HR 6998

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2026

Ms. Lee of Florida (for herself and Ms. Wasserman Schultz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To enhance hiring authorities at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Renewed Hope Act”.

SEC. 2. IMAGE AUDIO FORENSICS HIRING AND TRAINING PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

(a) Additional Personnel.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall hire, train, and assign not fewer than—

(1) 40 forensics analysts to the Victim Identification Laboratory of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations;

(2) 30 child exploitation investigators to the Victim Identification Laboratory of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations; and

(3) 130 additional forensics analysts and child exploitation investigators to support identification and rescue of victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse at Homeland Security Investigations offices of the Special Agent in Charge.

(b) Prohibition on Reassignment of Positions.—

(1) In general.—A position created under subsection (a) may not be reassigned to another component of the Department of Homeland Security that is outside of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations or the offices of the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, as applicable.

(2) Reassignment of employees.—An employee serving in a position created under subsection (a) may be reassigned to another component of the Department of Homeland Security that is outside of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations or the offices of the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations only if the employee elects to be so reassigned.

(c) Employment of Experts and Consultants.—Section 890A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 473) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (i); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:

“(g) Employment of Experts and Consultants.—

“(1) In general.—In accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent rate prescribed for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title, the Secretary may procure by contract the temporary (not in excess of 1 year) or intermittent services of experts or consultants to provide image and audio forensic analysis related to victim identification to support efforts to identify, locate, and rescue children seen in videos images and videos of sexual exploitation and abuse.

“(2) Placement.—The Secretary shall promulgate guidelines for assigning or detailing participants to positions at the Center, offices of the Special Agent in Charge, offices of the Resident Agent in Charge, and Attache offices.”.

SEC. 3. DECONFLICTION OF CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

Section 890A(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 473(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

“(3) Coordination.—The Secretary shall, with the concurrence of the directors of affected agencies within the Department, establish joint procedures to deconflict, coordinate, and synchronize child sexual exploitation investigations with the Center.

“(4) NCMEC coordination.—The Center may establish joint procedures with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to deconflict, coordinate, and synchronize child sexual exploitation investigations with the Child Victim Identification Program of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.”.

SEC. 4. VICTIM IDENTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a Victim Identification Training Program (referred to in this section as the “Program”) in the Cyber Crimes Center.

(b) Program.—The Program shall provide training used to identify victims of sexual exploitation and abuse to—

(1) Homeland Security Investigations personnel;

(2) Federal, State, local, Tribal, and foreign law enforcement agency personnel engaged in the investigation of crimes of child sexual exploitation and abuse within their respective jurisdictions;

(3) Civil service organizations engaged in the prevention of child sexual exploitation and the identification of abuse victims; and

(4) The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

(c) Functions.—The functions of the Program shall include—

(1) annual training for participants focused on—

(A) training on the most current tools and techniques used in victim identification; and

(B) training on the capabilities of the Victim Identification Laboratory; and

(2) increasing personnel knowledge on how to conduct image, audio, and video enhancements.

SEC. 5. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS.

(a) Direct Hire.—

(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the head of Homeland Security Investigations may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 (other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such chapter) of title 5, United States Code, qualified candidates to the positions described in section 2(a).

(2) Limitation.—The authority under paragraph (1) shall not be available to the head if, during any period, at least 97 percent of such positions are occupied.

(b) Reports.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and for each of the 4 following years, the head of Homeland Security Investigations shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and any other relevant congressional committee of jurisdiction. Each such report shall include the following:

(1) The total number of individuals appointed by the head under this section during the preceding year.

(2) How the direct hiring authority under this section is being used by the head.

SEC. 6. APPLICATION.

The requirements of each of sections 2 through 4 of this Act, and any amendment made by such sections, shall be carried out not later than the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 7. PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS.

(a) In General.—A covered person shall—

(1) keep all identifying information and documents concerning a victim of child sexual exploitation or abuse in a secure place to which only individuals working to identify and rescue victims of child sexual exploitation or abuse have access; and

(2) not disclose or use any information or documents concerning a victim of child sexual exploitation or abuse other than for the purposes of—

(A) investigating or prosecuting individuals for crimes of child sexual exploitation or abuse;

(B) connecting victims—

(i) to licensed and trained trauma informed medical professions; or

(ii) with Federal resources available through the Office of Victims of Crime at the Department of Justice;

(C) complying with any mandatory victim reporting requirements; or

(D) sharing information with other law enforcement personnel for the purpose of investigating or prosecuting individuals for crimes of child sexual exploitation or abuse.

(b) Covered Person Defined.—In this section, the term “covered person” means—

(1) any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer; or

(2) any other personnel of the Department of Homeland Security, working in, employed by, or detailed to the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of Homeland Security Investigations or to the offices of the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations. <all>