H.R. 6719

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6719 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>

Calendar No. 346
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6719

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 13, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

March 2, 2026

Reported by Mr. Grassley, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To prohibit threats to a minor, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Online Predators 
Act'' or the ``COP Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. PROHIBITING THREATS TO A MINOR.</DELETED>

<DELETED> (a) Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of 
Minors.--Section 2252A of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (6), by striking 
``illegal; or'' and inserting ``illegal;'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by inserting after paragraph (7) the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) knowingly distributes, offers, sends, or 
provides, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a 
threat to distribute--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) a visual depiction of a minor 
engaging in sexually explicit conduct, or</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) a visual depiction of a person the 
defendant believes is a minor engaging in sexually 
explicit conduct,</DELETED>
<DELETED>with the intent that the minor, or the person the 
defendant believes is a minor, create or transmit a visual 
depiction of any minor engaging in sexually explicit 
conduct,''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``or (6)'' and 
inserting ``(6), or (8)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Material Constituting or Containing Child 
Pornography.--Section 2252 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by striking 
``or'' at the end;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by inserting 
``or'' after the semicolon; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) knowingly distributes, offers, sends, or 
provides, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a 
threat to distribute--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) a visual depiction of a minor 
engaging in sexually explicit conduct, or</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) a visual depiction of a person the 
defendant believes is a minor engaging in sexually 
explicit conduct,</DELETED>
<DELETED>with the intent that the minor, or the person the 
defendant believes is a minor, create or transmit a visual 
depiction of sexually explicit conduct,'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ``or (5)'' 
after ``paragraph (4)''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by inserting ``or (5)'' after ``paragraph 
(4)''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``James T. Woods Act''.

TITLE I--SAFE ACT

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Sentencing Accountability For 
Exploitation Act'' or the ``SAFE Act''.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Over many years, the complexity and scale of online 
child sex offenses have worsened, as offenders have taken 
advantage of technological developments to target and victimize 
ever-increasing numbers of children.
(2) In addition, offenders have pursued increasingly 
dangerous ways of victimizing children, including by resorting 
to organized efforts at extorting and manipulating children 
into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and other types of 
degrading and dangerous acts.
(3) Offenders have also been increasingly adept at 
globalizing their offenses, including by, for example, paying 
adults overseas to provide customized child sexual abuse 
material, which may be video recorded or live-streamed, to 
offenders in the United States.
(4) Meanwhile, as the complexity, scale, and dangerousness 
of online child sex crimes has worsened, long-existing sex 
crimes against children continue to flourish on the dark web, 
through social media and related applications, and otherwise.
(5) Effective investigation and prosecution are a critical 
component of the efforts of the United States to keep children 
safe, punish those who victimize them, and deter would-be 
offenders. It is imperative that the Federal sentencing 
guidelines account for these interests and ensure that 
offenders face advisory sentencing ranges that appropriately 
account for the scale, complexity, and dangerousness of these 
offenses.

