House of Representatives Called on to Immediately Pass HR 1144 to Prevent Human Trafficking and Bring Hope to Survivors
Joint Statement by Alliance to End Human Trafficking and National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
The Alliance to End Human Trafficking (AEHT) and the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd reaffirm their strong support for the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act and urge its swift and clean passage by the House of Representatives.
For 26 years, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act has provided the foundation for the United States’ response to human trafficking by supporting prevention, protecting survivors, and strengthening accountability. Reauthorization through H.R. 1144 is essential to sustain these efforts in the face of evolving trafficking dynamics, including online exploitation and the increased vulnerability of children and individuals facing economic instability.
This legislation reinforces a comprehensive, survivor-informed approach. It prioritizes prevention, expands access to critical services, and strengthens coordination across federal agencies and community-based organizations. It also ensures that the voices and experiences of survivors remain central to policy and program design.
“Representing religious sisters throughout the United States, our two organizations are incredibly grateful to Congressman Smith for his lifelong leadership to spotlight and put an end to human trafficking,” said Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. “We stand with the Congressman in urging the House to quickly pass the non-partisan Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act, which is foundational to our human trafficking laws and also is quite targeted in its approach to prevention and support. The bill, for instance, would focus education campaigns in areas of high-intensity child sex or labor trafficking while also assisting survivors with housing and wrap-around services who have specific needs and extenuating circumstances.”
“Reauthorizing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act is essential to sustaining a comprehensive, prevention-focused response to human trafficking,” said Katie Boller Gosewisch, Executive Director of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking. “H.R. 1144 strengthens the systems that protect those most at risk while ensuring survivors have access to the services and support needed for long-term stability and healing.”
The Alliance to End Human Trafficking and the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd remain committed to working alongside partners, advocates, and policymakers to advance solutions that address root causes and prevent exploitation before it occurs. Reauthorizing H.R. 1144 is a necessary step to uphold the United States’ commitment to human dignity and to ensure that prevention remains at the forefront of national efforts to end human trafficking while embracing survivors and their journey to healing and justice.
About AEHT and NAC:
AEHT and NAC are dedicated to eradicating human trafficking through advocacy, collaboration, and education. They work tirelessly to bring awareness to the issue and support legislative measures that protect and empower the most vulnerable in society.
Alliance to End Human Trafficking was founded in 2013 by a group of Catholic Sisters committed to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors. They created a national network of resources and support that includes many different congregations of women religious and mission-aligned partners. Today, this member-based organization has grown to include more than 115 congregations and another 100+ individuals and organizations spread throughout the United States. AEHT is also the U.S. member of Talitha Kum, the international network of consecrated life working to end human trafficking.
The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd educates and advocates on social justice issues for the transformation of society to the benefit of all people reflecting the spirituality, history and mission of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. NAC advocates at the Federal level for people living in poverty, immigrants, survivors of human trafficking, survivors of domestic abuse, and other vulnerable populations. NAC reflects the spirituality, history and mission of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (better known as the Sisters of the Good Shepherd). The sisters and their agencies work in solidarity with the disenfranchised – particularly families, women and children – who often are forgotten, left-behind or dismissed.
CONTACT: Waed Al-Nimri, AEHT Communications Director