Bill · H.R. 2735· House(119-HR-2735)
Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act
- Introduced
- 4/8/2025
- Last activity
- 4/8/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Troy Nehls
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 5
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act" aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code regarding kidnapping, sexual abuse, and illicit sexual conduct involving minors. It modifies definitions for kidnapping to include actions involving fraud or deception. The bill establishes new criminal penalties for intentional touching of genitalia involving individuals under age 16 within specific jurisdictions like federal prisons or maritime territories. It also updates various sections of the law concerning sexual abuse and attempted offenses. Finally, it includes conforming amendments to various civil rights and sentencing statutes.
Yes
Would children be better off under this?+8
The bill strengthens legal protections against kidnapping and sexual abuse of minors.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Kidnapping Protections: The bill modifies section 1201 to include instances where a person is obtained by defrauding or deceiving another, which expands the scope of kidnapping definitions (Section 2, subsection a, 1).
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Defense Restrictions for Victims Under 16: Under section 1201(g), for offenses involving victims under age 16, consent is not a defense unless the offender can prove they reasonably believed the victim was at least 16 years old (Section 2, subsection a, 1, C).
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New Protections Against Intentional Touching: Section 2243 is amended to make it unlawful to knowingly cause intentional touching of the genitalia of a person under age 16 without through clothing, with intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse, specifically within federal prisons, institutions, or special maritime and territorial jurisdictions (Section 2, subsection a, 2, C).
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Increased Accountability for Attempts: The bill updates section 2244 to state that anyone who attempts to commit the described offenses shall be subject to the same penalties as a completed offense (Section 2, subsection a, 2, D, ii).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Text Found: The provided text does not explicitly list any negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+8
- 2/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Scott DesJarlaisRepublican · Tennessee
Madeleine DeanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Laura GillenDemocrat · New York
Barry MooreRepublican · Alabama
Thomas TiffanyRepublican · Wisconsin
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia