I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1274 
To reauthorize the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2025 
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (for herself, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. MOSKOWITZ, 
and Mr. MORAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘PROTECT Our Chil-
dren Reauthorization Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR 
CHILD
EXPLOITATION
PREVENTION
AND
INTERDIC-
TION.—Section 101 of the PROTECT Our Children Act 
of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 21111) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘every second 
year’’ and inserting ‘‘every fourth year’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(c) REQUIRED CONTENTS OF NATIONAL STRAT-
EGY.—The National Strategy established under subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) An analysis of current trends, challenges, 
and the overall magnitude of the threat of child ex-
ploitation. 
‘‘(2) An analysis of future trends and chal-
lenges, including new technologies, that will impact 
the efforts to combat child exploitation. 
‘‘(3) Goals and strategic solutions to prevent 
and interdict child exploitation, including— 
‘‘(A) plans for interagency coordination; 
‘‘(B) 
engagement 
with 
the 
judicial 
branches of the Federal Government and State 
governments; 
‘‘(C) legislative recommendations for com-
bating child exploitation; 
‘‘(D) cooperation with international, State, 
local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(E) engagement with the private sector 
and other entities involved in efforts to combat 
child exploitation. 
‘‘(4) An analysis of Federal efforts dedicated to 
combating child exploitation, including— 
‘‘(A) a review of the policies and work of 
the Department of Justice and other Federal 
programs relating to the prevention and inter-
diction of child exploitation crimes, including 
training programs, and investigative and pros-
ecution activity; and 
‘‘(B) a description of the efforts of the De-
partment of Justice to cooperate and coordinate 
with, and provide technical assistance and sup-
port to, international, State, local, and Tribal 
law enforcement agencies and private sector 
and nonprofit entities with respect to child ex-
ploitation prevention and interdiction efforts. 
‘‘(5) An estimate of the resources required to 
effectively respond to child exploitation crimes at 
scale by— 
‘‘(A) each ICAC task force; 
‘‘(B) the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
including investigators, forensic interviewers, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
and 
analysts 
of 
victims, 
witnesses, 
and 
forensics; 
‘‘(C) Homeland Security Investigations, in-
cluding forensic interviewers and analysts of 
victims, witnesses, and forensics; 
‘‘(D) the United States Marshals Service; 
‘‘(E) the United States Secret Service; 
‘‘(F) the United States Postal Service; 
‘‘(G) the criminal investigative offices of 
the Department of Defense; and 
‘‘(H) any component of an agency de-
scribed in this paragraph; 
‘‘(6) A review of the Internet Crimes Against 
Children Task Force Program, including— 
‘‘(A) the number of ICAC task forces and 
the location of each ICAC task force; 
‘‘(B) the number of trained personnel at 
each ICAC task force; 
‘‘(C) the amount of Federal grants award-
ed to each ICAC task force; and 
‘‘(D) an assessment of the Federal, State, 
and local cooperation with respect to each ICAC 
task force, including— 
‘‘(i) the number of arrests made by 
each ICAC task force; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(ii) the number of criminal referrals 
to United States attorneys for prosecution; 
‘‘(iii) the number of prosecutions and 
convictions from the referrals described in 
clause (ii); 
‘‘(iv) the number, if available, of local 
prosecutions and convictions based on 
ICAC task force investigations; and 
‘‘(v) any other information determined 
by the Attorney General demonstrating the 
level of Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
coordination and cooperation. 
‘‘(7) An assessment of training needs for each 
ICAC task force and affiliated agencies. 
‘‘(8) An assessment of Federal investigative and 
prosecution activity relating to reported incidents of 
child exploitation crimes that include a number of 
factors, including— 
‘‘(A) the number of investigations, arrests, 
prosecutions and convictions for a crime of 
child exploitation; and 
‘‘(B) the average sentence imposed and the 
statutory maximum sentence that could be im-
posed for each crime of child exploitation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘consult 
with and consider’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘track record of success.’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
evaluate the task forces funded under the ICAC 
Task Force Program to determine if those task 
forces are operating in an effective manner.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘establish a new task 
force’’ and inserting ‘‘establish a new or 
continue an existing task force’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘state’’ and inserting 
‘‘State’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’; 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(C) as subparagraph (B); and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) LIMITED LIABILITY FOR ICAC TASK FORCES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a civil claim or criminal charge against an 
ICAC task force established pursuant to this section 
and sections 103 and 104, including any law en-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
forcement agency that participates on such a task 
force or a director, officer, employee, or agent of 
such a law enforcement agency, arising from the 
prioritization decisions with respect to leads related 
to internet crimes against children described in sec-
tion 104(8), may not be brought in any Federal or 
State court. 
