Good laws save lives.
On Wednesday 26th March, we hosted another successful ATIP (Anti-Trafficking in Persons) Policy Roundtable in partnership with anti-exploitation organization Street Grace. Events like these are crucial for change, as there were more than 60 organizations in attendance, as well 8 members of Congress and 4 state elected officials who prioritized speaking and answering questions during an especially busy day on the Hill. It was also especially encouraging to see so many survivor leaders come together for advocacy, as their lived experience and testimony are the cornerstone of anti-trafficking policies.
Many current and upcoming bills were discussed and there was a palpable feeling of urgency to mobilize our advocacy efforts and see these bills become law. Our legislative efforts are a powerful tool to see real lives changed. If we are to combat the scourge of human trafficking, we need strong and effective laws in place that aid survivors and are focused on preventing trafficking from happening in the first place. Here at Ascend, we truly believe that true cultural change can begin with legislative change.
We hope the momentum continues into action to see these bills pass. If you were not able to be with us in person you can still join the effort to change policy in several key ways below.
How you can take action
We can’t do this without you - your voice matters. You can partner with us by endorsing the following bills that we are working on, and keeping up to date with their progress (you can find more information on each bill through these links).
Legislative Endorsements: Your organization has an opportunity to endorse the legislation discussed at the roundtable. Your support matters, and your email will be shared with the Congressional sponsors.
GRACIE Act Coalition Sign Up: This is a unique opportunity to join the advocacy coalition for both the state and federal version of the GRACIE Act (Generate Recordings of All CPS Interviews Everywhere) which is likely to pass Congress this year.
Thank you to the more than 60 organizations who participated as well as:
Senator Blackburn
Senator Blumenthal
Senator Durbin
Senator Klobuchar
Senator Hyde-Smith
Rep. Biggs
Rep. Owens
Rep. Kiley
Rep. Chris Smith
Secretary of State Watson (MS)
State Senator Dush (PA)
State Rep. Vance (Alaska)
State Del. Delaney (VA)
Events like these are significant because they foster conversation between policymakers and those working in the field. To see real change we need each other, and we are grateful for the willingness to make this happen. Together, we can see an end to human trafficking and dignity restored to every survivor.
Here are the ATIP Policy Roundtable Briefings from Spring 2025.