Sens. Grassley, Feinstein introduce legislation to update, reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act

U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) jointly introduced legislation to reauthorize existing programs and create new ones dedicated to halting human trafficking, supporting victims, and increasing federal response and coordination on the matter.

Touted by Feinstein as updates to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, enacted in 2000, the new Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPA) would approach the issue from several fronts.

First, the legislation would modernize domestic human trafficking survivor programs and create new programs to counter human trafficking, support its victims’ needs, and improve federal law enforcement training on anti-trafficking. It would launch a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the accessibility of mental health care and substance use disorder treatment for trafficking survivors and create a pilot program for underserved communities to apply for funding to develop and utilize treatment models and support services for youth at the greatest risk of being trafficked. Lastly, the measure would enshrine the Survivor’s Bill of Rights in the States Act to encourage states to adopt the protections for survivors of state sex crimes that already exist at the federal level.

“The Trafficking Victims Protection Act is a landmark, bipartisan bill that was first passed more than 20 years ago to support survivors of human trafficking,” Feinstein said. “I’m proud to again join Senator Grassley in introducing this bill to reauthorize and update this important law. This legislation will help ensure that necessary resources are available to law enforcement to prevent trafficking and prosecute perpetrators while also providing survivors with the best possible support.”

The pair led a similar effort in 2017, renewing the existing programs providing resources to trafficking survivors. This latest edition would also update certain language in federal law and guarantee each state would have to maintain regular communication with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding missing or abducted children.

“Human trafficking is often an issue that is right under our noses,” Grassley said. “The victims of these horrific crimes deserve support as they find their way back to living a normal life. This bill aids victims on their pursuit of justice and opens more doors to educate law enforcement and high-risk youth on how to detect trafficking.”

The legislation is supported by a variety of groups, including the Covenant House, Rights4Girls, National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), Shared Hope International, and Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).