Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had awarded more than $1 million to Nevada organizations working to support trafficking victims.
“I’m glad to see federal funds going to support survivors of modern-day slavery and exploitation. Survivors need stable places to live, meaningful work, and extensive support to cope with the trauma they’ve experienced. I’ll continue working in the Senate to get more assistance to those who have been victimized by traffickers and abusers, and to prevent and prosecute these awful crimes.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto has worked steadfastly to prevent and prosecute human trafficking, domestic violence, and other crimes. She wrote the bipartisan Not Invisible Act to improve coordination across federal agencies in responding to disappearances and murders of Native Americans, and to create a commission to determine best practices for addressing the crisis. She is an original cosponsor of Savanna’s Act, bipartisan legislation that gives tribes and law enforcement the tools they need to respond to cases. Both bills were passed by the Senate in March and the House of Representatives in September. Senator Cortez Masto has also been an outspoken advocate for reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). She has also introduced and cosponsored bipartisan legislation to prevent child trafficking.
The funds will be distributed as follows:
- $659,770 to Community Action Against Rape to support services specific to victims of human trafficking;
- $499,950 to Rite of Passage to provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grants will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment and receive occupational training and counseling.
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