# 119-hr-5538: Child Rescue Act

119-hr-5538, Child Rescue Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5538
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5538
- Congress: 119
- Title: Child Rescue Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-19
- Sponsor: Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Nationwide plan to find child victims: benefit, medium. 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 gui…
- Create national child protection group: benefit, low. 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 exp…
- Rules for handling sensitive data: cost, low. 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.
- Stronger tools to get case records: mixed, medium. 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 ba…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

## Sources
- [119-hr-5538 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5538)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5538 (as of 2026-04-21).