Bill Boosts Anti-Trafficking Efforts with School Grants, Survivor Job Program; Authorizes $65M+ Annually Through 2029

This legislation, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025, aims to strengthen the fight against human trafficking by renewing existing efforts and adding new tools. It modifies federal grants for prevention education in schools (Sec. 101) and establishes a new program focused on employment and education support for adult survivors (Sec. 102). The bill authorizes over $65 million annually from Fiscal Year 2025 through 2029 for these initiatives, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and victim housing assistance (Sec. 201).

Sharpening Prevention in Schools

The bill rebrands existing grants as "Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Prevention Education Grants" and sharpens their focus (Sec. 101). Funding priority goes to schools in areas identified as having high rates of child sex or labor trafficking, especially those partnering with specialized nonprofits, law enforcement, or even tech companies. Grantees must provide age-appropriate, trauma-informed training – meaning it acknowledges the potential impact of trauma on individuals – for K-12 students, teachers, and guardians. The goal is to equip school communities to recognize trafficking signs and know how to respond, using evidence-based practices (methods proven effective by research, as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(21)(A)). There's also a specific mandate to identify and support particularly vulnerable students, like those experiencing homelessness or in the foster care system.

Building Bridges Back: Support for Survivors

A significant new piece is the "Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and Education Program" (Sec. 102). This initiative targets adult survivors (18 and older, eligible under existing law 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)) and offers a suite of services for up to five years to help them rebuild their lives and gain self-sufficiency. Support includes everything from basic education and job training to help with college applications and scholarships. Critically, it offers assistance with expunging nonviolent criminal records incurred as a result of being trafficked – a major barrier survivors often face when seeking jobs or housing. Other services cover life skills like financial literacy, resume building, interview coaching, and accessing victim compensation funds.

Keeping the Lights On: Funding and Continuity

This act primarily reauthorizes and builds upon the existing Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA). It locks in funding streams through Fiscal Year 2029, signaling a continued commitment (Sec. 201). Specifically, it authorizes $30.75 million annually for the prevention grants and survivor program, including $5 million carved out each year for the National Human Trafficking Hotline and related public awareness campaigns. An additional $35 million is authorized annually for housing assistance grants for trafficking victims. The bill also extends the authorization for the International Megan's Law, which deals with tracking sex offenders traveling internationally, through 2029 (Sec. 202).