STOP Human Trafficking Act
Sponsored By: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
Introduced
Summary
Expand DOT anti-trafficking efforts across all transportation modes. This bill would centralize data and standards, fund multimodal training and public outreach, and create a grants program to help transportation stakeholders spot and prevent trafficking and forced labor in supply chains.
Show full summary
- Transportation workers and operators would get standardized indicators, training tools, and reporting templates to help identify victims, plus integration with existing initiatives like the Blue Lightning Initiative.
- Survivors and communities would see expanded public awareness campaigns timed to major events and pre-departure announcements aimed at preventing exploitation and improving victim identification.
- Agencies and local partners would gain a multimodal grants program and research funding, with priority for regions with higher trafficking prevalence and required consultation with advisory bodies to guide allocations.
*Authorizes up to $10 million per year for research, training, and information sharing and $10 million per year for grants for fiscal years 2027–2031, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Public anti-trafficking awareness campaign
If enacted, DOT would start an ongoing public awareness campaign within one year. The campaign would use posters, social media, TV, radio, and partners to warn about trafficking on vulnerable routes and at major events (for example FIFA World Cup 2026, the 2028 Olympics, and America250). Within 90 days of starting the campaign, DOT would send Congress a plan for pre-departure public service announcements at DOT-supported transportation agencies. DOT would also update the campaign materials to be survivor‑informed and address tech barriers, and would update them periodically.
Grants for transportation anti-trafficking programs
If enacted, DOT would create a Human Trafficking Prevention Grants program inside the Office of the Secretary. The program would award money to transportation stakeholders for awareness, training, and prevention. The bill would authorize $10 million each year for fiscal years 2027–2031 for these grants. Each year $10 million of grants would be reserved for listed transport entities and the Secretary would consult an advisory committee and prioritize regions with higher trafficking.
DOT and DHS integration plan and research
If enacted, DOT would fund and coordinate counter‑trafficking research and report to Congress within three years. DOT and DHS would also send a joint report within one year showing how to integrate mode-specific apps and partnerships into the Blue Lightning Initiative.
Funding for DOT research and outreach
If enacted, DOT would be authorized $10 million each year for fiscal years 2027–2031 to carry out research, information sharing, training, and public awareness on human trafficking. Congress would still need to appropriate the money. The funds would support the campaign and related DOT activities in sections 2 through 4.
New DOT tools, databases, and training
If enacted, DOT would build two central databases within two years. DOT would also give mode-specific counter-trafficking policy templates within two years. Within one year, DOT would create pocket cards, toolkits, multilingual awareness materials, checklists, and evaluation tools for transportation workers and law enforcement.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Catherine Cortez Masto
NV • D
Cosponsors
Marsha Blackburn
TN • R
Sponsored 11/5/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 11/5/2025
John Cornyn
TX • R
Sponsored 11/5/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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