Zonta International is a global organization of individuals dedicated to building a better world for women and girls. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference..
The bipartisan End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2025 was introduced by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R- PA) and co-sponsored by Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA) and Donald Davis (D-NC) in May 2025. The legislation, if passed, would sever human traffickers’ access to the global financial system and strengthen the ability of law enforcement and financial institutions to identify, track and disrupt illicit activity tied to human exploitation. Some key provisions of the bill include:
- Direct federal banking regulators to work with law enforcement and financial institutions to target the financial flows of human trafficking operations.
- Expands coordination between the private sector, government agencies and financial crimes experts.
- Require the Financial Institutions Examination Council to improve training and examinations aimed at detecting trafficking-linked transactions.
- Require the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons to evaluate and recommend ways to strengthen anti-money laundering frameworks across the public and private sectors.
“Human trafficking isn’t a distant issue—it’s happening in our communities, often in plain sight. And too often, traffickers are able to move their profits through legitimate financial systems unchecked. That has to end,” said Fitzpatrick. “This bipartisan legislation strengthens collaborative efforts to keep these criminals from using the global financial apparatus to fuel their heinous activities.”
“Banks and financial institutions must implement effective screening mechanisms to combat human trafficking around the world,” said Keating. “The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act would require the PITF to submit recommendations to strengthen and better equip financial institutions with the tools they need to combat this horrible practice. I thank Congressman Fitzpatrick for his leadership on this important issue.”
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your representatives to co-sponsor and support the End Banking for Human Traffickers Act of 2025 (H.R. 3629). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.