The SAVE Girls Act is a federal program that gives money to organizations working to protect young women and girls from human trafficking and smuggling. Specifically, it funds efforts to stop children and young women between ages 12 and 24 from being illegally smuggled across the U.S. border. If girls and young women have already been brought into the country illegally or are being exploited through trafficking—including sex trafficking—this program provides support services to help them. The funding comes from the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, and can go to both government agencies and nonprofit organizations that are doing this protective work. In practical terms, this means money is being directed toward prevention efforts to catch trafficking before it happens, as well as rescue and support services for victims who have already been harmed.

SAVE Girls Act

Blackburn, Marsha

Stopping the Abuse, Victimization, and Exploitation of Girls Act or the SAVE Girls Act This bill authorizes the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants to certain governmental and nongovernmental organizations to combat the smuggling and trafficking of children and young women. The focus of this grant program is (1) preventing the smuggling of children and women between the ages of 12 and 24 across the U.S. border; and (2) providing support to such individuals if they have already been smuggled into the United States or if they have been or are at risk of becoming victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons, including child sex trafficking.