Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen support for victims of human trafficking.
Today, Sens. Ossoff and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act, which would cut red tape to better respond to the needs of service organizations working with victims of human trafficking and create additional flexibility in certain grant programs.
The bipartisan bill would strengthen the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to provide more flexibility in funding for programs serving victims of human trafficking. The bill would also help increase training and technical assistance for grantees to help organizations receive Federal funding.
“Human trafficking in Georgia and nationwide is a crisis. That’s why Senator Blackburn and I are introducing this bipartisan bill to strengthen support and protections for victims of trafficking,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“The modern-day slave trade of human trafficking is a $150 billion a year global industry that is devastating our communities,” said Senator Blackburn. “By passing the Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act, the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime will be more responsive to the needs of organizations serving survivors of human trafficking.”
Sens. Ossoff and Blackburn’s bipartisan Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act is backed by key organizations that support victims of human trafficking, including Hope for Justice, Street Grace, Wellspring Living, 3Strands Global Foundation, Polaris, and Thistle Farms.
“The Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act is a critical step forward in the fight against human trafficking, providing essential support and flexibility to organizations dedicated to assisting victims,” said Sarah Butler, Hope for Justice U.S. Program Director. “Its provisions not only reduce barriers for new entrants into this field but also enhance the quality and reach of victim services through targeted training and clarified grant objectives. This legislation is paramount in our collective efforts to combat trafficking and support survivors on their path to recovery and justice.”
“Senator Ossoff and Senator Blackburn have clearly heard the needs of anti-trafficking organizations and the victims we serve. The Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act not only increases federal assistance, but it also shifts funding to exactly where it is most needed. By focusing on training, programming, security and data collection, this Act gives service providers like Street Grace the flexibility to better serve survivors and helps protect our nation’s children from being bought and sold,” said Bob Rodgers, CEO of Street Grace.
“I fully support this bill aimed to help enhance OVC grant funding for organizations that support victims of human trafficking, said Christian Murphy, CEO of Wellspring Living. “By reducing the required match, organizations like ours across the country can focus on what matters most – providing the crucial services and resources that survivors deserve, ensuring they receive access to comprehensive care.”
“As CEO of 3Strands Global Foundation, I am proud to endorse Senator Jon Ossoff’s Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act. This pivotal legislation provides essential support to organizations aiding human trafficking victims by reducing administrative burdens and lowering grant match requirements, thereby empowering a broader range of organizations to make a significant impact,” said Ashlie M Bryant, CEO of 3Strands Global Foundation. “By increasing funding for training and technical assistance, this bill significantly enhances the capacity of service providers to deliver critical care. It represents a transformative step forward in our shared mission to support survivors and eradicate human trafficking.”
Earlier this year, Sens. Ossoff and Blackburn’s bipartisan REPORT Act was signed into law, which will strengthen the national tipline run by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to collect reports of online exploitation and requires evidence to be preserved for a longer period, giving law enforcement more time to investigate and prosecute crimes.
In April, Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan Preventing Child Trafficking Act with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) passed the U.S. Senate to help prevent child trafficking by strengthening coordination between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Click here to read the Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act.
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