Congress passes measure to increase funding to fight trafficking!
In mid-December Congress passed an omnibus appropriations bill for FY2010, covering six agencies (Transportation-HUD; Commerce-Justice-Science; Financial Services; Labor-HHS; Military Construction-VA; and State-Foreign Operations). The bill included needed funding increases to fight human trafficking and provide services to survivors.
Some of the agency highlights include:
- Human Trafficking Prosecution United (HTPU) within the Department of Justice (DOJ): 5.3 Million or 50% increase from last year to improve the units ability to tackle the 600% increase in cases over the past 4 years.
- Human Smuggling and Trafficking Prosecution Unit in DOJ: Saw their budget increase by 25% from 2009-2010.
- Victim Service: Department of Health and Human Services and other related agencies were granted 12.5 million for victim assistance, a 25% increase from last year.
The Not For Sale Campaign is a proud member of the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST), a coalition of human trafficking organizations which lead efforts to secure the unprecedented increase in funding for victim services and programs to combat trafficking. Over the past year ATEST members worked together to connect with congressional members and their staff to support the funding levels authorized by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.
ATEST is a project of the Silicon Valley-based philanthropic organization Humanity United.
