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Kayla Hamilton Act
Introduced Jul 14, 2025 · Last action Dec 17, 2025 — Received in the Senate.
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Summary
This legislation is called the Kayla Hamilton Act. It was sent to the Senate for review.
Full bill text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4371 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4371
To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2008 to enhance efforts to combat the
trafficking of children.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 14, 2025
Mr. Fry (for himself, Mr. Nehls, and Mr. Moore of Alabama) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2008 to enhance efforts to combat the
trafficking of children.
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 ``Kayla Hamilton Act''.
SEC. 2. ENHANCING EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN.
Section 235(c) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``Subject to section 462(b)(2)''
and inserting ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), subject to section 462(b)(2)'';
(B) by striking ``In making such placements, the
Secretary may consider'' and inserting ``In making such
placements, the Secretary shall consider'';
(C) by striking ``A child shall not be placed'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in clause (ii), a child
shall not be placed''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Additional safeguards.--Except in
the case of a unaccompanied alien child who is
12 years of age or younger--
``(I) prior to making a placement
under clause (i), the Secretary shall--
``(aa) contact the
consulate or embassy of the
country of nationality or last
habitual residence of an
unaccompanied alien child in
the custody of the Secretary of
Health and Human Services to
request such unaccompanied
alien child's criminal record;
and
``(bb) shall conduct an
examination of the
unaccompanied alien child for
gang-related tattoos and other
gang-related markings, and
``(II) if the Secretary determines
that the unaccompanied alien child has
a gang-related tattoo, any other gang-
related marking, or an arrest record,
pending criminal charge, or conviction
in his or her country of nationality or
last habitual residence relating to
gang affiliation or activity, the
unaccompanied alien child shall be
placed in a secure facility.
Notwithstanding clause (i), the Secretary is
not required to review the placement of an
unaccompanied alien child in a secure facility
under this clause.''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``Subject to the
requirements of subparagraph (B)'' and
inserting ``Subject to the requirements of
subparagraphs (B) and (D)''; and
(ii) by inserting at the end the following:
``A child shall not be placed with an
individual who is unlawfully present in the
United States.''; and
(B) by inserting at the end the following:
``(D) Information about individuals with whom
children are placed.--Before placing a child with an
individual, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security,
regarding the individual with whom the child will be
placed and all adult residents of the individual's
household, information on--
``(i) the name of the individual and all
adult residents of the individual's household;
``(ii) the social security number of the
individual and all adult residents of the
individual's household;
``(iii) the date of birth of the individual
and all adult residents of the individual's
household;
``(iv) the location of the individual's
residence where the child will be placed;
``(v) the immigration status of the
individual and all adult residents of the
individual's household;
``(vi) contact information for the
individual and all adult residents of the
individual's household; and
``(vii) the results of all background and
criminal records checks for the individual and
all adult residents of the individual's
household, which shall include at a minimum an
investigation of public records sex offender
registry conducted through the U.S. Department
of Justice National Sex Offender public
website, a public records background check, and
Federal Bureau of Investigation National
Criminal history check based on
fingerprints.''.
<all>Official legislative text sourced from the public record (cached on CivicsHQ).
Official source
View the original bill, actions, and full legislative record on Congress.gov.
Status
Failed
This bill did not complete the normal legislative path (failed).
Timeline reflects current normalized status only. Full action history is not yet stored in the API.
Sponsors
- Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]RHouseSC
Votes
HouseRoll Call 340Dec 16, 2025
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)
Vote totals recorded, but member positions were not captured.
HouseRoll Call 339Dec 16, 2025
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 218 (Roll no. 339).
Vote totals recorded, but member positions were not captured.