U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) recently unveiled a bipartisan bill that would bolster the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime by providing more flexibility in funding for programs serving human trafficking victims.
The Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking Act, S. 4640, which Sen. Blackburn cosponsored on July 9 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), also would cut red tape to better respond to the needs of service organizations working with victims of human trafficking, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“The modern-day slave trade of human trafficking is a $150 billion a year global industry that is devastating our communities,” Sen. Blackburn said. “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.”
Additionally, an enacted S. 4640 would help increase training and technical assistance for grantees to help organizations receive federal funding, the summary says.
“Human trafficking in Georgia and nationwide is a crisis,” said Sen. Ossoff. “That’s why Sen. Blackburn and I are introducing this bipartisan bill to strengthen support and protections for victims of trafficking.”
S. 4640 has garnered endorsements from several organizations that support victims of human trafficking, including Hope for Justice, Street Grace, Wellspring Living, the 3Strands Global Foundation, Polaris, and Thistle Farms.