AnneBasham

CEO @AscendConsultingDC | Government Relations + Grant Acquisitions | Chair @TaskforceonHT | Board Member @PiSecurityForum | Mom 🩷🩷💙

[Congressman Russell Fry @RepRussellFry]

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. 🇺🇸

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

@CPAC Truly historic day!

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

@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!

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

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

[Senate Periodicals @SenatePPG]

By unanimous consent, the Senate passed H.R.4323 - Trafficking Survivors Relief Act.

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

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

[Nancy Ross @NancyRoss1776]

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 https://t.co/RIXxElkBoa

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

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

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

“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

[Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking @taskforceonht]

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!

[Better Care Network @BetterCareNet]

📢📚 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.
https://t.co/LAdc0lpxI3

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

@VictorySlinger @CollinRugg This is why Congress should pass the GRACIE Act as soon as possible (Generate Recordings of All CPS Interviews Everywhere). https://t.co/NBRtqugcuC

Please encourage your Senator to support this important legislation.
@MarshaBlackburn @StreetGrace

[Secretary Michael Watson @MichaelWatsonMS]

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 https://t.co/1Vlyb2QI1h to learn more about how to get involved.

A big thanks to @annebashamDC for hosting and thanks to @SenHydeSmith @MarshaBlackburn for their efforts!

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

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

[Rep. Burgess Owens @RepBurgessOwens]

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!

[Rushan Abbas @RushanAbbas]

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.

[Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner @UKAntiSlavery]

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: https://t.co/4mRr6D7VRX

[Congresswoman Laurel Lee @RepLaurelLee]

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.

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

@ArnoldViersen Great news! Well done

[AnneBasham @annebashamDC]

Restorative justice includes the restoration of a person’s ability to pursue a job and a life that they love - one of their choosing, not one forever limited by how they have been defined by their trafficker.

The Congressional briefing this week for the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act was standing-room only and included some Ascend partners, survivor leadership and other colleagues from Thistle Farms who generously sponsored the event, @CPAC who provided refreshments and @Hopeforjustice @Polaris_Project Rights4Girls @SharedHope @StreetGrace. Collectively, we shared the importance of this historic legislation which will impact survivors of the fastest-growing criminal enterprise worldwide—human trafficking.

Employment not only changes the circumstances for a survivor, but it often changes the most important opinion of all – how survivors see themselves. This is why it is essential for a survivor of trafficking to be able to have a career without being branded with a criminal record given to them by their trafficker. The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act helps make this possible. It is set to be introduced in the Senate this week, so please contact your Members and ask them to co-sponsor this important legislation: https://t.co/keHq9BE2Kq