On Tuesday, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022 was approved in the House for reauthorization with a majority of 401 votes to 20. First introduced as the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, the bill has been reauthorized several times. It was created in an effort to combat human trafficking by creating severe penalties for perpetrators and support services for victims.
“Human traffickers never take a holiday, nor can we,” said Rep. Chris Smith, the author of the bill. “Because traffickers and the nefarious networks they lead always find new ways to exploit the vulnerable, especially women and children, we must aggressively strengthen laws and their implementation.”
Of course, the 20 votes against the bill were Republican—all Democrats voted in favor of the bill, except one who abstained from voting.
Surprise, surprise: Rep. Matt Gaetz was one of the 20 Republicans who voted “no” to reauthorizing the anti-human-trafficking law. Gaetz is currently under federal investigation for the alleged sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.