AnneBasham

This month I testified about the impact of #humantrafficking on #unaccompanied minors in a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing and one of my recommendations was increased communication between children here in the U.S. and their relatives outside the U.S.

Yesterday, @POTUS invited me to the White House to sign legislation I authored—the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act. I also want to say a word about President Trump as a person, and the quiet, consequential acts of compassion that rarely make headlines. This law is both pro-law enforcement and pro-victim. Human trafficking victims are often charged with non-violent crimes like prostitution or identity theft—crimes committed because they were trafficked. Even after they escape, those convictions follow them for life, blocking jobs, housing, and stability. This law, now signed by @realDonaldTrump, allows survivors to dismiss current charges or vacate past convictions if they can show they were victims. That is TRANSFORMATIVE! It gives survivors the courage to come forward, tell their story, and finally clear their record—while empowering law enforcement to focus on the trafficking rings and cartels. One of the strongest champions of this bill is Hollie Nadel, a survivor who was trafficked for eight years. A cum laude graduate of Ithaca College, Hollie has carried prior convictions for years—convictions this law would have addressed. But President Trump went further. He issued her a full pardon. He didn’t have to. He chose to. That decision speaks volumes about how seriously he takes justice, mercy, and the dignity of individual Americans. This is something everyone can and should celebrate. Real leadership. Real compassion. Real impact. 🇺🇸

@CPAC Truly historic day!

CPAC’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking celebrates the signing of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act by President Donald J. Trump today. This is a victory in the fight against modern day slavery and offers survivors a second chance at freedom. The signing of the TSRA is another example of conservative leadership in the fight to end human trafficking following President Trump’s pardons for survivors and the declaration of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month earlier this month.

Hollie Nadel’s story reminds us that justice must see both truth and trauma. This week, President Trump extended mercy through a full pardon — acknowledging that sex trafficking victims are often forced into crimes they never chose. I’m grateful to @POTUS , and inspired by Hollie’s courage to fight for others. Mercy changes lives. cnn.it/4jKO0je

@Frusso15 @EleshaJD @AndyDRC @DSafavianEsq @DorothyERoberts @_Kristiana_ @OrinKerr @MRFIVEINC @sheilatebra @ShiaKapos @JakeSherman @AlisonJRapping @ShawnWeneta @SteelToeScribe @withlovesole @AaronJRolen @JudgeWren @JudgeDillard @tolmanbrett @DavidLeegarlock Wouldn’t have happened without you!

@EleshaJD @AndyDRC @DSafavianEsq @DorothyERoberts @_Kristiana_ @OrinKerr @MRFIVEINC @sheilatebra @annebashamDC @ShiaKapos @JakeSherman @AlisonJRapping @ShawnWeneta @SteelToeScribe @withlovesole @AaronJRolen @JudgeWren @JudgeDillard @tolmanbrett @DavidLeegarlock Thank you my friend — We were gifted a Christmas Miracle before the Holidays with passage of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act! Our work together continues into the new year 💪💪💪

#FF @AndyDRC @DSafavianEsq @DorothyERoberts @_Kristiana_ @OrinKerr @MRFIVEINC @sheilatebra @annebashamDC @ShiaKapos @JakeSherman @AlisonJRapping @ShawnWeneta @SteelToeScribe @withlovesole @AaronJRolen @JudgeWren @JudgeDillard @tolmanbrett @Frusso15 @DavidLeegarlock @JoshPhillipsPhD @YEP4Rights @CPY87 @SerenaFreeHer1 @EllenYChang @DeTahmineh @cdetler @FarinhaShe74765 @SenSaraGelser @ParisHilton @itscarolinecole @iamannapepe @whignewtons @writeclimbrun @StefWKight @RayLong @LouislReed @_Britt_Martinez @garyhgoodridge

This is truly a historic night. The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act will bring criminal record relief to countless people who have been unjustly branded with crimes they committed as a direct result of their trafficking - barred from having careers, homes and freedom. Tonight the US became the first nation in the world to change this. It took NINE years to pass this and incredible leadership and advocacy. This is what is possible in Washington - not ONE objecting vote in the entire House and Senate! Thank you to @RepRussellFry who has led this effort for years with @SenGillibrand @SenHydeSmith @tedlieu @CPAC and @RepAnnWagner who first authored this bill 9 years ago. @Frusso15 @mercedesschlapp @bretttolman @RightOnCrime @3Strands_Global

