H.R. 6719House119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed House

James T. Woods Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated March 4, 2026 at 3:11 AM UTC

The James T. Woods Act strengthens federal tools against child sexual exploitation and online coercion. It creates a new crime that punishes anyone who threatens or forces a minor to commit self‑harm, violence, or other harmful acts, and it orders the Sentencing Commission to overhaul sentencing guidelines for child‑abuse offenses. The bill also adds penalties for threatening to distribute child pornography, even when no material exists, and updates existing statutes to reflect these new protections.

Key Provisions

Creates a new federal offense, Coercion of Children to Commit Harm (§2261C), making it illegal to use threats, extortion, or manipulation to force a minor to suicide, kill someone, harm animals, or commit arson, with penalties up to life imprisonment.
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to rewrite the federal sentencing guidelines for child sexual‑abuse offenses, adding factors such as number of victims, use of technology, organized groups, and severity of harm to determine appropriate sentencing ranges.
Amends existing child‑exploitation statutes (2252, 2252A, 1466A, 2260A) to criminalize threatening to distribute child sexual‑abuse material—even when no material exists—and adds a mandatory 10‑year increase to the maximum prison term for such threats.
Updates numerous cross‑references in Title 18 to include the new coercion offense and to reflect the expanded scope of child‑exploitation crimes, while repealing outdated provisions from earlier child‑protection laws.
Includes severability language to preserve the rest of the Act if any part is found unconstitutional.

Legislative Activity

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13 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 346.

March 2, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 15, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

December 15, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Judiciary Committee

December 18, 2025

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.

Judiciary Committee

December 18, 2025

HouseFloor

Ms. Lee (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

January 12, 2026 • 3:55 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H628-630)

January 12, 2026 • 3:55 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6719.

January 12, 2026 • 3:55 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H628)

January 12, 2026 • 4:08 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H628)

January 12, 2026 • 4:08 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

January 12, 2026 • 4:08 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 13, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Judiciary Committee

February 26, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Judiciary Committee

March 2, 2026

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 346.

March 2, 2026

Floor Debate

5 members

What members said about H.R. 6719 on the floor

3 Republicans2 Democrats

Rep. Laurel M. LeeR-FL-15 · Jan 12, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6719) to prohibit threats to a minor, and for other purposes, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6719) to prohibit threats to a minor, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6719.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as we recognize January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, I am proud of all the work the House Judiciary Committee has done and continues to do to protect children and our most vulnerable populations.

In the 118th Congress, the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance held two hearings focused on human trafficking, child protection, and the identification of victims. Through those important hearings, my legislation, the REPORT Act, which strengthened requirements for online service providers to report crimes involving child sex abuse material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, was signed into law. I applaud Chairman Biggs for beginning the 119th Congress with our first subcommittee hearing once again focused on protecting victims of online exploitation.

Our work is far from over, which is why I look forward to passing the Combating Online Predators Act today.

Mr. Speaker, the rise of sextortion against our Nation's children is troubling. Sextortion is a form of exploitation that occurs when someone threatens to distribute another person's private, sensitive material unless that person complies with a demand for additional sexual content, sexual favors, or money.

Incidents of sextortion have increased dramatically in recent years. Cases reported in the United States increased from 13,842 in the first half of 2024 to 23,593 in the same period in 2025. This rapid growth is disturbing, and it is unacceptable.

Children are especially vulnerable to falling victim to sextortion, with boys aged 14 to 17 most often being targeted. Tragically, this exploitation has led some young people to take their own lives in an attempt to prevent their images from being shared with friends or family.

Through this horrendous conduct, we have lost beautiful young lives, including Gavin Guffey from South Carolina, Bryce Tate from West Virginia, and many other children. I have also met with parents, including a mother from my home State of Florida, who shared the heartbreaking story of her son who fell victim to sextortion and later took his life.

Each of these precious lives was taken too soon, and today, we honor and remember them. Yet, under current law, law enforcement is not fully equipped with the tools necessary to prosecute those who push children into these acts. Sextortion falls outside of the CSAM statute, forcing Federal prosecutors to rely on a patchwork of charging theories that do not fully reflect the gravity of these crimes. The absence of a specific Federal statute prohibiting sextortion leads to inconsistent and inadequate sentencing that can fail to capture the seriousness of this offense.

A legislative fix is, therefore, necessary to ensure Federal prosecutors can charge this conduct directly and fight sextortion effectively.

Congress has a duty to protect children from online exploitation and ensure predators are held fully accountable. The Combating Online Predators Act does exactly that by amending the United States Criminal Code to criminalize intentional threats to distribute child sex abuse material.

No child should ever encounter these threats online, and no child should ever feel that the only way out is to end their own life. Predators must be stopped, and today, Congress continues its work. By passing the Combating Online Predators Act, we strengthen our laws, close a dangerous gap, and send a clear message to predators everywhere that this conduct will not be tolerated.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs), the subcommittee chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their thoughtful debate and for their support on this important issue. This legislation addresses a clear and dangerous gap in Federal law that predators have exploited to harm children online.

