Sponsors (10)
The bill expands federal authority and penalties to protect minors from cross-border coercion and clarifies prosecutable conduct for investigators, but it broadens federal reach and uses vague language that risks overcriminalization, duplicative prosecution, and harsh federal sentences.
Children and families: Federal law now criminalizes intentionally coercing minors via the mail, interstate/foreign commerce, or in U.S. special maritime/territorial jurisdiction, allowing the Department of Justice to pursue cross-border and multi-jurisdictional cases to protect minors from self-harm, sexual acts, or violence.
Victims and potential offenders: The bill increases criminal penalties (up to 10 years, 20 years for serious injury, and up to life for death), strengthening deterrence against adults who coerce minors across state or national lines.
Law enforcement: The statutory definition of 'compel' is clarified to include threats, extortion, fraud, deceit, or manipulation, making prosecutable conduct clearer and aiding investigations and prosecutions.
Parents, minors, and communicators: Broad and vague language (e.g., 'manipulation' or 'abusive or degrading nonsexual conduct') could criminalize ambiguous speech or noncriminal conduct, creating a real risk of overcriminalization and chilling lawful expression.
State and federal prosecutors: Federalizing conduct that overlaps with state crimes can create duplicative investigations, coordination challenges, and complexity about whether federal or state authorities should lead a case.
Defendants and victims' families: Very high federal penalties (including potential life sentences for deaths) may produce sentences that some view as disproportionate compared with state handling of similar cases, raising fairness and proportionality concerns.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal crime for compelling a minor via mail or interstate commerce to self-harm, commit animal crushing, abusive nonsexual acts, or sexually explicit conduct, and sets penalties.
Introduced December 16, 2025 by Andrew S. Biggs · Last progress January 13, 2026
Creates a new federal crime for intentionally compelling a minor, by mail, any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within U.S. special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, to harm themselves, commit animal crushing, commit abusive or degrading nonsexual conduct that could be criminal, or engage in sexually explicit conduct. Penalties include fines and prison terms up to 10 years (longer if serious injury or death results). The bill also adds the new offense to the list of offenses relevant to juvenile delinquency jurisdiction. Defines “compel” to include threats, extortion, blackmail, fraud, deceit, and manipulation. The legislation does not specify an effective date in the provided text.