Skip to main content
S. 1738 113th Congress Senate

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013

Official title: A bill to provide justice for the victims of trafficking.

Introduced: November 19, 2013 Introduced by: John Cornyn Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdoption and foster care
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Child safety and welfareCongressional oversightCrime victimsCrimes against childrenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of JusticeDomestic violence and child abuseEvidence and witnessesExecutive agency funding and structureFamily servicesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsHealth programs administration and fundingHome and outpatient careHuman traffickingJudicial procedure and administrationJuvenile crime and gang violenceLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersOrganized crimePornographySex offensesSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsTransportation costsTravel and tourismViolent crimeVocational and technical education
Sign in to write a letter

Free account. One morning email at most, only on days something moved. Already have one? Sign in.

This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 19, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8193-8197)
Nov 19, 2013
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action November 19, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8193-8197)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose an additional penalty of $5,000 on any person or entity convicted of crimes relating to: (1) peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons; (2) sexual abuse; (3) sexual exploitation and other abuse of children; (4) transportation for illegal sexual activity; or (5) human smuggling in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Establishes in the Treasury the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund into which such penalties shall be deposited and which shall be used in FY2015-FY2019 to award grants or enhance victims' programming under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, and the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990. Allots funds to provide services for child pornography victims.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make a determination, based on credible evidence, that a covered individual (i.e., a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident) has been a victim of a severe form of trafficking.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 to authorize the Attorney General to award block grants to develop, improve, or expand comprehensive domestic child trafficking deterrence programs to rescue and restore the lives of trafficking victims, while investigating and prosecuting offenses involving child trafficking.

Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to include human trafficking and the production of child pornography within the definition of child abuse for purposes of such Act.

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) increase restitution for victims of human trafficking; (2) set forth provisions for combating aggravated human trafficking racketeering; (3) allow state and local prosecutors to obtain wiretap warrants in state courts for investigations into human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and child pornography production; (4) increase penalties for offenses involving enticement into slavery, sex trafficking of children, child exploitation, and repeat sex offenders; and (5) revise the definition of the crime of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct to facilitate prosecutions of such crime.

Directs the Attorney General to ensure that all task forces and working groups within the Innocence Lost National Initiative engage in activities, programs, or operations to increase the investigative capabilities of law enforcement personnel in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of persons who patronize or solicit children for sex.

Requires the Attorney General to audit grants awarded under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. Imposes limits on the use of Department of Justice (DOJ) funds for DOJ conferences involving more than $20,000.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1738: Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1738/
MLA
"S. 1738: Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1738/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1738, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1738/.
Markdown link
[S. 1738: Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1738/)
Report a problem