By explicitly criminalizing threats to distribute child sex abuse material, Congress ensures these heinous acts are prosecuted with the seriousness that they deserve. This legislation reflects the bipartisan recognition that protecting children from exploitation is a shared responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, it provides law enforcement with the clarity, consistency, and tools necessary to hold offenders accountable and prevent future harm.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to pass H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Jamie RaskinD-MD-8 · Jan 12, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act, and I echo my distinguished colleague in noting that…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act, and I echo my distinguished colleague in noting that sextortion is a serious and rising threat faced by countless unsuspecting teens all over America when they use the internet and social media.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or NCMEC, operates a Cyber Tip Line to receive reports of suspected child exploitation. The Cyber Tip Line has received many more reports of sextortion of minors in recent years, amounting to tens of thousands of potential victims. These crimes have deadly consequences.

NCMEC has identified 36 teens who took their own lives after being subjected to harsh and incessant harassment from callous perpetrators of sextortion. The problem is everywhere.

Last May, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced the guilty plea of a man who had coerced at least 108 different girls to send him pictures and videos of themselves engaged in sexual conduct. The victims ranged in age from 5 to 17 years old and lived all over the U.S. and even around the world, from Tennessee and Massachusetts to Australia and the United Kingdom.

When the man asked for access to the social media account of an 11- year-old, he wrote: ``Add me back or I'll post all your vids online and in servers. I have everything saved.''

When some victims said they did not want to send him any more images, he threatened to post the images online, come to their house, or tell their parents. The man victimized a 12-year-old, her friend, and her 5- year-old sister through Snapchat.

Investigators obtained an IP address linked to the Snapchat account, which eventually led them to the perpetrator's house, where they recovered a laptop, two hard drives, and four iPhones containing evidence of the coercive treatment of more than 100 different girls. In this case, the man pled guilty to an existing crime of producing child sex abuse material.

Prosecutors have said the existing statutes do not always fully address the scope or severity of the conduct involved in these terrible cases. This bill would close that gap and ensure that more of these criminals are held accountable.

I hope we continue to work with our colleagues in a bipartisan way to strengthen and improve our laws to address these new and dangerous crimes and to keep our children safe online.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6719, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, to close, I strongly support H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act. I encourage all of our colleagues to support it, and I praise the gentlewoman for her leadership on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Lucy McBathD-GA-6 · Jan 20, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act. There are a number of teenagers and pre-teens who have lost their lives to suicide because of sextortion. We are…

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act.

There are a number of teenagers and pre-teens who have lost their lives to suicide because of sextortion. We are fighting against criminal individuals and groups who seek out our children with no goal other than to cause turmoil. Sextortion is a dangerous and sick activity that has been increasingly used against children--so much so that the FBI has released warnings on the growing risk this poses to our kids, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has reported a nearly 200 percent increase in attempts. As our social landscape continues to evolve, placing our most vulnerable population online more often, we must be prepared with the laws to deter and punish bad actors.

These perpetrators have taken Al-generated images of their victims or convinced the teens to send nude images of themselves and used them as leverage for outrageous demands. Some perpetrators will demand thousands of dollars--a request that is near impossible for the vast majority of teens.

Teenagers worry about so many things: what they are going to wear for homecoming, why their acne cannot seem to get under control, whether they should go to college or trade school. They should not be worried about someone catfishing them and using intimate images of them to either coerce money from them or push them to self-harm.

From Michigan, to Kentucky, to Ohio, and Georgia, these schemes range across the country. These sextortion operations are expanding, and we must do what we can to help law enforcement and prosecutors bring these evils to justice.

With this bill, we will provide prosecutors with additional tools to hold perpetrators accountable for schemes in which they seek to obtain explicit photos and videos of minors.

Our teenagers are in need of protection regardless of their independence and maturity. I am proud to support this legislation to ensure our teenagers can spend this pivotal moment in their lives focusing on things that will positively shape them into adulthood. They should have the chance to enjoy their teenage years without threat or malice.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act.

Rep. Andy BiggsR-AZ-5 · Jan 12, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this issue. I thank all the members of our Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, both Republicans and Democrats, for…

Rep. Mark HarrisR-NC-8 · Jan 12, 2026

Mr. Speaker, the internet is increasingly becoming a hostile place for children. The practice of sextortion is becoming far too common. As many as one in five teenagers report experiencing…

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued March 2, 2026

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.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Combating Online Predators Act or the COP Act.

Prohibiting threats to a minor

(a)

Material involving the sexual exploitation of minors

Section 2252A of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (6), by striking illegal; or and inserting illegal;;

(B)

in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:

(8)

knowingly distributes, offers, sends, or provides, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a threat to distribute—

(A)

a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, or

(B)

a visual depiction of a person the defendant believes is a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct,

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

(2)

in subsection (b), by striking or (6) and inserting (6), or (8).

(b)

Material constituting or containing child pornography

Section 2252 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by striking or at the end;

(B)

in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by inserting or after the semicolon; and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

(5)

knowingly distributes, offers, sends, or provides, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a threat to distribute—

(A)

a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, or

(B)

a visual depiction of a person the defendant believes is a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct,

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,

;

(2)

in subsection (b)(2), by inserting or (5) after paragraph (4); and

(3)

in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or (5) after paragraph (4).

Short title

This Act may be cited as the James T. Woods Act.

SAFE Act

101.

Short title

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

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.

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.

Ending coercion of children and harm online

201.

Short title

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

202.

Coercion of children to commit harm

Chapter 110A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2261B the following:

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.

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.

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.

III

Stop sextortion

301.

Short title

This title may be cited as the Stop Sextortion Act.

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.

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.

304.

Severability

March 2, 2026

Reported with an amendment