Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill updates and continues the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 to help law enforcement fight online child exploitation. It changes how often a national strategy report is made, moving it from every two years to every four years. The bill provides specific funding amounts for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program for fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028. It also adds new rules for task forces, including focusing on identifying child victims and working with more local and tribal groups. Additionally, the bill gives limited legal liability protection to task forces for certain case prioritization decisions, except in cases of intentional misconduct or recklessness.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill strengthens the national strategy, coordination, and resources dedicated to preventing child exploitation and identifying child victims.
- Scored +3
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill enhances law enforcement capabilities through increased training, technical assistance, and expanded task force participation for Tribal and military agencies.
- Scored +2
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill expands the National ICAC Task Force Program to include Tribal law enforcement.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the ICAC Grant Program through fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(c): This provision requires task forces to focus on identifying child victims and prioritizing investigations that are most likely to result in rescuing children, which can directly help protect and save abused kids.
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Section 2(c): Task forces are directed to work with more groups, including probation and parole agencies, child advocacy centers, and child protective services, which can create a stronger and more supportive network to protect children.
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Section 2(f): This section ensures that at least 20 percent of grant funds go toward training, wellness training, tools, and technical assistance for members of the task force, which helps law enforcement officers do their jobs safely and effectively.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(b): This provision gives task forces and participating law enforcement agencies limited liability protection from civil claims or criminal charges when making decisions about prioritizing internet crime leads, which could make it harder for individuals to hold officers accountable in court for poor prioritization choices.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill strengthens the national strategy, coordination, and resources dedicated to preventing child exploitation and identifying child victims. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill expands the National ICAC Task Force Program to include Tribal law enforcement. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill incorporates military law enforcement into the National ICAC Task Force Program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill enhances law enforcement capabilities through increased training, technical assistance, and expanded task force participation for Tribal and military agencies. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill expands the National ICAC Task Force Program to include Tribal law enforcement agencies.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill directs funds toward research related to tools, technology, and child exploitation trends.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the ICAC Grant Program through fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill updates requirements for the National Strategy to include more detailed analyses of trends and resource requirements.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill expands the National ICAC Task Force Program to include military law enforcement.
- 10/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Carol MillerRepublican · West Virginia
Jared MoskowitzDemocrat · Florida
Nathaniel MoranRepublican · Texas
Derek SchmidtRepublican · Kansas
Jefferson Van DrewRepublican · New Jersey