Bill Overview
Title: Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2021
Description: This bill sets forth provisions intended to help assess the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States and improve support for victims of trafficking and service providers. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must work with federal entities and other stakeholders to do the following: establish a working group to improve the collection and analysis of data on the incidence of trafficking, report on efforts to develop methodologies to determine the prevalence of human trafficking, and survey survivors to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking and improve services for victims. DOJ must also report on efforts to increase restitution to victims of trafficking.
Sponsors: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
Target Audience
Population: Victims of human trafficking
Estimated Size: 1000000
- Human trafficking is a global issue affecting millions of people each year.
- The bill's efforts to improve support for victims and data collection on trafficking's prevalence in the US will directly impact both current and future victims.
- Enhanced data collection and analysis will potentially aid in improved policies and allocation of resources for victim support globally.
Reasoning
- Human trafficking affects a significant number of individuals in the U.S. each year. The policy aims to better understand the scope of the problem and enhance support for victims through improved data collection, analysis, and resource allocation.
- With a focus on improving data collection and victim support, the policy's impact will vary across individuals depending on their current involvement in anti-trafficking activities, personal experience with trafficking, and their role in supporting victims.
- Most directly impacted will be the victims of trafficking, who will benefit from improved services, and service providers, who may access more resources and data to aid victims effectively.
- The budget constraints will likely limit the policy's initial scale and depth of implementation, impacting only a segment of the target population at first, but setting a groundwork for broader impact in subsequent years.
Simulated Interviews
Social Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen firsthand how gaps in data and funding affect our ability to help trafficking victims. This policy could provide us the necessary tools and resources to improve our services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Human Trafficking Survivor (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy will lead to better support systems and more understanding from law enforcement and society.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Police Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional resources and focus on data could help us close more cases and support victims better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Government Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Data-driven policies are essential. This policy could lead to a more strategic approach to tackling trafficking, though budget constraints might limit its immediate impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
NGO Executive Director (New York, NY)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Efforts like this are crucial. Improved data and funding could significantly enhance the effectiveness of our outreach and support programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
University Researcher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding for data collection and analysis is critically needed. This policy could steer research in impactful ways and influence future trafficking policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Student, Advocacy Volunteer (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see policies that aim to increase victim support and awareness. I'm hopeful about the long-term impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that without sufficient funding, this policy might not achieve its full potential, but it's a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Counselor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With better data and funding, we can tailor our counseling services more effectively to meet survivors' needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
IT Specialist (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The focus on data methods is critical, though ensuring data privacy in such sensitive areas is equally important.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Effective implementation of the working group and methodologies is critical for success.
- Collaboration with local and state authorities will be essential for comprehensive data collection.
- The potential indirect benefits of improved data could lead to more precise policy-making.