At the beginning of the 119th Congress, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 1144) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bipartisan bill, led by Representatives Chris Smith and Kweisi Mfume, would accomplish several goals, including: - Reauthorize and strengthen existing anti-trafficking programs across numerous federal agencies;
- Establish a new Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and Education Program to help prevent the re-exploitation of trafficking survivors; and
- Require counter-trafficking strategies, activities, and efforts to be further incorporated into U.S. international assistance.
In April 2025, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration joined with national partners in calling on the House to pass H.R. 1144. The bill now has the potential to reach the House floor in the coming weeks.
Complete this action alert to join with the bishops in calling for the House to pass H.R. 1144.
