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Bill115th CongressFiled May 16, 2017Crime and Law Enforcement
H.R. 2473

Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (May 23, 2017)

Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office for Victims of Crime within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publish a report on state safe harbor laws, including: (1) the impact of state safe harbor laws on victims of trafficking, and (2) best practices and recommendations on the development and implementation of effective state safe harbor laws.

(Sec. 3) The bill amends the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 to modify requirements with respect to the allocation of trafficking victim services grant funds for training and technical assistance. Specifically, it requires training and technical assistance to be provided in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, it broadens the areas of training and technical assistance to include, among others, investigating, prosecuting, and preventing human trafficking through a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach.

(Sec. 4) The National Institute of Justice must:

  • establish a working group to identify and recommend best practices for collecting data on human trafficking;
  • report on efforts to develop methodologies to determine the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States; and
  • coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, and private organizations, to survey survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States.

(Sec. 5) DOJ must report on efforts to increase mandatory restitution orders and asset forfeiture to provide restitution to victims of trafficking.

(Sec. 6) The bill encourages states to implement certain protections for victims of trafficking.

What just happenedMay 24, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2](R-MO)Sponsor
1 cosponsor1 D
Read on Congress.gov
1cosponsors3committees16actions1related bills18subjects
  1. May 24, 2017IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  2. May 23, 2017FloorH38800

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  3. May 23, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. May 23, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4484-4486)

  5. May 23, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4484-4486)

  6. May 23, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2473.

  7. May 23, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4484-4489)

  8. May 23, 2017FloorH30300

    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  9. May 18, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Judiciary Committee
  10. May 18, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  11. May 16, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

    Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
  12. May 16, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  13. May 16, 2017IntroReferralH11100-A

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  14. May 16, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Judiciary Committee
  15. May 16, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  16. May 16, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedMay 23, 201736

Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office for Victims of Crime within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publish a report on state safe harbor laws, including: (1) the impact of state safe harbor laws on victims of trafficking, and (2) best practices and recommendations on the development and implementation of effective state safe harbor laws.

(Sec. 3) The bill amends the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 to modify requirements with respect to the allocation of trafficking victim services grant funds for training and technical assistance. Specifically, it requires training and technical assistance to be provided in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, it broadens the areas of training and technical assistance to include, among others, investigating, prosecuting, and preventing human trafficking through a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach.

(Sec. 4) The National Institute of Justice must:

  • establish a working group to identify and recommend best practices for collecting data on human trafficking;
  • report on efforts to develop methodologies to determine the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States; and
  • coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, and private organizations, to survey survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States.

(Sec. 5) DOJ must report on efforts to increase mandatory restitution orders and asset forfeiture to provide restitution to victims of trafficking.

(Sec. 6) The bill encourages states to implement certain protections for victims of trafficking.

Introduced in HouseMay 16, 2017

Enforcing Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2017

This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide training and technical assistance to help federal, state, local, and tribal governments combat, and assist victims of, human trafficking.

The National Institute of Justice must:

  • establish a working group to identify best practices for collecting data on human trafficking;
  • report on efforts to develop a national methodology to determine the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States, best practices to determine the prevalence of human trafficking, and the effectiveness of current policies and procedures to address victims' needs; and
  • coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, and private organizations, to conduct a census of human trafficking survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States.

DOJ must report on efforts to increase mandatory restitution orders and asset forfeiture to provide restitution to victims of trafficking.

Finally, the bill encourages states to implement certain protections for victims of trafficking.

Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017 — Informed