John,
HR2601 is a bill that would require the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) to turn over call information to law enforcement upon request - without survivors’ consent. The NHTH already complies with mandated reporting laws and reports all credible tips involving children. This bill will require them to share information about adult victims - even if they don’t want that information shared. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a HOTLINE, not a TIPLINE. A hotline provides resources and support, and a tipline is for reporting criminal activity to law enforcement. No other anti-violence hotlines are expected to violate survivors' privacy and safety in this way.
In an effort to rush this bill through Congress, lawmakers are ignoring the voices of survivors at every turn. The role of the hotline is to give back survivors' sense of safety and choice, not to take it away. When victims cannot trust hotlines to provide safe, confidential guidance without nonconsensual sharing of their information, they simply won’t call.
But together, we’re strong. Add your voice to the growing movement demanding that legislators kill this bill.
What can you do?
Text your representatives
Text PRFUXT to 50409 to get started.