H.R. 1865 - 115th Congress (2017-2018) - Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017

This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to specify that communications decency provisions protecting providers or users of interactive computer services from liability for the private blocking or screening of offensive material shall not be construed to impair the enforcement of, or limit availability of victim restitution or civil remedies under, state or federal criminal or civil laws relating to sexual exploitation of children or sex trafficking.

The bill amends the federal criminal code to specify that the violation for benefiting from "participation in a venture" engaged in sex trafficking of children, or by force, fraud, or coercion, includes knowing or reckless conduct by any person or entity and by any means that furthers or in any way aids or abets the violation.

A provider of an interactive computer service that publishes information provided by an information content provider with reckless disregard that the information is in furtherance of a sex trafficking offense shall be subject to a criminal fine or imprisonment for not more than 20 years.

Text (5)

Enrolled Bill

Placed on Calendar Senate

March 1, 2018

Engrossed in House

February 27, 2018

Reported in House

February 20, 2018

Introduced in House

April 3, 2017

Amendments (5)

Mar 19, 2018

Submitted in Senate

Sponsorship

Senate Amendment 2213

To provide additional funding to the Department of Justice to combat the online facilitation of sex trafficking.

Submitted

Mar 19, 2018

Submitted in Senate

Sponsorship

Senate Amendment 2212

To clarify that efforts of a provider or user of an interactive computer service to identify, restrict access to, or remove objectionable material shall not be considered in determining the criminal or civil liability of the provider or user for other material.

Submitted

Feb 27, 2018

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 527

An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 115-583 to request a GAO study of: (1) civil damages claimed and awarded in civil actions where the claimant alleges the defendant promoted or facilitated the prostitution of five or more people, or acted in reckless disregard of the fact that their conduct contributed to sex trafficking, filed pursuant to 18 USC 2421A(c); and (2) mandatory restitution requested and orders imposed by courts where a defendant is convicted of using or operating a facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce with intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another, promoted or facilitated the prostitution of five or more people, or acted in reckless disregard of the fact that their conduct contributed to sex trafficking, pursuant to 18 USC 2421A(d).

Agreed To

Feb 27, 2018

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 526

Amendment allows enforcement of criminal and civil sex trafficking laws against websites that knowingly facilitate online sex trafficking.

Agreed To

Feb 27, 2018

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 525

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 115-583 to make technical changes to the bill, add 'attempt' language that had been inadvertently omitted, clarify that only sex trafficking victims may recover restitution, and permit the existing affirmative defense to be raised in cases where a defendant is being prosecuted under subsection 2421A(b)(1).

Agreed To

Actions (48)

Show Only Major Actions

04/11/2018

Became Public Law No: 115-164.

04/11/2018

Signed by President.

04/03/2018

Presented to President.

03/21/2018

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

03/21/2018

Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 2. Record Vote Number: 60.

03/21/2018

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 2. Record Vote Number: 60.

03/21/2018

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1849-1872)

03/20/2018

Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1801)

03/19/2018

Senate vitiated previous cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1780-1784)

03/19/2018

Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 2. Record Vote Number: 57. (CR S1780)

03/19/2018

Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1773)

03/15/2018

Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1742)

03/14/2018

Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

03/14/2018

Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1731)

03/01/2018

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 339.

02/28/2018

Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

02/27/2018

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

02/27/2018

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 388 - 25 (Roll no. 91).

02/27/2018

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 388 - 25 (Roll no. 91).

02/27/2018

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

02/27/2018

The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

02/27/2018

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1865.

02/27/2018

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of an amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

02/27/2018

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

02/27/2018

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1317-1319)

02/27/2018

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1865 as unfinished business.

02/27/2018

On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

02/27/2018

Mrs. Roby moved that the Committee rise.

02/27/2018

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 748, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 3.

02/27/2018

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Mimi Walters amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Lofgren demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

02/27/2018

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 748, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Mrs. Mimi Walters (CA) amendment No. 2.

02/27/2018

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 748, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Goodlatte amendment No. 1.

02/27/2018

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1865.

02/27/2018

The Speaker designated the Honorable Jeff Denham to act as Chairman of the Committee.

02/27/2018

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 748 and Rule XVIII.

02/27/2018

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1865. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1865 under a structured rule with one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule makes in order an amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary printed in the bill. The rule also provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

02/27/2018

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 748. (consideration: CR H1290-1305; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1301)

02/27/2018

Rule H. Res. 748 passed House.

02/26/2018

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 748 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1865. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1865 under a structured rule with one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule makes in order an amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary printed in the bill. The rule also provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

02/20/2018

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 432.

02/20/2018

Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

02/20/2018

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-572, Part I.

12/12/2017

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

12/12/2017

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

04/26/2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

04/07/2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

04/03/2017

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

04/03/2017

Introduced in House

Public Record

Record Updated

Mar 22, 2023 7:50:51 PM