Austin News

On September 18, 2024, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives introduced the PROTECT Our Children Act in Washington. The legislation aims to reauthorize and modernize the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program.

“For decades, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program has played an invaluable role in helping federal, state, and local law enforcement work together to fight child exploitation and put vicious predators behind bars,” said Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). “By extending and modernizing this program, our legislation would ensure these Task Forces can continue to protect our next generation in an increasingly digital world.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) emphasized the urgency of addressing child sexual abuse: “We must save children who are victims of the most ongoing vile, stomach-churning crimes because child sexual abuse goes unstopped. Protecting such victims is urgent and imperative—and we have an obligation to provide tools and resources necessary to do it.”

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) highlighted the program's long-standing impact: “For more than 15 years, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program has helped law enforcement agencies protect innocent children from sexual predators who wish to exploit them online.”

“In almost every aspect of the real world, child safety is a top priority. That sense of urgency should extend to the virtual world too,” stated Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). He noted that their legislation aims to ensure that ICAC programs have sufficient resources for state and local law enforcement.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) added her perspective as a former prosecutor: “This law will help us continue this critical collaborative effort to protect children from predators on the internet.”

Representative Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) stressed the importance of combating heinous crimes against children: “It is imperative that we combat these heinous crimes, ensure thorough investigations and swift justice for victims, and advance the important work of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program.”

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), who authored the original PROTECT Act over a decade ago, reiterated her commitment: “Children deserve to grow up safe, without fear of exploitation... Technology evolves rapidly, so we have to move just as fast to make the internet a safe space for children.”

The ICAC Task Force Program assists state and local law enforcement agencies in responding effectively to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation. This includes forensic investigations, training, technical assistance, victim services, and community education. Since its inception in 1998, ICAC Task Forces have trained over 826,700 professionals and reviewed more than 1.45 million reports of online child exploitation.

The proposed PROTECT Our Children Act would update requirements for national strategies on child exploitation prevention; provide liability protection for ICAC task forces; make technical improvements; focus on both proactive and reactive investigations; and reauthorize funding through 2027.

The bill has received endorsements from several organizations including NCOSE, RAINN, National Children's Alliance, NCMEC, Rights 4 Girls, NDAA, Raven Fraternal Order of Police Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), and NCJTC.