The Debt Bondage Repair Act prohibits a consumer reporting agency from reporting adverse credit information about a consumer that is the result of severe human trafficking or sex trafficking. This bill, if passed, would provide survivors an opportunity to repair their credit, increasing their ability to find housing, education, and job security, and reducing the opportunity for re-victimization.

Traffickers control their victims through subtle or overt, physical or psychological means. This includes emotional abuse; sexual abuse, whether forcing victims to engage in sexual acts with third parties or with the trafficker; isolation; withholding immigration documents; and financial control. Specifically when it comes to financial control, traffickers often take out significant debt in their victims’ names or force victims to take out the loan themselves, resulting in default, judgements, and poor credit.

The Debt Bondage Repair Act recognizes that the survivor is not at fault―that they were forced or coerced to take out loans, or unable to pay back debt because their finances were controlled by their trafficker. A victim should not be punished for their victimization. Simply put, it is the right thing to do.

Contact your Senator today and ask them vote in favor of this important bill!