Bill Summary
The **Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025** is a legislative measure focused on combating child trafficking in the United States. It mandates the Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Department of Justice, to continue implementing specific recommendations from a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report published on December 11, 2023.
The act outlines two primary objectives:
1. **Collaboration and Strategy Development**: It directs the Office for Victims of Crime to work in coordination with the Office on Trafficking in Persons to develop and implement effective strategies aimed at preventing child trafficking and providing support to survivors. This includes adopting best practices for collaboration as referenced in the GAO report.
2. **Performance Goals**: The act emphasizes the establishment of clear, achievable performance goals for anti-trafficking programs, which should be objective, measurable, and based on baseline data from existing programs.
Additionally, the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime is required to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the act's enactment, detailing the actions taken to implement these anti-trafficking measures. This legislation highlights the government's commitment to addressing the serious issue of child trafficking through systematic and accountable strategies.
Possible Impacts
The "Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025" could have several significant impacts on individuals and communities. Here are three examples:
1. **Enhanced Support for Victims**: The Act mandates the implementation of anti-trafficking recommendations that aim to improve support for child trafficking survivors. This could lead to better access to counseling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services for victims, helping them to recover and reintegrate into society. As a result, survivors may experience improved mental health outcomes and a greater chance of leading productive lives after their traumatic experiences.
2. **Increased Public Awareness and Prevention Efforts**: By requiring coordinated efforts between the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Trafficking in Persons, the Act aims to raise public awareness about child trafficking. This could lead to educational campaigns in schools and communities, informing parents, children, and educators about the signs of trafficking and how to report suspicious activities. Increased awareness can empower individuals to take preventative measures and foster a community-oriented approach to safeguarding children.
3. **Data-Driven Program Development**: The Act emphasizes the establishment of measurable performance goals and targets for anti-trafficking programs based on baseline data. This focus on data-driven strategies can lead to more effective allocation of resources and improved outcomes for anti-trafficking initiatives. Communities may see more targeted interventions that address specific local trafficking issues, ultimately leading to a decrease in child trafficking incidents and a more effective response system for those at risk.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1049 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1049
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice
to continue implementing the anti-trafficking recommendations of the
Government Accountability Office and to report to Congress regarding
such implementation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Child Trafficking Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINED TERM.
In this Act, the term ``anti-trafficking recommendations'' means
the recommendations set forth in the report of the Government
Accountability Office entitled ``Child Trafficking: Addressing
Challenges to Public Awareness and Survivor Support'', which was
published on December 11, 2023.
SEC. 3. CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS FOR
CHILDREN.
(a) In General.--The Office for Victims of Crime of the Department
of Justice, in coordination with the Office on Trafficking in Persons
of the Administration for Children and Families, shall continue
implementing the anti-trafficking recommendations by--
(1) working together, in accordance with the leading
collaboration practices referenced in GAO-24-106038, to develop
and implement strategies to prevent child trafficking and
support child trafficking survivors; and
(2) establishing achievable performance goals and targets
for anti-trafficking programs for children that reflect leading
practices, such as being objective, measurable, and
quantifiable, using baseline data from program grantees.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime
shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate
and Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that
explicitly describes the steps taken pursuant to subsection (a).
Passed the Senate December 16, 2025.
Attest:
Secretary.
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1049
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice
to continue implementing the anti-trafficking recommendations of the
Government Accountability Office and to report to Congress regarding
such implementation.