H.R. 4113: Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

HR4113 is a reauthorization bill, which means its core job is to keep existing anti-trafficking programs running and adjust how they work. The biggest time change is that the Program to End Modern Slavery would be extended from 2020 to 2029, and the law would set reporting deadlines for that program at not later than September 30, 2025, and September 30, 2029. It also says grants under that program must be awarded on a competitive basis and go through regular congressional notification procedures.

The bill also sharpens pressure on foreign governments. It replaces the term "special watch list" with "Tier 2 watch list" throughout the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and related laws. Countries can be placed on that list if the estimated number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or significantly increasing without proportional concrete action, and if they fail to show increasing efforts such as more investigations, prosecutions, convictions, victim assistance, and reduced government complicity. It also changes the downgrade rule so it applies to countries that remain on the Tier 2 watch list for more than 2 years immediately after the country consecutively meets the triggering criteria.

Another major piece is foreign aid. The bill says the President must make sure U.S. foreign assistance does not contribute to conditions that increase trafficking risks for people in "heightened vulnerability" after natural or manmade disasters, and must build protections into the planning and execution of activities. It also clarifies what counts as "nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance" when aid is withheld from central governments that do not meet minimum anti-trafficking standards or fail to make significant efforts. That term excludes categories such as narcotics and law enforcement aid, disaster assistance, antiterrorism aid, health programs, Food for Peace, refugee and migration assistance, and some NGO or private-partner programs for food security or global health. The President must identify any additional exempted assistance not later than October 1 of each fiscal year.

The bill also updates reporting and oversight. Annual trafficking reports would have to include trafficking for the purpose of organ removal and what governments are doing to prevent, identify, and eliminate it. A printed hard copy of the annual Trafficking in Persons report would have to be made available to the public. The Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking would be required to report to the Secretary of State. On money, the bill authorizes $23,092,000 for each fiscal year 2025 through 2029, authorizes $111,000,000 for each fiscal year 2025 through 2029 for other programs, and caps funding for Programs to End Modern Slavery at $37,500,000 per fiscal year.