Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6732
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-13: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-27T20:41:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act (CSAFE Act) aims to protect minors from unlawful coercion by criminalizing the intentional compelling of children to engage in harmful, abusive, or sexually explicit activities. It targets behaviors facilitated through modern means like the internet or mail, expanding federal protections against exploitation.
Key Provisions
- Criminalization of Coercion: Amends Section 2422 of Title 18, U.S. Code (which deals with coercion and enticement) by adding a new subsection (c):
- Prohibits using mail, interstate or foreign commerce facilities (e.g., the internet or phone), or federal jurisdictions to intentionally compel a minor (under 18) to:
- Engage in self-harm, including suicide or attempted suicide.
- Commit "animal crushing" (defined in Section 48 as intentionally causing severe injury or death to animals for amusement or profit, often in videos).
- Perform abusive or degrading nonsexual conduct that could lead to criminal charges (e.g., bullying or hazing, even without physical injury).
- Participate in sexually explicit conduct (as defined in Section 2256(2)(A), which includes actual or simulated sexual acts for visual depiction).
- Penalties:
- Base offense: Fine, up to 10 years imprisonment, or both.
- If serious bodily injury results: Fine, up to 20 years imprisonment, or both.
- If death results: Fine, any term of years or life imprisonment, or both.
- Covers attempts, conspiracies, and a broad definition of "compel," including threats, extortion, blackmail, fraud, deceit, or manipulation.
- Juvenile Delinquency Update: Amends Section 5032 of Title 18, U.S. Code, to include the new coercion offense in rules for transferring juvenile cases to adult court, ensuring consistency in handling such crimes involving minors.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the existing coercion statute (18 U.S.C. § 2422), which previously focused mainly on sexual enticement of minors, to cover nonsexual harms like self-harm, animal cruelty, and general abusive acts.
- Introduces federal penalties specifically for online or interstate coercion tactics, filling gaps in prior laws that did not explicitly address manipulation leading to nonsexual harms.
- Broadens the scope of prosecutable conduct without requiring physical force, emphasizing psychological or digital coercion.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances the Department of Justice's (DOJ) and FBI's ability to prosecute interstate crimes, potentially increasing caseloads for cybercrime units and requiring more resources for investigations into online platforms.
- On Citizens: Provides stronger federal safeguards for minors against digital exploitation (e.g., sextortion or cyberbullying), deterring predators and offering victims clearer legal recourse. Parents and guardians may see improved protections for children online.
- On International Relations: Limited direct impact, but could influence U.S. cooperation with foreign governments on cross-border online crimes, as the law applies to foreign commerce facilities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Minors and Families: Primary beneficiaries, gaining explicit protections from coercion that could lead to physical, emotional, or sexual harm.
- Law Enforcement and Prosecutors: DOJ, FBI, and state authorities will enforce the law, with tools to address emerging online threats.
- Online Platforms and Tech Companies: May face increased scrutiny or liability for facilitating coercive communications, potentially leading to enhanced moderation policies.
- Perpetrators: Individuals engaging in manipulation (e.g., via social media) face new federal risks, including harsher penalties.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal jurisdiction under the Commerce Clause (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8), allowing prosecution of online activities affecting interstate commerce. It aligns with child protection laws like those against child pornography (18 U.S.C. § 2251 et seq.) but extends to nonsexual coercion, potentially increasing successful prosecutions in digital cases.
- Constitutional: Raises no major challenges but could invite First Amendment scrutiny if applied to speech; however, the focus on threats and harm likely withstands review as unprotected conduct.
- Political: Addresses contemporary issues like social media dangers and youth mental health crises, signaling bipartisan concern for child safety in a digital age. It may spur further legislation on online harms without altering broader privacy or free speech frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-13: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-01-12: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-01-12: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H632)
- 2026-01-12: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H632)
- 2026-01-12: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6732.
- 2026-01-12: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H632-634)
- 2026-01-12: Mr. Biggs (AZ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2025-12-18: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
- 2025-12-18: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-12-16: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-12-16: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act — issued 2026-01-12 — PDF (4 pages)
- Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-16 — PDF (3 pages)
- Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act — issued 2026-01-13 — PDF (3 pages)