Wagner’s Trafficking Survivors Relief Act Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed into law her bipartisan Trafficking Survivors Relief Act. This bill provides federal criminal record relief to survivors of human trafficking who committed non-violent offenses as a direct result of their exploitation.

"Traffickers and sexual abusers too often force their victims to commit crimes against their will, leaving these vulnerable individuals with a criminal record that stays with them for life. This indelible mark perpetuates the cycle of exploitation by making it harder for victims to access critical assistance services or get a job, housing, and education that can help them break away from the abuse. Our justice system should be helping victims, not making life harder for them, and my Trafficking Survivors Relief Act will right that wrong by providing victims with federal criminal record relief so they can live their lives and find justice. I have worked on this legislation for years with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I thank President Trump for taking swift action to sign this into law."

Congresswoman Wagner was the original sponsor of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act in the 114th, 115th, and 116th Congresses, and has worked with Congressman Russell Fry (R-SC) as a co-lead of this legislation in the 118th and 119th Congresses.