S2744-118

2. Department of Transportation human trafficking prevention grants The Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this section as the Secretary) shall establish within the Office of the Secretary a grant program to provide grants to transit operators and airports to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts. Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection (d), the Secretary shall set aside $10,000,000 to provide grants to entities described in paragraph (2)(A) to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts, including by— coordinating human trafficking prevention efforts across multimodal transportation operations within a community; and accomplishing the best practices and recommendations provided by the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. The Secretary shall distribute amounts set aside under paragraph (1) to— the 75 transit operators in the United States with the highest annual ridership, based on the most recent data available; and as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, a transit operator not described in clause (i) that serves an area with a high prevalence of human trafficking, on application of the transit operator. In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— give priority in grant amounts to entities referred to in subparagraph (A) that serve regions with a higher prevalence of human trafficking; and take into consideration the effect the amounts would have on surrounding areas. In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking in determining the amounts to be distributed to each recipient to ensure the best use of the funds. Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection (d), the Secretary shall set aside $10,000,000 to provide grants to entities described in paragraph (2)(A) to address human trafficking awareness, education, and prevention efforts, including by— coordinating human trafficking prevention efforts across multimodal transportation operations within a community; and accomplishing the best practices and recommendations provided by the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. The Secretary shall distribute amounts set aside under paragraph (1) to— the 75 airports in the United States with the highest number of passenger enplanements annually, based on the most recent data available; and as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, an airport not described in clause (i) that serves an area with a high prevalence of human trafficking, on application of the airport. In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— give priority in grant amounts to entities referred to in subparagraph (A) that serve regions with a higher prevalence of human trafficking; and take into consideration the effect the amounts would have on surrounding areas. In distributing the amounts set aside under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking in determining the amounts to be distributed to each recipient to ensure the best use of the funds. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Office of the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.