DOT's Counter-Trafficking Legislative Authorities
Several pieces of legislation have expanded DOT’s authority to combat human trafficking. These include expanding grant programs, requiring air carriers to train certain personnel, tracking air carrier training and tips, establishing the multimodal advisory committee, preparing a triennial advisory committee recommendations and best practices report, instituting a lifetime ban on Commercial Driver’s License holders who use a commercial vehicle to commit a severe form of human trafficking, and coordinating with transport entities on posting hotline reporting information.
2016 FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act
The 2016 FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act requires air carriers to expand annual training for flight attendants to include recognizing and responding to potential instances of human trafficking.
- Learn about the DOT/DHS Blue Lightning Initiative training for the aviation industry.
2018 No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act
The 2018 No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act institutes a lifetime ban on Commercial Driver’s Licenses for anyone using a commercial motor vehicle to commit a sex trafficking felony.
2018 Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act
The 2018 Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to appoint a human trafficking prevention coordinator to coordinate human trafficking efforts across the modal administrations and federal government.
The act requires that DOT:
- Establish a DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT) to make recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on various topics, including best practices to be shared with the states, governors, state departments of transportation, and other transportation stakeholders; and
- Submit a report on the actions of the Committee to Congress within 2 years of enactment.
View the DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking 2019 and 2024 reports.
The act also expands the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) educational and outreach program and the CDL financial assistance program to include the recognition, prevention, and reporting of human trafficking.
- Learn about the Commercial Driver License (CDL) Program Implementation Grant.
2018 FAA Reauthorization Act
The 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act requires air carriers to annually train “ticket counter agents, gate agents, and other air carrier workers whose jobs require regular interaction with passengers” to recognize and respond to potential instances of human trafficking.
- The DOT/DHS Blue Lightning Initiative training is one way that airlines can comply with the requirement.
2019 Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act
The 2019 Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act requires certain air carriers to track the number of personnel trained to recognize and report human trafficking, the number of notifications received from staff and passengers, and whether the air carrier notified the National Human Trafficking Hotline or law enforcement at the relevant airport.
2021 Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act
The 2021 Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act requires the DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking, in coordination with the Attorney General, to prepare and submit to Congress a triennial report relating to human trafficking violations involving commercial motor vehicles and recommendations for countering human trafficking.
The Act also expands FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program grants to include human trafficking prevention, detection, and reporting.
2022 Human Trafficking Prevention Act
The 2022 Human Trafficking Prevention Act requires that DOT seek to provide for the posting of contact information of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the restrooms of each aircraft, airport, over-the-road bus, bus station, passenger train, and passenger railroad station operating within the U.S.