Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6732, the Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act, and I thank my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) for his leadership on this critical issue.

Madam Speaker, as technology advances, so do the tactics of predators who seek to harm our children. Current Federal statutes were not written with this kind of remote, organized, and coercive abuse in mind. When the law lags behind the tactics of predators, Congress has an obligation to act.

We are now confronting a deeply disturbing trend in which organized online networks target vulnerable minors, manipulate them through fear and blackmail, and coerce them into committing acts of violence against themselves, others, or even animals.

These online groups use mainstream platforms to gain access to children, extract personal information or images, and then weaponize that material.

The result is severe psychological coercion and abuse--children forced into self-mutilation, cruelty to animals, or even suicide, all at the direction of anonymous criminals who often operate across borders and behind ever-changing online identities.

Our laws must be able to meet this threat head-on. H.R. 6732 does exactly that. This bill modernizes Federal criminal law by clearly criminalizing the coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in self- harm, animal crushing, or other abusive or degrading conduct.

This legislation closes dangerous gaps in current law and sends an unmistakable message: Compelling a child to destroy themselves or to harm others is child abuse. It is criminal, and it will be prosecuted.

Madam Speaker, protecting children is one of Congress' most solemn responsibilities. H.R. 6732 is a necessary, targeted, and responsible response to a real and growing threat.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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