Bill · S. 539· Senate(119-S-539)
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/12/2025
- Last activity
- 5/20/2025 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 80.
- Sponsored by
- John Cornyn
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 7
- 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
Would children be better off under this?+10
The bill strengthens the national strategy, funding, and law enforcement capabilities to prevent and interdict child exploitation.
Does this change how police departments operate?+6
The bill expands the scope of ICAC Task Forces to include Tribal and military law enforcement and emphasizes victim identification.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+5
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. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+10Good For Native Americans+5Good For Veterans+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Policing Reform+6Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+5
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+1
- 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