118 S2744 IS: Reduce Human Trafficking through Transportation Act U.S. Senate 2023-09-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2744IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 7, 2023Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationA BILLTo provide grants to transit operators and airports for human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reduce Human Trafficking through Transportation Act.

2.

Department of Transportation human trafficking prevention grants

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this section as the Secretary) shall establish within the Office of the Secretary a grant program to provide grants to transit operators and airports to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts.(b)

Transit operator grants

(1)

In general

Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection (d), the Secretary shall set aside $10,000,000 to provide grants to entities described in paragraph (2)(A) to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts, including by—(A)coordinating human trafficking prevention efforts across multimodal transportation operations within a community; and(B)accomplishing the best practices and recommendations provided by the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. (2)

Distribution

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall distribute amounts set aside under paragraph (1) to—(i)the 75 transit operators in the United States with the highest annual ridership, based on the most recent data available; and(ii)as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, a transit operator not described in clause (i) that serves an area with a high prevalence of human trafficking, on application of the transit operator.(B)

Priority; considerations

In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—(i)give priority in grant amounts to entities referred to in subparagraph (A) that serve regions with a higher prevalence of human trafficking; and(ii)take into consideration the effect the amounts would have on surrounding areas. (C)

Consultation

In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking in determining the amounts to be distributed to each recipient to ensure the best use of the funds.(c)

Airport grants

(1)

In general

Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection (d), the Secretary shall set aside $10,000,000 to provide grants to entities described in paragraph (2)(A) to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts, including by— (A)coordinating human trafficking prevention efforts across multimodal transportation operations within a community; and(B)accomplishing the best practices and recommendations provided by the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. (2)

Distribution

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall distribute amounts set aside under paragraph (1) to—(i)the 75 airports in the United States with the highest number of passenger enplanements annually, based on the most recent data available; and(ii)as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, an airport not described in clause (i) that serves an area with a high prevalence of human trafficking, on application of the airport.(B)

Priority; considerations

In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—(i)give priority in grant amounts to entities referred to in subparagraph (A) that serve regions with a higher prevalence of human trafficking; and(ii)take into consideration the effect the amounts would have on surrounding areas. (C)

Consultation

In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking in determining the amounts to be distributed to each recipient to ensure the best use of the funds.(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Office of the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.