The Frederick Douglass Bill, which could bolster the fight against human trafficking worldwide, has a new co-sponsor as a result of Hope for Justice’s tireless campaigning work. We have been a key stakeholder in the shaping of The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2021, and moving it through the US House of Representatives, with the hope of it being made law by President Joe Biden.
Thanks to our continued efforts, Rep Maria Salazar (R-Florida) has become the latest co-sponsor of the Bill, joining 14 other co-sponsors from both political parties, including Reps Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) and Karen Bass (D-California). Having another advocate for the Bill is a real step forward, but we still need your help to ensure that as many representatives as possible get behind the Bill, and help it become law.
Will you write your representative and ask them to vote in favor and to consider co-sponsoring? We have drafted a template letter for you (Word doc, 23kb, via WeTransfer download link) for you to complete, and then mail or email to your representative.
The Bill: fighting human trafficking around the world
The Bill provides recommendations for how Congress can help combat human trafficking at home and around the world. Hope for Justice provided recommendations and expert insight, which are included in the Bill. The legislation reauthorizes the bipartisan Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which was signed 21 years ago on October 28, to protect victims of human trafficking, and to hold traffickers and any other parties complicit with the crime to account.
The new Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on September 3, coinciding with the 183rd anniversary of abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ escape from slavery. Douglass, who the Bill is named after, was at the forefront of the original movement to abolish slavery and then to end the Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and racism.
You can read our summary of the Bill by clicking here (PDF, 63kb, via WeTransfer download link) or the full text here.
Follow the Bill’s progress here.
