Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) announced his support for H.R. 5150, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2021. Introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith (NJ-04), this bipartisan legislation would provide $1.6 billion over five years to reauthorize anti-trafficking programs, increase support for survivors, and enhance the prosecution of criminals. This whole-of-government approach to fight human trafficking spans the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of Labor, and Department of Education.

“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery – plain and simple,” said Rep. Burgess Owens. “On top of reauthorizing vital funds to combat human trafficking, this commonsense bill expands our toolbox for enforcing the law, supporting victims, and prosecuting the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”

The full text of H.R. 5150 can be found here.

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