SEC. 103. AMENDMENT OF FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINE RELATING TO CHILD 
SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who has 
not attained 18 years of age.
(2) Child sexual abuse material.--The term ``child sexual 
abuse material'' has the meaning given the term ``child 
pornography'' in section 2256(8) of title 18, United States 
Code.
(3) Prohibited conduct against a child.--The term 
``prohibited conduct against a child''--
(A) means--
(i) conduct committed against a child 
relating to--
(I) kidnapping;
(II) illegal sexual abuse, contact, 
or activity;
(III) live streaming of child 
sexual abuse;
(IV) using a child to produce child 
sexual abuse material; or
(V) sexual exploitation, including 
child sex trafficking; or
(ii) an attempt or conspiracy to engage in 
any conduct described in subclauses (I) through 
(V) of clause (i);
(B) does not include--
(i) conduct involving or similar to 
advertising, transporting, mailing, 
distributing, receiving, possession, accessing, 
or viewing child sexual abuse material; or
(ii) acquitted conduct, to the extent that 
such conduct is excluded from the scope of 
relevant conduct under section 1B1.3(c) of the 
United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual; and
(C) does not require a conviction.
(b) Directive.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of 
title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission 
shall review and amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy 
statements applicable to persons convicted of an offense under section 
1466A, 2251(d)(1)(A), 2252, 2252A, or 2260(b) of title 18, United 
States Code, in order to reflect the intent of Congress that penalties 
for the offense under the guidelines and policy statements--
(1) appropriately account for--
(A) the actual and potential harm to victims and to 
the public from the offense; and
(B) changes that have occurred since the relevant 
guidelines and policy statements were last amended with 
respect to--
(i) typical offense behavior; and
(ii) the use of modern computer and 
internet technologies; and
(2) to better reflect the current spectrum of offender 
culpability.
(c) Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (b), the United 
States Sentencing Commission shall--
(1) ensure that the Federal sentencing guidelines and 
policy statements reflect--
(A) the seriousness of the offenses described in 
that subsection;
(B) the need to afford adequate deterrence to 
commission of the offenses;
(C) the need for just punishment for the offenses;
(D) the need to protect the public from further 
crimes of a defendant convicted of any such offense; 
and
(E) the need to differentiate among offenders based 
on their culpability and potential dangerousness;
(2) avoid duplicative punishment within the applicable 
guidelines and under the Federal sentencing guidelines for 
substantially the same conduct;
(3) develop a guideline that accounts for--
(A) whether, prior to, during, or after the offense 
at issue, the defendant engaged in, conspired to engage 
in, or attempted to engage in--
(i) an act of prohibited conduct against a 
child; or
(ii) a pattern of activity involving 
prohibited conduct against a child, whether 
involving a single victim or multiple victims;
(B) whether, prior to, during, or after the offense 
at issue, the defendant--
(i) participated in a group dedicated to 
child sexual abuse material or prohibited 
conduct against a child; or
(ii) encouraged, instructed, required, or 
similarly caused another individual to commit 
an offense involving child sexual abuse 
material or prohibited conduct against a child;
(C) whether the defendant engaged in multiple acts, 
not accounted for in the defendant's criminal history 
or counts of conviction, involving child sexual abuse 
material over an extended period of time or with a high 
degree of frequency;
(D) whether the defendant intentionally used, or 
promoted the use of, software, technology, procedures, 
or any other means to conceal the offense or the 
identity or location of the defendant or any victim, or 
to destroy evidence for an improper purpose, unless 
accounted for in the conduct of conviction;
(E) whether 3 or more online channels, 
technologies, platforms, or methods were used to commit 
the offense;
(F) gradations in--
(i) the severity of the depicted sexually 
explicit conduct, including especially severe 
physical or emotional trauma; and
(ii) the age or physical development of the 
minor;
(G) the number of items of child sexual abuse 
material or the number of victims involved in the 
offense;
(H) whether the offense involved distribution of 
child sexual abuse material, accounting for the nature 
of the distribution, including--
(i) distribution in order to receive any 
valuable consideration; and
(ii) distribution through any method that 
does not limit who can obtain the material or 
how many individuals can obtain the material;
(I) whether the offense involved the production, 
creation, or manufacture of child sexual abuse material 
that is not subject to the cross reference in section 
2G2.2(c)(1) of the United States Sentencing Guidelines 
Manual to section 2G2.1 of the Manual;
(J) whether the offense was the direct and 
proximate cause of the victim's death by suicide; and
(K) any other conduct or factors that the United 
States Sentencing Commission determines appropriate to 
reflect the seriousness of the offense and 
differentiate among offenders;
(4) make any necessary conforming changes to the 
guidelines; and
(5) ensure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes 
of sentencing, as set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18, 
United States Code.
(d) Authority for United States Sentencing Commission.--In carrying 
out this section, the United States Sentencing Commission--
(1) may amend provisions of the Federal sentencing 
guidelines that were promulgated pursuant to any other specific 
congressional directives or legislation directly amending the 
guidelines and promulgate amendments that would result in 
sentencing ranges different than those that would have applied 
under such directives or legislation; and
(2) in developing a guideline that comports with the 
requirements of this section, particularly accounting for the 
factors set forth in subsection (c)(3)--
(A) may--
(i) design the specific offense 
characteristics, including the increase in 
offense level that each offense characteristic 
would provide; and
(ii) define any terms; and
(B) may not lower the applicable base offense level 
provided in section 2G2.2(a) of the United States 
Sentencing Guidelines Manual as in effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act.
(e) Repeals.--
(1) Laws.--The following provisions of law are repealed:
(A) Section 632 of the Treasury, Postal Service and 
General Government Appropriations Act, 1992 (28 U.S.C. 
994 note; Public Law 102-141).
(B) Sections 2 and 3 of the Sex Crimes Against 
Children Prevention Act of 1995 (28 U.S.C. 994 note; 
Public Law 104-71).
(C) Section 401(i)(1) of the Prosecutorial Remedies 
and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children 
Today Act of 2003 (28 U.S.C. 994 note; Public Law 108-
21).
(2) Guidelines.--Section 2G2.2(b) of the United States 
Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual is amended by striking 
paragraph (7).
(3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
shall take effect on the date on which the amendments to the 
Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements required 
under subsection (b) take effect.

