized funding window (if appropriated)

More local programs may have resources to place survivors in safe housing tied to support services, reducing the risk of being trafficked again

Related News

2 articles

Global Sisters Report·almost 2 years ago

Future of anti-human trafficking bills sought by Catholics unclear amid wider immigration debate

Reports on the Frederick Douglass Act's focus on age-appropriate prevention education in schools and its provision of funds for survivors' employment and housing, while noting the legislative hurdles faced in the Senate.

CL~

RealClearPolicy·about 2 years ago

Congress Must Fight Modern Day Slavery

Discusses the overwhelming bipartisan support for the Frederick Douglass Act, emphasizing its role in modernizing prevention and protection tools through survivor-informed policy and expanded federal funding.

C+

Related Bills

3 bills

H.R. 2961Related bill

Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

Apr 17 — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R. 2796Related bill

Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

Apr 9 — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R. 4113Related bill

Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

Jun 24 — Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.