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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7225 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7225
To strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying
against human traffickers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 22, 2026
Mr. Moore of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. Correa) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying
against human traffickers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Child Sex Trafficking
Victim Witnesses Act''.
SEC. 2. VICTIM-CENTERED GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with
Federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors and other appropriate
stakeholders, shall develop and publish victim-centered guidance to
strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying
against human traffickers, including--
(1) practices to minimize the adverse consequences of
testifying on child sex trafficking victim witnesses;
(2) safe travel, lodging, and accompaniment for child sex
trafficking victim witnesses;
(3) use of child advocacy centers and family justice
centers, where appropriate; and
(4) safety planning, including post-trial safety planning.
(b) Guidance Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
publication of the guidance required under subsection (a), the Attorney
General shall disseminate and provide training to each office of the
United States Attorney on the victim-centered guidance.
SEC. 3. TRAINING ON VICTIM-CENTERED PROTOCOLS.
(a) Department of Justice Training and Policy for Law Enforcement
Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges.--Section 209(c)(1)(A) of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (34 U.S.C.
20709(c)(1)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (iv)(II), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) protections for child sex trafficking
victims testifying against human traffickers
based on the victim-centered guidance published
by the Attorney General in accordance with
section 2(a) of the Protecting Child Sex
Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act.''.
(b) Federal Prosecutors.--Section 209(c)(1)(B) of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (34 U.S.C.
20709(c)(1)(B)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``training on seeking'' and inserting the
following: ``training on--
``(i) seeking'';
(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) victim-centered guidance to
strengthen protections for child sex
trafficking victims testifying against human
traffickers based on victim-centered guidance
published by the Attorney General in accordance
with section 2(a) of the Protecting Child Sex
Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act.''.
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL USES FOR VICTIM-CENTERED CHILD HUMAN TRAFFICKING
DETERRENCE BLOCK GRANT.
Section 203(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2005 (34 U.S.C. 20703(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) strengthen protections for child sex
trafficking victims testifying against human
traffickers based on victim-centered guidance published
by the Attorney General in accordance with section 2(a)
of the Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim
Witnesses Act; and
``(G) carry out any of the authorized uses of a
grant under section 204(a)(1) of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005.''.
SEC. 5. MODERNIZING FEDERAL CHILD VICTIMS' AND CHILD WITNESSES' RIGHTS.
Section 3509 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ``child
prostitution'' and inserting ``child sex trafficking
and child prostitution'';
(B) in paragraph (7), by inserting ``victim
advocacy,'' after ``law enforcement,''; and
(C) in paragraph (8), by striking ``prostitution''
and inserting ``commercial sex act (as defined in
section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102))'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), in the first sentence, by
striking ``in a room''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by after
``Videotaped'' the following: ``and digitally
recorded'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or
digital recording'' after ``on videotape'';
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (ii), by inserting
``or digital recording'' after ``by
videotape'';
(II) in clause (iii)--
(aa) in the first sentence,
by inserting after
``videotape'' the following:
``or digitally recorded''; and
(bb) in subclause (IV), by
inserting after ``videotape''
the following: ``or
recording''; and
(III) in clause (v)--
(aa) in the clause heading,
by inserting after
``videotape'' the following:
``or digital recording'';
(bb) in the first sentence,
by inserting ``or digital
recording'' after ``on video
tape''; and
(cc) in the second
sentence, by inserting after
``videotape'' the following:
``or digital recording'';
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by inserting
after ``videotaped'' the following: ``or
digitally recorded'';
(v) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) by inserting after
``videotaping'' the following: ``or
digital recording''; and
(II) by inserting after
``videotaped'' the following: ``or
digitally recorded'';
(vi) in subparagraph (E), by inserting
after ``videotaped'' the following: ``or
digitally recorded''; and
(vii) in subparagraph (F), by inserting
after ``videotape'' each place it appears the
following: ``or digital recording''; and
(3) in subsection (i), in the last sentence, by inserting
after ``recorded on videotape'' the following: ``or digitally
recorded''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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