John Cornyn (R-TX)
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 7 Democratic cosponsors · See all 12 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 80.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025. It reauthorizes and updates programs from the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008. The legislation focuses on preventing child exploitation and coordinating law enforcement efforts. It authorizes specific funding amounts for fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The bill also adjusts reporting requirements and task force operations.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +10
Would children be better off under this?
The bill strengthens the national strategy, funding, and law enforcement capabilities to prevent and interdict child exploitation.
- Scored +6
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill expands the scope of ICAC Task Forces to include Tribal and military law enforcement and emphasizes victim identification.
- Scored +5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill explicitly includes Tribal law enforcement in the ICAC Task Force Program.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(c): This provision expands the partners involved in Internet Crimes Against Children task forces to include Tribal, military, and local law enforcement, as well as probation and parole agencies, child advocacy centers, and child protective services. This could help protect more kids by bringing more groups together to rescue child victims.
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Section 2(f): This section ensures that not less than 20 percent of total funds appropriated for the grant program are used to support training, technical assistance, tool development, and wellness training for members of the ICAC Task Force Program. This helps ensure law enforcement has the proper support and tools to handle exploitation cases effectively.
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Section 2(g): This part authorizes specific funding increases for the program, providing $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. This provides predictable financial resources to fight child exploitation crimes over multiple years.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(b): This provision limits civil claims and criminal charges against ICAC task forces, participating law enforcement agencies, and their employees regarding prioritization decisions for Internet crimes against children leads. While exceptions exist for intentional misconduct or actual malice, this protection could make it harder for individuals to seek legal recourse in court if they are negatively affected by task force prioritization decisions.
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, funding, and law enforcement capabilities to prevent and interdict child exploitation. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly includes Tribal law enforcement in the ICAC Task Force Program. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill includes military law enforcement in the scope of the ICAC Task Force Program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill expands the scope of ICAC Task Forces to include Tribal and military law enforcement and emphasizes victim identification. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill's focus on protecting children from exploitation provides a foundational layer of safety for families.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill establishes specific annual appropriation amounts for the ICAC Grant Program through 2028.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill directs funds toward research related to child exploitation prevention and interdiction.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires a comprehensive National Strategy that includes an analysis of current and future trends in child exploitation.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill includes military law enforcement in the scope of the ICAC Task Force Program.
- 7/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/20/2025
- Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 80.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/19/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/15/2025
- Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 5/13/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia