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H. R. 7225

Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act

Shown here: Introduced in House (2026-01-22)

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”.

Workspace/Typeset/Bill

H. R. 7225

Protecting Child Sex Trafficking Victim Witnesses Act

Shown here: Introduced in House (2026-01-22)

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

(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

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”.