Honored to be at the White House for the #FosteringTheFuture Executive Order signing, alongside incredible advocates fighting for youth aging out of foster care. Every year, 15,000 young people leave care without a permanent family. Nearly 1 in 5 face homelessness, only 59% are employed by 21, and fewer than 10% earn a bachelor’s degree. The new EO will: • Modernize child-welfare data + systems • Use tech/AI to improve caregiver recruitment & matching • Publish annual state scorecards to track outcomes • Expand education & employment opportunities • Launch a platform connecting youth to housing, jobs, school & mentoring • Reinvest unused funds into education, career training & financial literacy • Increase flexibility in training vouchers • Support tax-credited scholarships for youth in care Grateful to @FLOTUS and everyone who made this possible. #WhiteHouse #FosterCare #Community

Abused children are unprotected when interviews are unrecorded. And CPS fails them. Over & over. Pass the GRACIE ACT ! Experts @CPAC International Summit Against Human Trafficking ⁦@mschlapp⁩ ⁦@mercedesschlapp⁩ statesman.com/story/opinion/…

@IrfSecretariat @HuldaFahmi Congrats @HuldaFahmi and @Sean_ADFIntl ! I love this - so well deserving

On May 21, at the Roger Williams IRF Awards Dinner, the IRF Secretariat honored three courageous leaders—Hulda Fahmi, Sean Nelson, and Anila Ali—with IRF Builder Awards for their distinct and vital contributions to global religious freedom. 🏅 Hulda Fahmi (@HuldaFahmi) has demonstrated remarkable courage as a leading voice for religious prisoners of conscience and countering blasphemy and apostasy laws. Her lived leadership continues to inspire a generation of young leaders working at the intersection of faith, law, and social change. 🏅 Sean Nelson (@Sean_ADFIntl) was recognized for his unwavering legal defense of religious freedom worldwide, bringing robust representation to religious prisoners of conscience. His principled advocacy—whether before courts or in policy forums—has protected countless individuals and advanced systemic change. 🏅 Anila Ali (@anilaali) received her award for empowering Muslim women and promoting religious pluralism through civic leadership. Her dedication to education, dialogue, and representation reflects the spirit of inclusive democracy. She also has been the leading influence for a IRF Roundtable in Pakistan. Together, their voices reflect the diversity and strength of the global IRF movement. Congratulations to these champions of freedom! #BuildingABetterWorld #IRFBuildersForum #FaithInFreedom #RogerWilliamsIRFAwards #IRFRoundtable @JubileeC @ADFLegal @ADFIntl @ammwecofficial

“The CCP could not undermine love. My love for my sister. My love for my people and my love for democracy.” - @rushanabbas Last week, I had the honor of celebrating my friend Rushan Abbas, a tireless advocate against the genocide of the Uyghur people, Founder of @CampaignUyghurs and member of the @taskforceonht . She just released her powerful new book Unbroken, sharing 3 generations of stories and exposing the false narratives spread by the CCP . Her book launch at the @HudsonInstitute with @OliviaEnos was especially meaningful because it’s where she first publicly exposed the ongoing genocide of her people in 2018. Unfortunately, because of this her sister Gulshan was detained by the CCP within days. Transnational repression—where authoritarian regimes target dissidents abroad through harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment—is an increasingly urgent issue. The harassment is strategic, targeted, and designed to silence those fighting for freedom, justice, and democracy. It should be recognized as a crime against humanity. The Uyghur genocide uniquely is not just a human rights concern, but it intersects the American consumer since much of our cotton and products made with lithium are likely processed in Uyghur concentration camps. This is why the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) which passed over 3 years ago has now stood the test of time and is proven to be one of the most impactful human rights bills in our nation and one which still stands as a model for other nations. Good policy can save lives. I’m honored to stand with Rushan and all who work to protect human rights everywhere. #Uyghur #HumanRights #TransnationalRepression

ATIP (Anti-Trafficking in Persons) Policy Dinner: Madrid,Spain 🇪🇸 We hosted an incredibly productive ATIP Policy Dinner last week with leaders from throughout the world focused on stopping child trafficking. Thanks to the Foundation United for sponsoring the event!

📢📚 Just Added to the BCN Library: "A Lawmaker’s Guide to Stopping Orphanage Trafficking" - This briefing book serves as a practical guide for legislators on how to work together to educate, advocate and legislate to end orphanage trafficking. bettercarenetwork.org/library/partic…

@VictorySlinger @CollinRugg This is why Congress should pass the GRACIE Act as soon as possible (Generate Recordings of All CPS Interviews Everywhere). washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/… Please encourage your Senator to support this important legislation. @MarshaBlackburn @StreetGrace

@CollinRugg 8 times!! 8 TIMES CPS had the opportunity to clock what was really going on, but they either didn't, or didn't report it. CPS has been found WAY too often to be either utterly useless or directly guilty of crimes against children.

