Based out of our Washington D.C. headquarters, Polaris Project's U.S. Policy Program works to advance state and federal policy related to the crime of human trafficking, providing services to victims, training state employees, and educating the public.  We engage in direct lobbying and grassroots outreach.  Polaris Project’s legislative successes include extensive work on the reauthorization of the Federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and advancing state policy across the country. 

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Federal Legislative Advocacy and Resources

Since the launch of our U.S. Policy Program in 2004, Polaris Project has played an active role in the reauthorizations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), the central federal legislation on human trafficking.  We continue to provide recommendations to policymakers, serve as a resource for advocacy organizations, and lobby and testify before Congress.  Our policy advocacy team also works to incorporate anti-trafficking policy language in other relevant federal bills.  
 

State Legislative Advocacy and Resources

Polaris Project's U.S. Policy Program is active in states across the country, by working to strengthen existing laws and pass new anti-trafficking legislation to crack down on traffickers, create and provide resources and assistance to all victims, implement training for law enforcement, prosecutors and judges, and create “safe harbor” laws for minor victims.  We track state legislation throughout the country and work closely with legislators and their staff and in partnership with local advocacy groups and coalitions, and with individuals, to support locally-led anti-trafficking legislative efforts.  Check out how your state rates, and then join us in our efforts to crack down on traffickers and assist victims.

Additional Resources

In an advocacy and technical assistance capacity, Polaris Project's U.S. Policy Program provides support to federal, state, and local policy-makers through briefings, feedback on policy proposals, and a selection of policy resources, including:

• Up to date tracking of all pending state and federal legislation
• Comprehensive Model State Anti-Trafficking Legislation
• Model Ordinances on targeted issues
• Analyses of proposed state and federal anti-trafficking legislation
• Analyses of state criminal statutes on human trafficking and related crimes
• Meetings, trainings, and Q&A sessions with policy-makers
• Rapid response resources developed for State legislators upon request
• International Law and Policy Resources  
• U.S. Archived Policy Alerts: State and Federal Anti-Trafficking Legislation