TITLE II--ENDING COERCION OF CHILDREN AND HARM ONLINE

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Ending Coercion of Children and 
Harm Online Act'' or the ``ECCHO Act''.

SEC. 202. COERCION OF CHILDREN TO COMMIT HARM.

Chapter 110A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after section 2261B the following:
``Sec. 2261C. Coercion of children to commit harm
``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
``(1) Coerce.--The term `coerce' includes the use of 
extortion, threats, fraud, deceit, duress, intimidation, 
harassment, humiliation, degradation, or manipulation.
``(2) Minor.--The term `minor' means any individual who has 
not attained the age of 18 years.
``(3) Substantial bodily injury.--The term `substantial 
bodily injury' has the meaning given that term in section 113.
``(b) Offense.--It shall be unlawful for any person, using the mail 
or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within 
the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, 
to intentionally coerce a minor, directly or through an intermediary, 
to--
``(1)(A) die by suicide or attempt to die by suicide; or
``(B) kill or attempt to kill any individual;
``(2) kill or attempt to kill any pet, emotional support 
animal, service animal, or horse;
``(3) strangle, suffocate, poison, burn, lacerate, or 
inflict serious bodily injury or substantial bodily injury on 
any individual (including the minor), pet, emotional support 
animal, service animal, or horse; or
``(4) commit or attempt to commit arson.
``(c) Penalty.--Any person who violates, or attempts or conspires 
to violate--
``(1) subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) shall be 
fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or 
life, or both; or
``(2) paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (b) shall be 
fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 30 years, 
or both.''.

SEC. 203. CLERICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

(a) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 110A of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 2261B the following:

``2261C. Coercion of children to commit harm.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Title 18.--
(A) Chapter 110.--Chapter 110 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended--
(i) in section 2252A(g), by inserting 
``section 2261C,'' after ``section 1591,''; and
(ii) in section 2258A--
(I) in subsection (a)--
(aa) in paragraph (1)(A), 
by striking ``online child 
sexual exploitation and to 
prevent the online sexual 
exploitation of children'' and 
inserting ``, and to prevent, 
online child sexual 
exploitation and online 
coercion of children''; and
(bb) in paragraph (2)(A)--

(AA) by striking 
``or 2260 that involves 
child pornography,'' 
and inserting ``2260, 
2261C, or 2422(b), 
or''; and

(BB) by striking 
``, or of 2422(b)'';

(II) in subsection (b), in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ``sexual'' and inserting 
``online'';
(III) in subsection (c)--
(aa) in paragraph (1), by 
striking ``, kidnapping, or 
enticement crimes'' and 
inserting ``or kidnapping, 
online coercion, or enticement 
crimes involving children'';
(bb) in paragraph (2), by 
inserting ``or kidnapping, 
online coercion, or enticement 
crimes involving children'' 
after ``sexual exploitation''; 
and
(cc) in paragraph (3), by 
striking ``, kidnapping, or 
enticement crimes'' and 
inserting ``or kidnapping, 
online coercion, or enticement 
crimes involving children'';
(IV) in subsection 
(d)(5)(A)(ii)(II), by striking ``, 
kidnapping, or enticement crimes'' and 
inserting ``or kidnapping, online 
coercion, or enticement crimes 
involving children'';
(V) in subsection (g)(3)--
(aa) in subparagraph (A), 
by striking ``, kidnapping, or 
enticement crimes'' and 
inserting ``or kidnapping, 
online coercion, or enticement 
crimes involving children'';
(bb) in subparagraph (B), 
by striking ``, kidnapping, or 
enticement crimes'' and 
inserting ``or kidnapping, 
online coercion, or enticement 
crimes involving children''; 
and
(cc) in subparagraph (C), 
by striking ``, kidnapping, or 
enticement crimes'' and 
inserting ``or kidnapping, 
online coercion, or enticement 
crimes involving children''; 
and
(VI) in subsection (h)(5), by 
striking ``the proliferation of online 
child sexual exploitation or preventing 
the online sexual exploitation of 
children'' and inserting ``or 
preventing the proliferation of online 
child sexual exploitation or online 
coercion of children''.
(B) Section 3509.--Section 3509(a)(2)(A) of title 
18, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``physical abuse, sexual abuse, or exploitation'' and 
inserting ``child abuse''.
(C) Section 5032.--Section 5032 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended--
(i) in the first undesignated paragraph--
(I) by striking ``or section 
1002(a)'' and inserting ``section 
1002(a)''; and
(II) by striking ``section 922(x) 
or section 924(b), (g), or (h) of this 
title'' and inserting ``or section 
922(x), section 924(b), (g), or (h), or 
section 2261C(b)(1) or (2) of this 
title''; and
(ii) in the fourth undesignated paragraph, 
by striking ``section 922(x) of this title, or 
in section 924(b), (g), or (h) of this title'' 
and inserting ``section 922(x), section 924(b), 
(g), or (h), or section 2261C(b)(1) or (2) of 
this title''.
(2) PROTECT our children act of 2008.--Section 2 of the 
PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 21101) is amended 
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) Child exploitation.--The term `child exploitation' 
means--
``(A) any conduct, attempted conduct, or conspiracy 
to engage in conduct that--
``(i) violates chapter 110 or section 
2261C, 2422(b), or 2423 of title 18, United 
States Code; or
``(ii) involves a minor and violates 
section 1591 or chapter 109A of title 18, 
United States Code; or
``(B) any sexual activity involving a minor for 
which any person can be charged with a criminal 
offense.''.

