House Passes Reschenthaler, Wasserman Schultz Bill to Combat Child Exploitation

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed S.4834, the Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act (PROTECT Our Children Act), legislation to reauthorize the National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program and National ICAC Data System through 2024, allowing the national network of 61 child exploitation task forces to continue their important fight against predators and sex-traffickers.

Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Ann Kuster (D-NH) introduced the House version of this bipartisan legislation in September. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate, which passed on November 15, 2022, by unanimous consent. This legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. 

“With the rapid expansion of digital technology, the prevalence of child exploitation and trafficking has also tragically increased. We must do everything possible to crack down on these criminals and protect our children,” said Reschenthaler. “This bill will help to bring an end to these heinous acts. I stand committed to ensuring the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program and National ICAC Data System have the resources needed to continue their efforts to catch and prosecute dangerous predators.” 

“Our lives are increasingly intertwined with the internet, and those who would commit crimes against our children know that all too well. With the passage of the PROTECT Our Children Act we can help make the internet a safe space for all children and guard against those who would seek to exploit them,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’m proud to have introduced this bipartisan legislation to build on the advances we have made so far since the original PROTECT Act that I authored over a decade ago. We all have a role to play in keeping our children safe.”

“Law enforcement officers need access to every available tool to prevent the perpetrators of online child exploitation from committing future abuse,” said Cornyn. “By providing the necessary resources to counter the pervasive threat of cyber-crimes, this bill would help law enforcement respond to the alarming number of children who are targeted, and I urge the President to sign this legislation into law as soon as possible.”  

“The PROTECT Our Children Act supports law enforcement by helping identify online child exploitation and investigate abusers and predators,” said Blumenthal. “Reauthorizing the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program is critical to this important mission.”

“As our kids spend more time online, ensuring their safety is of the utmost importance,” said Chabot. “With the reauthorization of the PROTECT our Children Act, we are providing our law enforcement officers with the necessary tools and resources to combat child exploitation. I would like to thank Rep. Wasserman Schultz for her continued leadership on this critical issue.”

“Working to keep children safe online and preventing child sexual exploitation is crucial, especially as kids are spending more time on screens than ever before,” said Kuster, founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. “The PROTECT Our Children Act is common-sense, bipartisan legislation to help ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources necessary to protect children, support victims of these heinous crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable. I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law to keep children in the Granite State and across our country safe.”

The original PROTECT Our Children Act passed in 2008 to authorize the ICAC Task Force Program, a coordinated group of task forces representing 3,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies engaged in reactive and proactive investigations across the country. The ICAC task forces aid local and state law enforcement in creating and implementing effective responses to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation by offering guidance on victim support, forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, and community education. 

The PROTECT Our Children Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Rape & Violence Ends Now, Rights 4 Girls, Fraternal Order of Police, National Center on Sexual Exploitation, and National District Attorneys Association. 

The full text of the bill can be viewed here.