HR 6998
Cleared committee
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to hire, train, and assign at least 200 forensics analysts and child exploitation investigators to help identify and rescue victims of child sexual exploitation.
Official title: Renewed Hope Act
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Introduced
09-JAN-2026
Referred
09-JAN-2026
Approved by committee
13-JAN-2026
- Requires 40 forensics analysts and 30 child exploitation investigators for the Victim Identification Laboratory, plus 130 more positions supporting Homeland Security Investigations field offices
- Bars moving these positions outside the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit or Special Agent in Charge offices, and lets employees transfer out only by choice
- Creates a Victim Identification Training Program for federal, state, local, Tribal, and foreign law enforcement, civil service groups, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Requires victim information to be kept in a secure place and used only for investigations, connecting victims to medical and federal services, mandatory reporting, or sharing with law enforcement
No CRS summary yet. CRS writes one for most bills, often months after they move.
CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Check on congress.gov- Judiciary Committee (House)
Crime and Law Enforcement
■ 10 R■ 6 D
10 Republicans
6 Democrats