H.R. 7225

119 HR 7225 IH: Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-01-22
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7225  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 22, 2026   Mr. Moore of North Carolina  (for himself and  Mr. Correa ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying against human traffickers.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act  .
2.
Victim-centered guidance
(a)
In general
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with Federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors and other appropriate stakeholders, shall develop and publish victim-centered guidance to strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying against human traffickers, including—
(1)
practices to minimize the adverse consequences of testifying on child sex trafficking victim witnesses;
(2)
safe travel, lodging, and accompaniment for child sex trafficking victim witnesses;
(3)
use of child advocacy centers and family justice centers, where appropriate; and
(4)
safety planning, including post-trial safety planning.
(b)
Guidance required
Not later than 180 days after the publication of the guidance required under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall disseminate and provide training to each office of the United States Attorney on the victim-centered guidance.
3.
Training on victim-centered protocols
(a)
Department of Justice training and policy for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges
Section 209(c)(1)(A) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 ( 34 U.S.C. 20709(c)(1)(A) ) is amended—
(1)
in clause (iii), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in clause (iv)(II), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(v)
protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying against human traffickers based on the victim-centered guidance published by the Attorney General in accordance with section 2(a) of the  Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act .
 .
(b)
Federal prosecutors
Section 209(c)(1)(B) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 ( 34 U.S.C. 20709(c)(1)(B) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  training on seeking  and inserting the following:
training on—
(i)
seeking
 ;
(2)
by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(ii)
victim-centered guidance to strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying against human traffickers based on victim-centered guidance published by the Attorney General in accordance with section 2(a) of the  Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act .
 .
4.
Additional uses for victim-centered child human trafficking deterrence block grant
Section 203(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 ( 34 U.S.C. 20703(b)(1) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (D), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(F)
strengthen protections for child sex trafficking victims testifying against human traffickers based on victim-centered guidance published by the Attorney General in accordance with section 2(a) of the  Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act ; and
(G)
carry out any of the authorized uses of a grant under section 204(a)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005.
 .
5.
Modernizing Federal child victims’ and child witnesses’ rights
Section 3509 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (6), by striking  child prostitution  and inserting  child sex trafficking and child prostitution ;
(B)
in paragraph (7), by inserting  victim advocacy,  after  law enforcement, ; and
(C)
in paragraph (8), by striking  prostitution  and inserting  commercial sex act (as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7102 )) ;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A), in the first sentence, by striking  in a room ; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in the paragraph heading, by after
Videotaped   the following:
and Digitally recorded  ;
(ii)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting  or digital recording  after  on videotape ;
(iii)
in subparagraph (B)—
(I)
in clause (ii), by inserting  or digital recording  after  by videotape ;
(II)
in clause (iii)—
(aa)
in the first sentence, by inserting after  videotape  the following:  or digitally recorded ; and
(bb)
in subclause (IV), by inserting after  videotape  the following:  or recording ; and
(III)
in clause (v)—
(aa)
in the clause heading, by inserting after
videotape   the following:
or digital recording  ;
(bb)
in the first sentence, by inserting  or digital recording  after  on video tape ; and
(cc)
in the second sentence, by inserting after  videotape  the following:  or digital recording ;
(iv)
in subparagraph (C), by inserting after  videotaped  the following:  or digitally recorded ;
(v)
in subparagraph (D)—
(I)
by inserting after  videotaping  the following:  or digital recording ; and
(II)
by inserting after  videotaped  the following:  or digitally recorded ;
(vi)
in subparagraph (E), by inserting after  videotaped  the following:  or digitally recorded ; and
(vii)
in subparagraph (F), by inserting after  videotape  each place it appears the following:  or digital recording ; and
(3)
in subsection (i), in the last sentence, by inserting after  recorded on videotape  the following:  or digitally recorded .