S. 3629Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Parity for Child Exploitation Offenders Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 2:08 PM UTC

The bill changes federal child sexual exploitation sentencing rules so that prior convictions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are counted the same way as state or federal convictions when determining recidivist penalties. It amends several sections of Title 18 to insert references to military offenses, ensuring that military convictions are treated equally in enhanced sentencing. The changes affect anyone convicted of child sexual exploitation offenses, including those with prior military convictions.

Key Provisions

Adds “or an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice” to the recidivist clause in 18 U.S.C. §2241(c) so military convictions count like state offenses
Replaces specific references to UCMJ article 120 with the broader phrase “the Uniform Code of Military Justice” in §§2251(e), 2252(b), and 2252A(b)
Includes military offenses in the sentencing‑enhancement language of §2426(b)(1)(B) by adding “or the Uniform Code of Military Justice” after “State law”
Updates §3559(e)(2) to treat “State or Military sex offense” and adds “or the Uniform Code of Military Justice” so military sex offenses trigger the same penalties as state offenses

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 18, 2024

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 18, 2024

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 18, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 18, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3629

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 18, 2024

Mr. Rubio (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to revise recidivist penalty provisions for child sexual exploitation offenses to uniformly account for prior military convictions, thereby ensuring parity among Federal, State, and military convictions, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Parity for Child Exploitation Offenders Act.

Amendments

Title 18 of the United States Code is amended—

(1)

in section 2241(c), in the second sentence, by inserting “or an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice” after State offense;

(2)

in section 2251(e), by striking “section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under” each place it appears and inserting “the Uniform Code of Military Justice or”;

(3)

in section 2252(b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking “section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under” and inserting “the Uniform Code of Military Justice or”; and

(B)

in paragraph (2), by striking “section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under” and inserting “the Uniform Code of Military Justice or”;

(4)

in section 2252A(b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking “section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under” and inserting “the Uniform Code of Military Justice or”; and

(B)

in paragraph (2), by striking “section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under” and inserting “the Uniform Code of Military Justice or”;

(5)

in section 2426(b)(1)(B), by inserting or the Uniform Code of Military Justice after State law; and

(6)

in section 3559(e)(2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

by striking State sex offense and inserting State or Military sex offense; and

(ii)

by inserting or the Uniform Code of Military Justice after State law; and

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by inserting or Military after State.