Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act

119th Congress Introduced by Madeleine Dean and 5 co-sponsors

The bill updates TVPA determinations to judge foreign progress on banning buyer-made sex, educating buyers, and cutting international sex-tourism demand.

Introduced in House

Overview

Bill: H.R. 9043 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)

Title: Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act

Purpose: Amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) to update how determinations are made about foreign countries’ efforts to reduce demand for commercial sex acts, with a focus on reducing sex trafficking by decreasing demand.

Introduced: May 26, 2026

Primary sponsors: Virginia Foxx, with co-sponsors including Madeleine Dean, John James, María Salazar, Sarah McBride, Ann Wagner

What the bill would do

Amend TVPA section 108(b)(12), which governs annual determinations regarding foreign countries’ progress toward eliminating trafficking.

New core elements for determinations (the added §108(b)(12)):

Prohibition and enforcement
Assess whether the foreign government has made serious and sustained efforts to prohibit the purchase of commercial sex acts, to the extent such prohibition is within the government's authority, or has implemented a policy to prohibit such purchases to the extent prohibition lies outside central government authority.
Public education for buyers
Assess whether the country educates buyers of commercial sex on how traffickers exploit prostituted persons for human trafficking.
Demand reduction for international sex tourism
Assess whether the country has taken steps to reduce demand for participation in international sex tourism by its nationals.

Effective date and applicability

The amendment takes effect on the date of enactment of the bill.
It applies to determinations under TVPA §108(a)(4) (the specific subparagraph referenced) that are made on or after the enactment date.

Who/what is affected

Foreign countries evaluated under TVPA for trafficking risk and progress toward elimination.

The United States government’s annual trafficking determinations (as part of the “minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” framework) will be updated to reflect the new criteria.

The policy focus shifts toward three areas: legal prohibition/enforcement, buyer-focused education, and demand reduction for international sex tourism.

Key provisions and changes

Adds three-pronged criteria to determine if a country: 1) Prohibits or policies against buying commercial sex and the extent of government authority to enforce. 2) Provides public education to buyers about trafficking exploitation. 3) Works to reduce demand for international sex tourism by its nationals.

Clarifies that the evaluation is to be serious and sustained efforts, not merely occasional actions.

Establishes a clear, updated framework for which factors the United States will consider when rating a country’s anti-trafficking efforts in relation to demand reduction.

Procedural and timeline notes

Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs upon introduction (May 26, 2026).

Enactment timeline: If enacted, the new criteria would apply to determinations made on or after the enactment date.

This bill does not appear to alter funding levels or programmatic authorities beyond the criteria used for country determinations under section 108.

Potential impact (highlights)

Could broaden and sharpen the U.S. assessment of foreign governments’ efforts to curb demand for commercial sex acts.

May incentivize countries to implement or tighten laws prohibiting the purchase of commercial sex, enhance public awareness campaigns aimed at buyers, and more actively combat international sex tourism by their citizens.

Could influence subsequent U.S. foreign policy actions or classifications (e.g., eligibility for certain programs, sanctions, or aid considerations) based on the updated determinations.