Federal Legislative Advocacy and Resources

Polaris Project lobbies Congress on federal legislation intended to hold human traffickers accountable, increase protection and services available to victims, appropriate funds for anti-human trafficking efforts, and improve the federal infrastructure to combat human trafficking. Please review the federal legislation currently pending and join us in taking action!

Federal Policy on Human Trafficking

There are two primary federal laws that address human trafficking: the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and The Mann Act. An additional tool is the PROTECT Act.

• The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)
  The TVPA was enacted in 2000 and was the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking. The law provided a three-pronged approach to combating human trafficking: prevention through public awareness programs and a monitoring and sanctions program led by the State Department; protection through a visa and services for foreign national victims; and prosecution through new federal crimes. This comprehensive legislation was reauthorized in 2003, 2005, 2008, and is up for reauthorization in 2011. The most recent TVPA text can be read HERE and a summary of its provisions can be found HERE. For more information on the key provisions of the 2003, 2005, 2008 TVPA please click HERE.

• The Mann Act
  The Federal Mann Act (enacted in 1910 and recently modernized) was not originally passed to deal with human trafficking; however, it can apply in some situations. The Mann Act makes it a felony to knowingly transport any person in interstate or foreign commerce for prostitution, or for any sexual activity for which a person can be charged with a criminal offense. A person also violates the Act if he persuades, induces, entices, or coerces an individual to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution or other immoral purposes, or attempts to do so. This law is frequently used as an effective tool to prosecute sex traffickers. Read the text of the Mann Act.

• The PROTECT Act
  The PROTECT Act was enacted in 2003 to combat the sexual exploitation of children. Among other things, the Act requires courts to impose mandatory sentences for sex offenders and makes it a crime to travel abroad to engage in sexual conduct with minors. The Act amends the criminal code to increase supervision of convicted sex offenders for specific felonies. In addition, the Act creates minimum standards and grants for states to expand their Amber Alert system for missing children. Read the text of the Protect Act