I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6173 
To establish a pilot program to address technology-related abuse in domestic 
violence cases. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 2, 2023 
Ms. ESHOO (for herself and Mrs. LESKO) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish a pilot program to address technology-related 
abuse in domestic violence cases. 
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 ‘‘Tech Safety for Vic-
tims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual As-
sault, and Stalking Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In the United States, 41 percent of women 
and 26 percent of men experience some form of sex-
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ual violence, physical violence, or stalking, or a com-
bination thereof, by an intimate partner. 
(2) Many victims of intimate partner violence 
also experience nonphysical forms of abuse. 
(3) With the proliferation of digital technology, 
technological abuse has become increasingly preva-
lent and pervasive among victims of intimate partner 
violence. 
(4) According to a 2021 study by the National 
Network to End Domestic Violence, 97 percent of 
the programs providing support to victims of inti-
mate partner violence have indicated that abusers 
are making use of technology to stalk, harass, or 
control victims. 
(5) In the United States, 1 in 3 women under 
the age of 35 report being sexually harassed online, 
and over half of LGBTQ+ individuals report being 
the target of online abuse based on their sexual ori-
entation or gender. 
(6) Of victims who are stalked using tech-
nology— 
(A) 67 percent received unwanted phone 
calls, voice messages, or text messages; 
(B) 50 percent received unwanted emails 
or messages via the internet; 
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(C) about 35 percent said their activities 
were monitored using social media; 
(D) 27 percent experienced the offender 
posting or threatening to post inappropriate, 
unwanted, or personal information about them 
on the internet; and 
(E) 19 percent said the offender spied on 
them or monitored their activities using tech-
nologies such as listening devices, cameras, or 
computer or cellphone monitoring software. 
(7) Technological abuse runs the gamut of tech-
nical sophistication, from the most basic social 
media platforms and phone-based apps to specialty 
stalkerware apps, demonstrating that technological 
abuse does not require huge financial resources or 
complex knowledge of technology. 
(8) Rapid advances in the technology and meth-
ods for technological abuse present challenges for 
advocates seeking to advise victims and prevent tech-
nological abuse. 
(9) The integration of trained technology ex-
perts into survivor support networks has been suc-
cessful in preventing and shielding survivors from 
technological abuse. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office on Violence Against 
Women. 
(2) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble consortium’’ means an association— 
(A) between— 
(i)(I) 1 or more institutions of higher 
education that offers a masters, doctoral, 
or vocational program in information tech-
nology, cybersecurity, computer science, or 
other similar technological discipline; or 
(II) 1 or more private or public sector 
partners in the community with a technical 
workforce and a plan for recruiting tech-
nologists or volunteers to work alongside a 
victim service provider (as defined in sec-
tion 40002(a) of the Violence Against 
Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)); 
and 
(ii) 1 or more public or private domes-
tic violence or sexual violence centers; and 
(B) which has a letter of support from the 
local, State, Tribal, or territorial government 
with jurisdiction over the area in which the ac-
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tivities to combat technological abuse will be 
implemented. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(4) PILOT
PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘pilot pro-
gram’’ means the pilot program established under 
section 4(a)(1). 
(5) TECHNOLOGICAL ABUSE.—The term ‘‘tech-
nological abuse’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 40002(a)(40) of the Violence Against 
Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(40)). 
SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM TO COMBAT TECHNOLOGICAL 
ABUSE. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in accordance 
with paragraph (2), shall establish a pilot program 
under which the Director may award grants to eligi-
ble consortia to combat technological abuse. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In preparing to establish 
the pilot program— 
(A) the Director shall consult with— 
(i) the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services; 
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(ii) the Secretary of Education; and 
(iii) the Chairman of the Federal 
Communications Commission; and 
(B) the Director and the officers described 
in subparagraph (A) shall consult with relevant 
stakeholders, including— 
(i) groups that work on reducing tech-
nological abuse; and 
(ii) population specific and culturally 
specific victim service providers. 
(3) APPLICATION.—An eligible consortium de-
siring a grant under this section shall submit to the 
Director an application at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing or accompanied by such infor-
mation, as the Director may reasonably require. 
(4) GRANT LIMITS.— 
(A) AWARD
AMOUNT.—A grant awarded 
under the pilot program shall be in an amount 
that is not more than $2,000,000. 
(B) NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS.—Not more 
than 15 grants may be awarded under the pilot 
program. 
(5) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.—The pilot 
program shall terminate on the date that is 5 years 
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after the date of the first award under the pilot pro-
gram. 
(b) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant 
under this section may use the amounts received under 
the grant to combat technological abuse, including for— 
(1) the purchase of new technological devices 
for victims and survivors of technological abuse; and 
(2) any other use, including the provision of vic-
tim services, that will reduce technological abuse or 
assist victims and survivors of technological abuse. 
(c) PILOT PROGRAM REVIEW.— 
(1) DURING PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of the first award under the 
pilot program, the Director shall submit to each 
committee of Congress with jurisdiction of the activi-
ties carried out under the pilot program a report— 
(A) reviewing the efficacy of the pilot pro-
gram; 
(B) indicating challenges to implementa-
tion and possible solutions; and 
(C) including a recommendation relating to 
whether the pilot program should be turned 
into a permanent program. 
(2) AFTER
PILOT
PROGRAM
TERMINATION.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
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pilot program terminates under subsection (a)(5), 
the Director shall submit to each committee of Con-
gress with jurisdiction of the activities carried out 
under the pilot program a report reviewing the effi-
cacy of the pilot program, including best practices 
and improvements needed to combat technological 
abuse. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 5. GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON 
TECHNOLOGICAL ABUSE. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Director 
in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish 
a program under which the Director may award grants 
to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher edu-
cation to develop and implement training and educational 
programs and technical assistance for organizations and 
individuals who provide support for victims of techno-
logical abuse. 
(b) MULTIPLE GRANTS.—A recipient of a grant 
under section 4 is not barred from receiving a grant under 
this section. 
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(c) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—A nonprofit organiza-
tion or institution of higher education shall use the 
amounts received under a grant under this section to de-
velop tools, curricula, and other materials. 
(d) GRANT PROGRAM LIMITS.— 
(1) MAXIMUM
AMOUNT.—The Director may 
award a total of not more than $20,000,000 in 
grants under this section. 
(2) PERIOD OF GRANTS.—The Director shall 
award grants under this section for a period of 5 
years. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
Æ 
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