SEC. 204. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this title, an amendment made by this title, or 
the application of such provision or amendment to any person or 
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this 
title, the amendments made by this title, and the application of the 
provisions of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected 
thereby.

TITLE III--STOP SEXTORTION

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Stop Sextortion Act''.

SEC. 302. CRIMINALIZING THREATS TO DISTRIBUTE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 
MATERIAL.

Title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 2252--
(A) in subsection (a)(2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A)--
(I) by inserting ``, or threatens 
to distribute any visual depiction with 
intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, 
or cause substantial emotional distress 
to any person,'' after ``distributes, 
any visual depiction'';
(II) by striking ``foreign commerce 
or that'' and inserting ``foreign 
commerce, or involving a visual 
depiction that''; and
(III) by striking ``, or which 
contains materials which have been 
mailed or so shipped or transported,''; 
and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
``Whoever'' and inserting ``Except as provided 
in paragraph (3), whoever''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Whoever violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, 
subsection (a)(2) for threatening to distribute any visual depiction, 
as described in that subsection, shall be punished as provided in 
paragraph (2) of this subsection if no such visual depiction 
existed.''; and
(2) in section 2252A--
(A) in subsection (a)(2)(A)--
(i) by inserting ``, or threatens to 
distribute any child pornography with intent to 
intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause 
substantial emotional distress to any person,'' 
after ``any child pornography''; and
(ii) by striking ``foreign commerce or 
that'' and inserting ``foreign commerce, or 
involving any child pornography that''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
``Whoever'' and inserting ``Except as provided 
in paragraph (4), whoever''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Whoever violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, 
subsection (a)(2)(A) for threatening to distribute any child 
pornography, as described in that subsection, shall be punished as 
provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection if no such child 
pornography existed.''.

SEC. 303. PENALTIES FOR THREATS TO DISTRIBUTE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 
MATERIAL.

(a) In General.--Title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 1466A--
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
subsection (b), by inserting ``, but if the offense 
involves the knowing use of a visual depiction of a 
minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, with the 
intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause 
substantial emotional distress to any person, the 
maximum term of imprisonment provided in section 
2252A(b)(1) shall be increased by 10 years'' before the 
period at the end; and
(B) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
subsection (c), by inserting ``, but if the offense 
involves the knowing use of a visual depiction of a 
minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, with the 
intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause 
substantial emotional distress to any person, the 
maximum term of imprisonment provided in section 
2252A(b)(2) shall be increased by 10 years'' before the 
period at the end; and
(2) in section 2260A--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``Penalties 
for registered sex offenders'' and inserting ``Other 
offenses and penalties'';
(B) by striking ``Whoever'' and inserting the 
following:
``(1) Offenses by registered sex offenders.--Whoever''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Additional penalties.--If any offense under section 
875(d), 2251, 2252, 2252A, or 2260 involves the knowing use of 
child pornography with the intent to intimidate, coerce, 
extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person, 
the maximum term of imprisonment provided in section 875(d), 
2251(e), 2252(b), 2252A(b), or 2260(c) shall be increased by 10 
years.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 110 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 2260A and inserting the following:

``2260A. Other offenses and penalties.''.

SEC. 304. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this title, an amendment made by this title, or 
the application of such provision or amendment to any person or 
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this 
title, the amendments made by this title, and the application of the 
provisions of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected 
thereby.
Calendar No. 346

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6719

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To prohibit threats to a minor, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

March 2, 2026

Reported with an amendment