Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick
A bipartisan bill sponsored on May 29 by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) aims to increase the role of the United States financial industry in combating human trafficking.
“Human trafficking isn’t a distant issue — it’s happening in our communities, often in plain sight. And too often, traffickers are able to move their profits through legitimate financial systems unchecked. That has to end,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “This bipartisan legislation strengthens collaborative efforts to keep these criminals from using the global financial apparatus to fuel their heinous activities.”
The congressman introduced the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2025, H.R. 3629, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA), to end human traffickers’ access to the global financial system and bolster the ability of law enforcement and financial institutions to identify, track, and disrupt illicit activity tied to human exploitation, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Fitzpatrick’s staff.
If enacted, H.R. 3629 would direct federal banking regulators to work with law enforcement and financial institutions to target the financial flows of human trafficking operations, and expand coordination between the private sector, government agencies, and financial crimes experts.
Additionally, the measure would require the Financial Institutions Examination Council to improve training and examinations aimed at detecting trafficking-linked transactions, and require the Interagency Task Force to monitor and combat trafficking in persons to evaluate and recommend ways to strengthen anti-money laundering frameworks across the public and private sectors, the summary says.
“Banks and financial institutions must implement effective screening mechanisms to combat human trafficking around the world,” said Rep. Keating. “The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act would require … recommendations to strengthen and better equip financial institutions with the tools they need to combat this horrible practice.”
“I’m working with Congressman Keating to move this bill forward, halt traffickers’ access to financial institutions, and stop their ability to exploit the vulnerable,” added Rep. Fitzpatrick. “This is about putting our financial system to work in the fight for justice.”