PREVENT Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4888
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:53:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4888 (PREVENT Act)
Purpose
This legislation directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to maintain and expand an existing program focused on preventing child sexual abuse, with an emphasis on primary prevention strategies to stop abuse before it occurs.
Key Provisions
- The bill amends the Public Health Service Act by adding a new section (317W) that requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the CDC Director, to run the program.
- The program must:
- Identify gaps in research and practice related to child sexual abuse prevention.
- Address those gaps by improving data collection and surveillance systems (including for technology-related abuse), studying risk and protective factors, developing and strengthening evidence-based prevention policies and programs, increasing the spread of effective strategies, and addressing the rise in technology-facilitated abuse.
- The bill authorizes $6,000,000 in funding annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This measure adds a new mandatory program section to Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.), specifically after section 317V.
- It formalizes and expands CDC responsibilities for child sexual abuse prevention, including new focus areas like technology-facilitated abuse, which were not previously detailed in this part of the law.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The CDC would be required to expand its surveillance, research, and prevention activities, potentially increasing administrative and operational demands.
- On citizens: The program aims to reduce child sexual abuse through better data, strategies, and education, which could benefit children, families, and communities by lowering victimization rates.
- On international relations: No direct impacts are specified in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services, as the primary implementers.
- Children, families, and victims of abuse, as the intended beneficiaries of prevention efforts.
- Researchers, public health professionals, and organizations involved in child protection and education.
- Policymakers at federal and state levels who may use the improved data and strategies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill represents a straightforward expansion of public health authority under existing statutes, with no apparent constitutional conflicts.
- It emphasizes evidence-based approaches and data-driven prevention, including technology aspects, which could influence future policy on digital safety.
- Authorization of specific funding levels provides a clear budgetary framework but requires annual appropriations to take effect.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Preventing Risk and Exploitation through Validated Education and Network-based Training Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (3 pages)