Congress·Passed House·H.R. 6719

Congress Targets Online “Sextortion” by Making Threats to Share Minor Sexual Images a Federal Crime

James T. Woods Act

Also known as: Combating Online Predators Act

2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: New Federal Laws Criminalize Sextortion Targeting Minors

Legislative Progress

✓ House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Creates a new federal crime for threatening to share sexual images of a minor to pressure them into making or sending more images.
Covers threats sent online or across state or national lines, like messages, emails, or posts that travel through the internet.
Applies even if the target is someone the offender believes is a minor, aiming to stop “sextortion” attempts early.
Adds these threat-based crimes into existing federal child sexual exploitation laws, which can strengthen prosecution tools.
Could increase law enforcement investigations and criminal penalties for people who use threats to exploit kids online.

Criminal JusticeCivil RightsTechnology

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Negative Impacts(1)

Criminal Record

Hurts

Mixed Impacts(2)

Child Tax Credit

Neutral

Federal Employee

Neutral

Positive Impacts(1)

Student

Helps

Milestones

6 milestones15 actions

Mar 2, 2026Senate

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 346.

Mar 2, 2026Senate

Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Feb 26, 2026Senate

Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Jan 13, 2026Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 12, 2026House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law (no date provided in text)

If Congress passes the bill and the President signs it, threatening a minor with sexual-image distribution to force new images becomes a clearer federal crime.

People making these threats face a higher chance of federal charges; victims and families may see faster, more direct enforcement options.

Related News

3 articles

Quiver Quantitative (CongressRadar)·2 months ago

U.S. House Unanimously Passes Combating Online Predators Act Introduced by Rep. Laurel Lee

AI summary of a press release stating the House unanimously passed H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act, to criminalize threats to distribute child sexual abuse material used in sextortion schemes.

Rep. Julie Fedorchak official site (press release)·2 months ago

Fedorchak votes to protect kids online, hold online predators accountable

Press release summarizing passage of multiple child-exploitation bills; specifically notes H.R. 6719 criminalizes threats to distribute sexually explicit images of minors used to coerce more material (sextortion).

The Floridian

Florida Congresswoman Laurel Lee’s Combating Online Predators Act Passes House Judiciary Committee

Covers House Judiciary Committee action on Lee’s bill, describing how it targets sextortion by criminalizing threats to distribute sexual images of minors to coerce additional content.

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