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United States · Law · S

S. 178 (114th)

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

13 January 2015

Last action

29 May 2015 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 114-22.

Sponsors

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM], Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA], Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC], Sen. Thune, John [R-SD], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA], Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

Subjects

Immigration

Source updated

10 August 2026

Immigration

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 This bill amends the federal criminal code, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance protections and increase restitution for victims of human trafficking. The bill imposes an additional penalty of $5,000 on any non-indigent person or entity convicted of a crime involving: (1) peonage, slavery, or trafficking in persons; (2) sexual abuse; (3) sexual exploitation and other abuse of children; (4) transportation for illegal sexual activity; or (5) human smuggling in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill also establishes the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund and directs that revenues from the penalty be deposited into such Fund and used in FY2016-FY2020 to award grants or enhance victims' programming and provide services for victims of child pornography. The bill adds a prohibition against the use of amounts in the Fund, with specified exceptions, for any abortion or health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to issue a determination, based on credible evidence, that a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is a victim of a severe form of trafficking. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is authorized to award block grants to develop, improve, or expand domestic child human trafficking deterrence programs that assist law enforcement and other entities in rescuing and restoring the lives of trafficking victims, while investigating and prosecuting offenses involving child human trafficking. The bill expands the definition of "child abuse" under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to include human trafficking and the production of child pornography and expands criminal sanctions to include persons who patronize or solicit children for commercial sex acts (buyers). The bill increases compensation and restitution under the federal criminal code for victims of human trafficking and classifies producers of child pornography as engaged in illicit sexual conduct involving human trafficking. Combat Human Trafficking Act of 2015 Under this Act, DOJ is required to ensure that each DOJ anti-human trafficking program includes technical training on investigating and prosecuting persons who obtain, patronize, or solicit commercial sex acts involving a person subject to severe forms of trafficking in persons. The Act also requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics of DOJ to prepare and submit annual reports on state enforcement of human trafficking prohibitions. The bill directs DOJ to: (1) ensure that all task forces and working groups within the Innocence Lost National Initiative engage in activities, programs, or operations to increase the investigative capabilities of law enforcement personnel in investigating and prosecuting persons who patronize or solicit children for sex; and (2) audit grants awarded under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. Finally, the bill imposes restrictions and reporting requirements on DOJ conferences that use more than $20,000 in DOJ funds and prohibits grant recipients under this Act from lobbying any representative of DOJ or a state, local, or tribal government regarding the award of grant funding.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 13 January 2015

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S205-209)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 13 January 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 24 February 2015

    Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-883.

    Source: Committee

  4. 26 February 2015

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  5. 2 March 2015

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 26.

    Source: Calendars

  6. 2 March 2015

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Source: Committee

  7. 2 March 2015

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Source: Committee

  8. 10 March 2015

    Reported

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1349-1361, H1366-1377; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S1349-1356)

    Source: Floor

  9. 11 March 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1403-1423, S1423-1430)

    Source: Floor

  10. 12 March 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1456-1470, S1474-1475)

    Source: Floor

  11. 16 March 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1517-1522)

    Source: Floor

  12. 17 March 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1561-1565, S1565-1575)

    Source: Floor

  13. 18 March 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1596-1625)

    Source: Floor

  14. 19 March 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1638-1657)

    Source: Floor

  15. 14 April 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2161-2163)

    Source: Floor

  16. 16 April 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2229-2234, S2234-2239)

    Source: Floor

  17. 20 April 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2260)

    Source: Floor

  18. 21 April 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2286-2288, S2288-2295)

    Source: Floor

  19. 22 April 2015

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2312-2318, S2319-2348)

    Source: Floor

  20. 22 April 2015

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 99 - 0. Record Vote Number: 163.(text: CR S2338-2348)

    Source: Floor

  21. 23 April 2015

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  22. 23 April 2015

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  23. 23 April 2015

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  24. 18 May 2015

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  25. 18 May 2015

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 178.

    Source: Floor

  26. 18 May 2015

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3266-3284)

    Source: Floor

  27. 18 May 2015

    Floor

    Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  28. 19 May 2015

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  29. 19 May 2015

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 244). (text: CR 5/18/2015 H3266-3277)

    Source: Floor

  30. 19 May 2015

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 244).(text: CR 5/18/2015 H3266-3277)

    Source: Floor

  31. 19 May 2015

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3329-3330)

    Source: Floor

  32. 20 May 2015

    Floor

    Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 47, enrollment corrections on S. 178 have been made.

    Source: Floor

  33. 21 May 2015

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  34. 21 May 2015

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  35. 29 May 2015

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 114-22.

    Source: President

  36. 29 May 2015

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  37. 29 May 2015

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

22 April 2015 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 178 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 99 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 1

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

15 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 29 May 2015

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 29 May 2015

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 29 May 2015

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  • Passed House without amendment

    summary · EN · 19 May 2015

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 22 April 2015

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 22 April 2015

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 22 April 2015

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 2 March 2015

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 2 March 2015

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 2 March 2015

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 January 2015

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 January 2015

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 13 January 2015

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