On the recordDecember 5, 2022
I ask my colleagues to support S. 4834, PROTECT Our Children Act of 2022. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4834, the ``PROTECT Our Children Act of 2022,'' a critical piece of bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the Internet Crimes Against Children task force program, or ``ICAC,'' which has worked tirelessly for 14 years to protect our children from online predators. It is no exaggeration to say the internet is today one of the most dangerous places for our nation's children, many of whom spend hours each day online. Predators use social media and other online resources to groom and entice children to commit sexual acts. The internet makes it easy for sex and labor traffickers to gain clandestine access to children and teens, recruit them into their organizations, and exploit them. The internet is also the primary vehicle for distributing child sex abuse material and committing criminal acts of sextortion against minors. It also provides an open forum for cyberbullying and online harassment, which can lead victims of such conduct to withdraw, become depressed, and even commit suicide. To combat these monstrous crimes and protect our youth from exploitation, ICAC task forces work with federal, state, and local law enforcement to develop an effective, holistic response to cybercrimes against children. Their programs include forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.…
