House Approves Significant Increases in Programs to Combat Violence Against Women and Sex Trafficking

Washington, D.C. – The House last week passed legislation with significant resources aimed at reducing violence against women and fighting sex trafficking.

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) said the FY 2015 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations subcommittee bill includes $429.5 million for Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution programs, which is an $12.5 million increase above FY 2014 and $7 million above the president’s request. 

“This is a significant bill for reducing violence against women and strengthening services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking,” said Wolf, noting that the bill includes funding above the current fiscal year and above the president’s request for these programs.

The measure also builds on Wolf’s efforts to fight sex trafficking by providing a historic increase for Victims of Trafficking grants, a fourfold increase of $34.8 million above the president’s request for a total of $45.3 million. 

In addition, the bill directs the U.S. Attorney General to host a national conference on sex trafficking with representation from governors, U.S. Attorneys, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and other appropriate government agencies and offices.  The objective is to elevate national awareness of the scale and prevalence of trafficking in the United States and encourage innovative efforts to combat trafficking.   

The bill also continues to require each U.S. Attorney to lead an anti-trafficking task force, despite efforts by the Obama Administration to end the practice.  The U.S. Attorneys are expected to adopt a proactive stance on initiating and pursuing investigations, including of persons or entities that carry out or facilitate trafficking through the Internet via online classified ads.    

Wolf said the bill also addresses the DNA Testing Backlog and the Sexual Assault Kit Backlog, providing $125 million, $25 million above the president’s request, for DNA testing and $36 million, $1 million above the president’s request, for the sexual assault kit backlog.

“The problem of DNA testing backlogs at crime labs and at law enforcement agencies nationwide demands action,” Wolf said.

Wolf is a longtime leader on the issue of combating human trafficking. For more on Wolf’s work to combat human trafficking, click here.