Single man who posed as a chronically ill Hasidic Jewish Rabbi sentenced to 135 years in prison for s*xually abusing his 9 adopted sons. Gee, who could have predicted this? The Houston man bragged about his “unique family” online & was a strong advocate for adoption. The abuse was revealed when the 17 year old son called into a podcast and explained the abuses that started when he was first adopted at 11. Hayim Nissim Cohen, now 40, threatened to k*ll the children if they called the police. Cohen, who maintained a bubbly online appearance, would lock the kids in a room most of the day and make them perform acts on him when he let them out. He would pepper spray them if they disobeyed. Cohen used religion to mask his crimes and would vlog frequently about his daily life with the children. He claimed he grew up speaking Yiddish as a Hasidic Jew in New York City but would refuse to speak the language when pressed. According to the Daily Mail, the “rabbi” grew up as an altar boy in the Roman Catholic Church. Burn in h*ll.

It was a very special day yesterday at the #ATIPRoundtable! To see so many state and national leaders come together to combat human trafficking was humbling and inspiring. Looking forward to bringing more efforts to Mississippi and furthering our work with #MBAT. Everyone has a role to play and I encourage you to visit the sos.ms.gov/mbat to learn more about how to get involved. A big thanks to @annebashamDC for hosting and thanks to @SenHydeSmith @MarshaBlackburn for their efforts!

@RepVance Way to go! I hope you will share this at ATIP.

Stopping the exploitation of Alaska’s vulnerable Is one of my greatest passions for justice. Last week, I introduced House Bill 118, a critical initiative to permanently establish the Alaska Council on Human and Sex Trafficking through state statute. The Council, initially created in December 2021 by Administrative Order 328, plays a pivotal role in combating the exploitation of Alaskans. By formalizing its existence in law, HB 118 strengthens the state’s commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by human trafficking. Human traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion to compel victims into servitude and commercial prostitution. They often lure victims with false promises of honest work opportunities, safe housing, and a better life, only to exploit them in settings such as street prostitution, illicit massage parlors, brothels, and online advertising. Human trafficking has surpassed the glabal small arms trade, generating an estimated $150 billion in illegal revenues annually. Trafficking in Alaska • Within 48 hours of running away, 1 out of 3 children are solicited for sex. • In Alaska, the common age of recruitment is 14-16 years old, and the average lifespan once recruited is seven years. • One in four homeless women at the Anchorage Covenant House have been trafficked for sex. • Nearly 45% of trafficked youth identified are Alaska Native. Alaska is not immune to human trafficking, and studies indicate that Alaska Native youth are disproportionately affected. More than a decade ago, Governor Sean Parnell established the State of Alaska Task Force on the Crimes of Human Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution, and Sex Trafficking. This task force coordinated efforts with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and the Ad Hoc NGO Working Group on Sex Trafficking in Alaska. The first recommendation from this task force in 2013 was to establish a permanent working group to continue its efforts. However, this recommendation remained unfulfilled until Governor Dunleavy created the current council in 2021. The Alaska Council on Human and Sex Trafficking plays a vital role in the ongoing fight against human trafficking, often referred to as modern-day slavery. The Council operates on multiple fronts, including raising awareness, conducting research, and proposing solutions to protect victims. The Council’s September 2022 report recommended enacting state statutes to formalize its structure within the Department of Public Safety. House Bill 118 fulfills this recommendation by ensuring the Council’s permanence and expanding its mandate to: • Develop standardized data and annual reports. • Award grants and provide audits. • Increase education and public awareness. Ensuring the Council’s permanence in statute signifies a long-term commitment to eradicating human trafficking in Alaska. By enhancing coordination, resources, and strategic response efforts, HB 118 reinforces Alaska’s dedication to protecting the well-being and rights of all its residents. @akstatetrooper @annebashamDC @PricelessAlaska @BooyensJaco @TimBallard

Powerful testimony from @annebashamDC at @JudiciaryGOP on protecting child trafficking victims this morning. Her work directly impacts Utah, where groups like 3StrandsGlobal are fighting for kids, and I'm honored to stand with Anne in this fight!

Honored to contribute to an article exposing the CCP's state-sponsored crimes of human trafficking and forced labor against Uyghurs. Together with @taskforceonht and @annebashamDC, we are committed to confronting these atrocities.

The IASC has written about why it’s so important to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking of children after speaking at @taskforceonht. In the UK 44% of potential victims of modern slavery were exploited as children. Read here: taskforceonht.org/articles/uk-an…

Today, President Biden signed my bipartisan bill, the REPORT Act, into law. This crucial bill will help @NCMEC fight against online child exploitation and hold perpetrators accountable. Thank you, @MarshaBlackburn, @SenOssoff, @RepSusieLee, @RepDean and @RepMMM for your support.

Great news! The SISE Act received a unanimous vote this afternoon in Parliament and has been referred to the Justice Committee. Thank you to the survivors who have been working hard to raise awareness about this.