2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Extend An Additional Fine Of $5,000 On
Individuals Convicted Of Human Trafficking And Sexual Abuse And
Exploitation Crimes Through September 30th, 2022. In September 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that
would "extend for 19 days, to Sept. 30, 2022, an additional fine of
$5,000 on individuals convicted of crimes related to human trafficking
and sexual abuse and exploitation. The fines are deposited in a Health
and Human Services Department fund to assist victims of domestic
trafficking." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 415-0, thus the bill was sent to President Biden for final
signage. President Biden signed the bill and it ultimately became law.
[House Vote 421,
9/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/13/22;
Congressional Actions, S.
4785]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Reauthorize Human Trafficking Prevention
Funding Through FY 2028. In February 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for ,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill, as amended, that would
reauthorize various programs and activities under a 2000 trafficking
victims and violence prevention law through fiscal 2028, including
$116.4 million annually for State Department assistance for human
trafficking prevention efforts. It also would provide, annually from
fiscal years 2024 through 2028, $25 million for assistance to victims
of trafficking, $77 million to the attorney general for assistance to
victims and $22 million for the U.S. Agency for International
Development. It also would rename the Health and Human Services
Department's human trafficking education grant program as the
'Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Prevention Education Grants
Program' and set new guidelines for selecting grantees. It also would
permit HHS to implement a Human Trafficking Survivors Employment and
Education Program to prevent the re-exploitation of trafficking
victims." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 414 to 11. [House Vote 41,
2/13/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/13/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5856]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize Annual Funding Through FY 2026
For International Human Trafficking Prevention Efforts, Awareness
Programs And Victims Assistance, The Human Trafficking Hotline, And To
Make Passports Of Registered Child Sex Offenders To Alert Destination
Nations Of Their Travels. In July 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Frederick Douglass Trafficking
Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022, which
would "include various provisions related to preventing and addressing
human trafficking. For existing programs related to human trafficking,
it would authorize, annually for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, $89.5
million for State Department international human trafficking prevention
efforts; $77 million for Justice Department aid to victims; $25
million for Health and Human Services Department awareness programs and
victim assistance, including $5 million for the national human
trafficking hotline; $16 million for the State Department Office to
Monitor and Combat Trafficking; and $6 million for the State Department
to mark the passports of registered child sex offenders to alert
destination nations in advance of the individual's intent to travel to
that nation. Among other provisions, it would require rename an HHS
grant program as the 'Frederick Douglass Human Trafficking Prevention
Education Grants Program' and require the program to prioritize local
educational agencies serving areas with high rates of child sex or labor
trafficking; authorize an HHS program to support employment and
education of human trafficking victims; and reauthorize U.S. advisory
council on human trafficking through Sept. 30, 2031." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote 401-20, thus the bill was
sent to Senate. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill.
[House Vote 388,
7/26/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/26/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6552]