PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill extends and updates two federal programs focused on preventing child exploitation through 2028. It reauthorizes the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention (which sets government-wide goals and policies) and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program (which helps state and local law enforcement investigate online child exploitation).
The bill simplifies the National Strategy by reducing required planning elements from 19 to 9, and changes how often the strategy must be updated from every two years to every four years. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects law enforcement agencies, state and local task forces fighting child exploitation, and indirectly protects children from online sexual abuse and trafficking. It also impacts federal agencies like the Department of Justice that coordinate these efforts. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and updates (1) the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction (National Strategy), and (2) the National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program.With respect to the National Strategy, current law requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to update the strategy every two years and include 19 specific elements in the strategy (e.g., long-range goals, annual measurable objectives, and future trends). This bill requires DOJ to update the National Strategy every four years. The bill also revises and consolidates the 19 required elements into 9 required elements, including an analysis of current trends and challenges as well as the overall magnitude of the threat of child exploitation.The ICAC Task Force Program is a national network of task forces that support state and local efforts to investigate and prosecute the online sexual exploitation of children. This bill requires ICAC task forces to increase the investigative capacity of law enforcement to identify child victims and report the number of child victims identified in their annual reports. The bill also limits the liability of ICAC task forces for civil claims or criminal charges in federal or state court arising from decisions with respect to leads related to internet crimes against children.Finally, the bill requires the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to provide additional information to law enforcement agencies when it refers a report of online sexual exploitation of children for investigation.
Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 80.