The American Medical Women Association – Physicians Against the Trafficking of Humans (AMWA-PATH) advocacy team recently completed a three-day legislative trip to the Hill. Their goal was to solicit co-sponsorship of House bill, HR 1379: The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025, and Senate bill, S 4214: The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2024.
After nearly a year of planning, a group of seven PATH members (2 physician leaders and 5 student leaders) traveled to Washington, DC, where they met with 10 Congressional Representatives and 4 Senators to urge their support of legislation to help victims of human trafficking.
“Victims of human trafficking need a legal pathway to clear certain criminal records as a result of their involuntary circumstances,“ said Traci Kurtzer, MD, Immediate Past President of AMWA-PATH, and medical director of Trauma Informed Solutions for Healthcare, LLC. Advocating for this legislation was necessary to give human trafficking survivors a better chance at reintegrating into society by providing legal support for survivors, expunging charges acquired from trafficking, and allowing human trafficking experts to testify and provide affidavits. Dr. Kurtzer was joined by Dr. Juhi Jain, AMWA-PATH Co-President, and Diana Vizza, allied health chair.
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AMWA PATH Advocacy Day on the Hill – D.C. Reflections
Student Co-Advocacy Committee Chair, Gabriella Tangkilisan said: “This was my first time participating in advocacy at this level. With some training, I felt empowered to use my voice on behalf of human trafficking survivors as we advocated for H.R. 1379. I now realize how impactful and important it can be to speak with policymakers to ensure justice for all individuals, and just how powerful advocacy can be. This experience demonstrated the importance of not only seeking out but actively using every opportunity to advocate for vulnerable patient populations.”
“The powerful lessons I have learned from these meetings increased my optimism and hope despite the current struggles we have witnessed so many people face. Legislation such as H.9. 1379 is a flicker in the storm, and we were able to have meaningful conversations with a wide range of perspectives. We were met with openness regarding Medicaid cuts and shared our public health and medical concerns. Overall, the experience opened my eyes to how having difficult conversations and advocating for others holds an impeccable weight,” said Amina Ashraf.
“This legislation is essential as it would give victim-survivors of human trafficking a fresh start by expunging the non-violent criminal offenses that often occur to individuals who are being trafficked. Our advocacy made the work we do at AMWA-PATH feel tangible, and it re-energized me to continue fighting for what I believe in. I never knew scheduling a meeting and having a short conversation would make such a big difference, and I look forward to doing it again,” said Dr. Sheree Carter.
“This experience gave us a hands-on opportunity to learn about how advocacy works and how policy impacts healthcare, while fostering connections with representatives in our respective states,” said Lindsey Maynard. “Through conversations with these representatives, I learned more about the work required to pass legislation. Our discussions allowed us to discuss the challenges survivors face after exploitation, including difficulties in finding housing, securing a source of income, and the importance of a social safety net, like Medicaid and government assistance programs. We discussed that healthcare is often a point of contact for survivors, how crucial it is for healthcare workers to be trained and educated on human trafficking, and our role in providing resources and connecting these individuals to support. Through these conversations, our AMWA-PATH group bonded over our passions in medicine and serving human trafficking survivors. This advocacy experience gave me the confidence to navigate the legislative system and advocate for my patients.
Read the AMWA-PATH Position Statement.
Learn more about this work and the LIFT Training for physicians