‘‘(2) INTENTIONAL, RECKLESS, OR OTHER MIS-
CONDUCT.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a claim 
if the ICAC task force or law enforcement agency, 
or a director, officer, employee, or agent of that law 
enforcement agency— 
‘‘(A) engaged in intentional misconduct; or 
‘‘(B) acted, or failed to act— 
‘‘(i) with actual malice; 
‘‘(ii) with reckless disregard to a sub-
stantial risk of causing physical injury 
without legal justification; or 
‘‘(iii) for a purpose unrelated to the 
performance of any responsibility or func-
tion under section 104(8).’’. 
(c) PURPOSE OF ICAC TASK FORCES.—Section 103 
of the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 
21113) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:40 Mar 13, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, and the 
identification of child victims of those crimes’’ before 
the semicolon at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘and 
prioritizing investigations that task force personnel, 
through the background, training and experience of 
those personnel and the consideration of all relevant 
circumstances, determine to be most likely to result 
in positive case outcomes and in the rescue of chil-
dren’’ before the semicolon at the end; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and local law enforce-
ment’’ and inserting ‘‘Tribal, military, and local 
law enforcement’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, including probation and 
parole agencies, child advocacy centers, and 
child protective services,’’ after ‘‘agencies’’; 
(4) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(5) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) educating the judiciary on— 
‘‘(A) the link between intrafamilial contact 
offenses and technology-facilitated crimes; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(B) characteristics of internet offenders, 
including the interest of online offenders in in-
cest-themed material, sadism, and other related 
paraphilias or illegal activity.’’. 
(d) DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF TASK FORCES.— 
Section 104 of the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 
(34 U.S.C. 21114) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘reactive and’’ before 
‘‘proactive’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘conduct digital’’ before 
‘‘forensic examinations’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘engage in’’ before ‘‘effec-
tive prosecutions’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(8) investigate, seek prosecution with respect 
to, and identify child victims from leads relating to 
Internet 
crimes 
against 
children, 
including 
CyberTipline reports, with prioritization determined 
according to circumstances and by each task force, 
as described in section 102;’’; 
(3) by striking paragraph (9); and 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) 
as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(e) NATIONAL INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHIL-
DREN DATA SYSTEM.—Section 105 of the PROTECT 
Our Children Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 21115) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘shall estab-
lish’’ and inserting ‘‘may establish’’; 
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘continue and 
build upon Operation Fairplay developed by the Wy-
oming Attorney General’s office, which has estab-
lished a secure, dynamic undercover infrastructure 
that has facilitated’’ and inserting ‘‘facilitate’’; and 
(3) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (3); 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(4) 
through (8) as paragraphs (3) through (7), re-
spectively; and 
(C) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘1 representative’’ and inserting ‘‘2 
representatives’’. 
(f) ICAC GRANT PROGRAM.—Section 106 of the 
PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 21116) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(II), by striking 
‘‘Operation Fairplay,’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) Not less than 20 percent of the total 
funds appropriated to carry out this section 
shall be distributed to support the ICAC Task 
Force Program through grants to— 
‘‘(i) provide training and technical as-
sistance to members of the ICAC Task 
Force Program; 
‘‘(ii) maintain, enhance, research, and 
develop tools and technology to assist 
members of the ICAC Task Force Pro-
gram; 
‘‘(iii) provide other support to the 
ICAC Task Force Program determined by 
the Attorney General; 
‘‘(iv) conduct research; 
‘‘(v) support the annual National Law 
Enforcement Training on Child Exploi-
tation of the Office of Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention; and 
‘‘(vi) provide wellness training.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘, in-
cluding’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘such crime under State law.’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iv) the number of child victims iden-
tified.’’; 
(B) by striking subparagraph (D); and 
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) 
through (G) as subparagraphs (D) through (F), 
respectively. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
107(a) of the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 (34 
U.S.C. 21117(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(12) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
‘‘(13) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:29 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1274.IH
H1274
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB