Bill > HR2735

This bill strengthens legal protections for minors by modifying several provisions related to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and illicit sexual conduct. The bill expands kidnapping statutes to explicitly include obtaining a person through fraud or deception, and clarifies that for victims under 16, consent is not a valid defense unless the offender can prove they reasonably believed the victim was 16 or older. It broadens criminal definitions of sexual offenses by changing jurisdictional language from "crossing state lines" to "interstate or foreign commerce" and creates a new offense for intentionally touching the genitals of a person under 16 with harmful intent, even if it does not constitute a full sexual act. The bill also updates penalties and sentencing classifications for various sexual misconduct offenses, making attempts to commit such crimes punishable similarly to completed offenses. These changes aim to provide more comprehensive legal tools to prosecute and prevent sexual exploitation of minors, particularly in contexts involving federal jurisdiction like prisons, maritime locations, and interstate scenarios.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2735/all-info