Senate Republicans attempt to block support for victims of human trafficking
Senate advances proposal after Republicans vote to indefinitely postpone
AUGUSTA — Today, the Maine Senate advanced LD 2136, “An Act to Support Victims of Trafficking in Maine in Response to Federal Funding Cuts,” following an attempt by Senate Republicans to indefinitely postpone the bill, which would have effectively killed the measure.
LD 2136, introduced by Sen. Tim Nangle, D-Windham, would support Preble Street’s Anti-Trafficking Services program, which helps victims of human trafficking access housing, food, medical and mental health care in every Maine county. The program has been supported by a federal grant since 2013, but the Trump Administration inexplicably delayed funding in 2025, leaving a gap that will not be retroactively funded.
“For someone escaping trafficking, the moment they ask for help can be the most important moment of their life,” said Sen. Nangle. “Preble Street has been doing excellent work helping survivors in every corner of the state. Advancing this bill brings us one step closer to ensuring that when survivors reach out, Maine will have the services in place to quickly support them.”
Preble Street’s most recent three-year federal grant expired on September 30, 2025. Normally, the next grant opportunity would have opened in April 2025 with new funds beginning October 1 of that year. Instead, the U.S. Department of Justice delayed the grant competition for more than nine months and provided no public explanation.
That delay shifted the entire funding timeline forward, creating a gap year that will not be retroactively funded. Even if future federal grants are awarded, the lost months of funding will not be restored.
Without state action, that hole remains permanent. As a direct result, Maine’s largest provider of anti-trafficking services has been forced to begin waitlisting survivors.
Without this short-term state investment, survivors seeking help right now could face serious and lasting harm simply because of a federal administrative failure.
The motion by Senate Republicans to indefinitely postpone the bill was defeated 18-13, with Senate Democrats voting in support of the bill and Senate Republicans voting to kill it.
LD 2136 now faces further votes in the Senate and House.
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