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119-hr-5538119th Congress

Child Rescue Act

Sponsored By: Representative Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Introduced

Summary

A national Working Group to find and protect children depicted in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) would be created within DOJ to study victim‑centric policing and recommend resources, guidance, and legislation to identify and rescue victims across U.S. jurisdictions and abroad where U.S. perpetrators are involved.

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  • Families and children: The group would estimate how many child victims could be located and protected and compile annual CSAM report counts by locality and by victim‑offender relationship. It must deliver findings and legislative recommendations in a report due within 365 days.
  • Law enforcement and ICAC Task Forces: The group would develop a prioritization framework and best practices for Internet Crimes Against Children task forces, analyze why some investigations stall, and propose resource and workload recommendations. It has subpoena and hearing powers to gather evidence and testimony.
  • State, Tribal, local agencies, and tech firms: The group must solicit information from State, Tribal, and local law enforcement within 30 days and provide guidance on responding to technology companies that refuse lawful information requests and on international collaboration. A Technical Assistance Board of ICAC and child protection representatives will advise the group, which meets at least monthly and would terminate 120 days after its report unless reconvened.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Nationwide plan to find child victims

If enacted, the working group would estimate how many suspects and child victims could be found, including tips to the national CyberTipline. It would give local and relationship-level breakdowns and recommend funding and policing strategies, including when to check for related crimes. It would guide how to prioritize cases, including those using encryption, and how to respond when tech firms refuse lawful requests. It would also collect five years of arrest and prosecution data and analyze why cases stall.

Stronger tools to get case records

If enacted, the working group could request information from federal agencies, and agency heads would have to provide it. It could seek records from state and local agencies and would have to pay reasonable costs for those records. The chair could hire staff, bring in detailees on a reimbursable basis, and must ask every State, Tribal, and local police agency for needed information within 30 days. The group could issue subpoenas for witnesses and records tied to its work, and U.S. district courts could enforce them.

Create national child protection group

If enacted, the Attorney General would create a national working group within 90 days. It would focus on three groups of children tied to sexual abuse images, including kids in the U.S. and those abroad when offenders are in the U.S. The group would include federal, state, local, nonprofit, and expert members, including Internet Crimes Against Children task force reps. It would meet virtually each month, members would serve without pay, and a Technical Assistance Board could join meetings. The group would end 120 days after it files its report, unless the Attorney General keeps it going.

Rules for handling sensitive data

If enacted, the working group would have to follow all federal rules for controlled unclassified information. This includes any needed security clearances and handling steps.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

VA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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