{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415822", "Fighting to end modern-day slaverySmith marks 188th anniversary of Frederick Douglass\u2019 escape from slavery\u2014the namesake of his anti-human trafficking legislation", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a longtime leader in the global fight against human trafficking, today commemorated the 188th anniversary of famed abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass\u2019 escape from slavery on September 3rd, 1838.\n\n\u201cToday, we mark 188 years since former slave Frederick Douglass\u2014one of the most influential and awe-inspiring figures in American history\u2014courageously self-emancipated from the shackles of slavery,\u201d said Smith, a staunch and prolific human rights lawmaker.\n\n\u201cAfter attaining freedom in New York City, Frederick dedicated the rest of his life to the noble cause of abolishing slavery and helping other enslaved individuals break free from bondage. In recognition and appreciation of Frederick\u2019s lifelong fight for freedom, I have continued to name America\u2019s key reauthorization bill to combat human trafficking\u2014the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 (HR 1144)\u2014in his honor.\n\n\u201cHR 1144 reaffirms and strengthens the United States\u2019 commitment to combating and ending modern-day slavery, enhancing programs and creating initiatives to protect survivors, prosecute traffickers, and prevent human trafficking from happening in the first place,\u201d continued Smith, the author of five major anti-human trafficking laws, including the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) (PL 106-386).\n\n\u201cInspired by Frederick\u2019s extensive work to help newly emancipated African Americans acclimate to their free lives, HR 1144\u2014which was drafted with input from Frederick\u2019s great-great-great grandson, Kenneth B. Morris Jr.\u2014assists survivors during their transitions out of trafficking situations.\n\n\u201cThis bill creates a wrap-around approach to provide survivors with safe housing, mental health support, education services, life skills training, and employment assistance,\u201d noted Smith, the Co-Chair of the newly formed Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection and Prevention Caucus.\n\n\u201cAs Frederick once wisely said, \u2018If there is no struggle, there is no progress.\u2019 Each and every day\u2014and especially today\u2014we honor Frederick\u2019s memory and continue the struggle against the global scourge of human trafficking and modern-day slavery.\u201d\n\nHR 1144, developed in close collaboration with several survivor-leaders, upgrades and expands the U.S. government\u2019s toolkit for fighting human trafficking by reauthorizing more than $1.2 billion in federal funding over the next five years. Once enacted, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 will:\n\nReauthorize and bolster anti-human trafficking programs across numerous federal agencies, including the State Department, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services;\n\nEnsure robust prosecutions for human trafficking crimes, along with thorough investigations and jail time commensurate with the crime;\n\nAuthorize the first-ever housing program for survivors, ensuring wrap-around case management, including education, life skills training, mental health services, and employment assistance;\n\nContinue funding the Angel Watch Center, a program mandated by Smith\u2019s International Megan\u2019s Law (PL 114-119) that prevents convicted child sex offenders from exploiting and abusing children abroad;\n\nTrain instructors, teachers, and students within elementary and secondary schools, in an age-appropriate manner, on building situational awareness, self-esteem, and resources to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking; and\n\nStrengthen partnerships among federal, state, and local authorities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415822"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9605656377971172, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}