Congress 115 - HR 2473 - Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017

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Cosponsors

Topics

Child health Child safety and welfare Congressional oversight Crime and Law Enforcement Crime victims Crimes against children Crimes against women Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Criminal procedure and sentencing Emergency medical services and trauma care Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Human trafficking Juvenile crime and gang violence Labor standards Law enforcement administration and funding Sex offenses State and local government operations Women's health

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Summary

Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office for Victims of Crime within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publish a report on state safe harbor laws, including: (1) the impact of state safe harbor laws on victims of trafficking, and (2) best practices and recommendations on the development and implementation of effective state safe harbor laws.

(Sec. 3) The bill amends the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 to modify requirements with respect to the allocation of trafficking victim services grant funds for training and technical assistance. Specifically, it requires training and technical assistance to be provided in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, it broadens the areas of training and technical assistance to include, among others, investigating, prosecuting, and preventing human trafficking through a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach.

(Sec. 4) The National Institute of Justice must:

establish a working group to identify and recommend best practices for collecting data on human trafficking;
report on efforts to develop methodologies to determine the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States; and
coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, and private organizations, to survey survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States.

(Sec. 5) DOJ must report on efforts to increase mandatory restitution orders and asset forfeiture to provide restitution to victims of trafficking.

(Sec. 6) The bill encourages states to implement certain protections for victims of trafficking.

Actions

May 24, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 23, 2017

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
May 23, 2017

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 23, 2017

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4484-4486)
May 23, 2017

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4484-4486)
May 23, 2017

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2473.
May 23, 2017

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4484-4489)
May 23, 2017

Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 18, 2017

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 18, 2017

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 16, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
May 16, 2017

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 16, 2017

Introduced in House

Amendments

Related Bills