Frederick Douglass Act Reauthorizes Trafficking Protections Through 2029, Adds School Prevention Grants and Survivor Job Program

This bill, officially the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025, renews and updates the core federal law against human trafficking—the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA). It keeps existing protections funded through fiscal year 2029 and introduces two significant new initiatives: targeted grants for prevention education in schools and a dedicated program focused on employment and education support for survivors.

Boots on the Ground: Getting Prevention into Schools

The legislation retools existing grants, renaming them "Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Prevention Education Grants" (Sec 101), and gives them a sharper mission: getting prevention education to children deemed most at risk. Priority for funding will go to local school districts located in areas identified as having high rates of child sex trafficking or child labor trafficking. The bill encourages partnerships, giving preference to schools working with non-profits specializing in trafficking prevention, law enforcement, and potentially tech or social media companies. Federal agencies are tasked with identifying the specific geographic areas and populations—including homeless youth, foster youth, and runaways—that need this support most urgently. Grantees will be required to report detailed data, including the number of individuals trained, results from pre- and post-training surveys, and the number of potential victims identified and assisted (Sec 101).

Beyond Survival: Helping Victims Rebuild

Understanding that escaping trafficking is often just the beginning, the bill establishes the "Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and Education Program" (Sec 102). Managed by the Department of Health and Human Services through cooperative agreements with experienced non-governmental organizations (NGOs), this program offers adult survivors up to five years of comprehensive support aimed at fostering self-sufficiency. The services are practical and wide-ranging, covering basic education, job skills training, help with vocational programs or getting a high school diploma, life skills classes (like personal finance), resume building, interview coaching, and assistance with expunging nonviolent criminal records committed as a result of being trafficked. Support for college or technical school enrollment, including potential scholarships, is also included. Each participant gets a case manager to help create an individualized plan.

Keeping the Engine Running: Funding and Other Updates

To power these efforts, the bill extends key funding authorizations through fiscal year 2029 (Sec 201). It authorizes $30.755 million annually for various activities under the TVPA, explicitly setting aside $5 million each year for the National Human Trafficking Hotline and associated cybersecurity and public education campaigns. Additionally, it reauthorizes $35 million per year for Housing Assistance Grants specifically for trafficking victims, managed by the Office of Victims of Crime. The bill also extends the authorization for the International Megan’s Law, which facilitates the notification of international travel by registered sex offenders, through 2029 (Sec 202), ensuring continuity for these critical anti-trafficking tools.