A bill introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) is advancing in Congress. Cornyn stopped in Dallas Thursday to meet with law enforcement and non-profits to talk about the potential impact of the "Protect Safe Childhood Act."
The bill would reauthorize an existing program and provide up to $60 million in federal grants a year through 2028. Police and sheriff's departments could use the money to investigate cases of child exploitation.
"This isn't something the federal government can do by itself. This isn't something local governments can do by themselves," Cornyn says.
Cornyn says the bill would help departments communicate and work with each other as well as prosecutors and non-profits. He says departments must continue adapting as predators adapt.
"As technology gets more and more sophisticated, the investigations can be extraordinarily complex and challenging," he says.
The grants could help smaller departments work with larger police agencies to investigate child exploitation. Smaller departments may not have the same tools as a place like Dallas.
During the roundtable in Dallas, Cornyn saw a Dallas Police dog trained to sniff out electronics like thumb drives or cell phones a predator may use and keep hidden.
Over two weeks at the end of January, Dallas Police worked with other departments on a task force to rescue kids and arrest traffickers. They say "Operation Janus" led to the rescue of 13 kids and led to 90 charges being filed against 47 people.
"These investigators together dedicated their days and nights seeking out child victims and apprehending abusers and traffickers," says Lt. Cyrus Zafrani.
The group met at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, which works with law enforcement on child abuse cases and helps families begin healing after seeing or experiencing abuse.
"When everyone is working together, we help to reduce duplication of referrals, duplication of interviews and make sure that family does not fall through the cracks," says Chief Executive Irish Burch.
Burch says the nonprofit's mission is to eliminate the need for victims or family members to seek out their own path toward healing.
"Not only do we do the investigation part of it, but then we also make sure that family has everything they need to be on that journey to healing," Burch says. "From investigation to healing and also prosecution, we work collaboratively in that way."
Cornyn's bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting a committee meeting in the U.S. House. A companion bill has also been filed in the House.
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