S. 724 · 118th Congress · Senate

Preventing Child Sex Abuse Act of 2023

In Congress· Held at the desk.
Introduced
Mar 8, 23
Passed Senate
Mar 8, 23
Passed House
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Preventing Child Sex Abuse Act of 2023

This bill makes changes to the federal law prohibiting child sexual tourism.

First, the bill revises the specific intent required for certain offenses involving interstate or foreign travel to engage in or facilitate illicit sexual conduct. Specifically, this bill requires the government to prove that an individual traveled (or facilitated travel) with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct (currently, with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct). Further, it specifies that the term intent is to be construed as any intention to engage in illicit sexual conduct at the time of the travel.

Second, the bill establishes new criminal offenses for acts in furtherance of illicit sexual conduct by an officer, director, employee, or agent of an organization through his or her connection to or affiliation with the organization. A violation is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to 30 years, or both.

Finally, the bill specifies that the term sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense does not require interpersonal physical contact.

Previous Versions

55Mar 8, 2023

Preventing Child Sex Abuse Act of 2023

This bill makes changes to the federal law prohibiting child sexual tourism.

First, the bill revises the specific intent required for certain offenses involving interstate or foreign travel to engage in or facilitate illicit sexual conduct. Specifically, this bill requires the government to prove that an individual traveled (or facilitated travel) with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct (currently, with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct). Further, it specifies that the term intent is to be construed as any intention to engage in illicit sexual conduct at the time of the travel.

Second, the bill establishes new criminal offenses for acts in furtherance of illicit sexual conduct by an officer, director, employee, or agent of an organization through his or her connection to or affiliation with the organization. A violation is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to 30 years, or both.

Finally, the bill specifies that the term sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense does not require interpersonal physical contact.

Action Timeline

6
  1. MAR 09, 2023Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  2. MAR 09, 2023Floor

    Received in the House.

  3. MAR 09, 2023Floor

    Held at the desk.

  4. MAR 08, 2023IntroReferral

    Introduced in Senate

  5. MAR 08, 2023Floor

    Passed/agreed to in Senate

    Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S722-723; text: CR S722-723)

    722Yea
    723Nay
    0NV
  6. MAR 08, 2023Floor

    Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S722-723; text: CR S722-723)

    722Yea
    723Nay
    0NV