H.R. 7225

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7225 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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''.
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