STOP Human Trafficking Act

This Act may be cited as the Supporting Transportation Operations that Prevent Human Trafficking Act or the STOP Human Trafficking Act.

The Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) shall carry out this Act by establishing or building upon existing counter-trafficking research efforts, including—

(1) studies carried out by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, including the Human Trafficking in Transportation Common Interest Group Steering Committee and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (20–121A) project on Countering Human Trafficking: A Toolkit for State DOTs; and

(2) prevalence studies and multimodal research projects.

Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a comprehensive report to Congress that summarizes the findings of past, current, and ongoing research in the area of combating human trafficking in connection with transportation operations.

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop—

(1) a central database that tracks the counter-trafficking efforts of transportation organizations that have signed the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Pledge, including tips reported, policies, training, public awareness, and partnerships;

(2) mode-specific, counter-trafficking policies that include partnerships, reporting protocols, training, public awareness, research and information-sharing, and victim and survivor support;

(3) a central database that tracks human trafficking due diligence and prevention laws, resources, sample policies, and tools to support the prevention and mitigation of forced labor in supply chains for goods and services across the transportation industry; and

(4) a counter-trafficking policy template that includes a zero-tolerance approach for transportation organizations to adopt and post on their respective websites.

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with representatives of—

(1) the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking;

(2) the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative; and

(3) the Blue Lightning Initiative.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(1) update the Department of Transportation’s multimodal counter-trafficking training and awareness campaign—

(A) to encompass recent best practices, including survivor-informed, trauma-informed, and mode-specific signage and resources, that—

(i) support informed decision-making and self-determination;

(ii) prioritize feelings of safety and security;

(iii) avoid retraumatization; and

(iv) draw upon knowledge of culturally based values, traditions, customs, language, and behavior; and

(B) to address potential technological barriers to identification and reporting; and

(2) develop—

(A) print and digital modal pocket cards and toolkits;

(B) multilingual prevention focused awareness materials for displaced and vulnerable populations;

(C) mode-specific indicators of human trafficking beyond individuals being subjected to human trafficking to include suspected traffickers;

(D) standardized checklists to be used by transportation employees and law enforcement with indicators of human trafficking, including modal indicators, for each mode of transportation; and

(E) evaluation tools for transportation stakeholders—

(i) to ensure survivor-informed training objectives are met; and

(ii) to measure public awareness campaigns by measuring outputs and outcomes.

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with representatives of—

(1) the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking;

(2) the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative; and

(3) the Blue Lightning Initiative.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit a report to Congress that includes a plan for how the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security will integrate efforts for all modal applications into the Blue Lightning Initiative and create similar mode-specific partnerships for other transportation sectors.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement an ongoing public awareness campaign that distributes public safety media messages, posters, digital media messages, and other media messages through States, partner organizations, and appropriate media outlets, such as social medial platforms, television, and radio, to encourage increased awareness regarding combating human trafficking along vulnerable routes, cities, and locations during major events, including conventions, trade shows, sporting events, concerts, and other events, such as the FIFA World Cup 26, 2028 Summer Olympics, and America250.

The Secretary shall periodically update the materials referred to in subsection (a).

The Secretary shall consult with law enforcement, local governments, and public and private stakeholders involved in combating human trafficking during major events.

Not later than 90 days after the establishment of the public awareness campaign pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that includes a plan for how the Department of Transportation will facilitate counter trafficking pre-departure public service announcements for travelers and individuals subjected to human trafficking at all transportation agencies supported by the Department of Transportation.

There is authorized to be appropriated, for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2031, $10,000,000, which shall be used to carry out this section and sections 2 through 4.

The Secretary shall establish, within the Office of the Secretary, a grant program that awards grants to multi-modal transportation stakeholders to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts.

Of the amounts appropriated for grants under this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants to entities described in paragraph (3)(A), which grant funds shall be expended to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts, including by—

(A) coordinating human trafficking prevention efforts across multimodal transportation operations within a community; and

(B) accomplishing the best practices and recommendations provided by the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking.

The Secretary may award grant funds reserved pursuant to paragraph (2) to—

(i) nonprofit organizations that combat human trafficking through transportation stakeholders;

(ii) transit operators;

(iii) passenger rail operators;

(iv) airport authorities;

(v) maritime and port operators, including cruise lines;

(vi) commercial motor vehicle operators;

(vii) rideshare, taxi and limousine operators; and

(viii) any other entities deemed appropriate by the Secretary.

In awarding grant funds reserved pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall—

(i) give priority in grant amounts to entities referred to in subparagraph (A) that serve regions with a higher prevalence of human trafficking; and

(ii) take into consideration the effect the use of such grants would have on surrounding areas.

In awarding grant funds reserved pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consult with the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking to determine the amounts to be distributed to each recipient to ensure the best use of such funds.

There is authorized to be appropriated, for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2031, $10,000,000, which shall be used to carry out the grant program authorized under subsection (a).