HR6719119th Congress

Combating Online Predators Act

Sponsored By: Representative Lee (FL)

Passed House

Summary

Makes threats to share sexual images of minors a federal crime. It expands 18 U.S.C. §2252A and §2252 to cover knowingly sending or offering a threat to distribute a visual depiction of a minor or a person the defendant believes is a minor, when the intent is to induce creation or transmission of sexually explicit images across interstate or foreign commerce.

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  • Gives minors and their families new legal protection against online coercion by making threats to disseminate sexual images a prosecutable offense.
  • Expands criminal liability for offenders by treating threats the same way as some other child exploitation acts even if no image was actually distributed, and by covering cases where the target is believed to be a minor.
  • Helps prosecutors by adding a new offense clause in §2252A and a cross-reference in §2252 so threats sent across state or international lines can be charged under existing child exploitation statutes.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New federal crime for child sextortion

This bill would make it a federal crime to threaten to share sexual images of a minor. It would also cover threats about someone the sender believes is a minor. The rule would apply when the threat is sent in or affects interstate or foreign commerce, including online. It would apply when the goal is to make the minor create or send a sexual image. If enacted, it would take effect upon enactment and help prosecutors charge these threats.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lee (FL)

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Schmidt

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Gillen

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov

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