House Passes Key Human Trafficking Detection Legislation

Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation that requires the Department of Labor to train its employees on effectively assisting law enforcement in preventing human trafficking.

"China makes billions of dollars from human trafficking and forces hundreds of thousands of people into imprisonment and labor camps. The Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act is a strong step forward in ensuring that our law enforcement officials have the training they need to fight this horrific practice and stop human trafficking," said Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China.

In October 2025, the State Department released its annual report on human trafficking and identified China as one of 13 countries with a pattern of human trafficking. The report said “3.9 million individuals are exploited by state-imposed forced labor in China and several other countries. These forms of exploitation generate an estimated $236 billion in illegal proceeds annually and, through complex supply chains, can connect legitimate companies and unknowing consumers to this human rights abuse.”

The legislation passed today was introduced by House Education and Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI).