All recent votes 115th CongressHouse and Senate

H.R. 1865Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017

5 recorded actions164 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Ann Wagner [R-MO-02]
Cosponsors: 174 · 114 Republicans · 60 Democrats
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Committees: Judiciary Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee
Latest action: Apr 11, 2018 · Became Public Law No: 115-164.

IntroducedApr 3, 2017
Passed the HouseFeb 27, 2018
Passed the SenateMar 21, 2018
Sent to the PresidentApr 3, 2018
Became lawApr 11, 2018

What the measure doesCRS summary

Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 was not intended to provide legal protection to websites that unlawfully promote and facilitate prostitution and websites that facilitate traffickers in advertising the sale of unlawful sex acts with sex trafficking victims. Section 230 limits the legal liability of interactive computer service providers or users for content they publish that was created by others.

(Sec. 3) The bill amends the federal criminal code to add a new section that imposes penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both—on a person who, using a facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service (or attempts or conspires to do so) to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person.

Additionally, it establishes enhanced penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 25 years, or both—for a person who commits the offense in one of the following aggravating circumstances: (1) promotes or facilitates the prostitution of five or more persons, or (2) acts with reckless disregard that such conduct contributes to sex trafficking.

A person injured by an aggravated offense may recover damages and attorneys' fees in a federal civil action.

A court must order mandatory restitution, in addition to other criminal or civil penalties, for an aggravated offense in which a person acts with reckless disregard that such conduct contributes to sex trafficking.

A defendant may assert, as an affirmative defense, that the promotion or facilitation of prostitution is legal in the jurisdiction where it was targeted.

(Sec. 4) The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to declare that section 230 does not limit: (1) a federal civil claim for conduct that constitutes sex trafficking, (2) a federal criminal charge for conduct that constitutes sex trafficking, or (3) a state criminal charge for conduct that promotes or facilitates prostitution in violation of this bill.

The amendments apply regardless of whether alleged conduct occurs before, on, or after this bill's enactment.

(Sec. 5) The bill amends the federal criminal code to define a phrase related to the prohibition on sex trafficking. Currently, it a crime to knowingly benefit from participation in a venture that engages in sex trafficking. This bill defines "participation in a venture" to mean knowingly assisting, supporting, or facilitating a sex trafficking violation.

(Sec. 6) A state may file a federal civil action to enforce federal sex trafficking violations.

Roll calls on H.R. 18655 roll calls on this measure

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Feb 27, 2018Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveMar 21, 2018

How every member votedHouse roll call 91

House Feb 27, 2018 · the primary vote

On Passage

Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act

Passed

388 Yea 25 Nay 17 not voting

Crossed both parties 25 of 413 voting members broke with their own party: 11 Democrats, 14 Republicans.

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How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members430 members

Democratic193 members

Republican237 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors174 · 114 Republicans · 60 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 1865 and vote against it. 9 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 186561 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 1865 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

GOOGLE CLIENT SERVICES LLCfiled by GOOGLE CLIENT SERVICES LLC, CROSSROADS STRATEGIES, LLC

Health Issues · Immigration · Foreign Relations · Telecommunications +15 more8 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2018Filing

NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN

Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICEIts PAC: American Association for Justice PAC

Consumer Issues/Safety/Products · Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) · Homeland Security · Transportation +17 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE ASSOCIATIONIts PAC: Entertainment Software Association PAC

Sports/Athletics · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Constitution · Telecommunications +6 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (IBM)

Computer Industry · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Defense · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities +5 more7 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2018Filing

ORACLE CORPORATIONfiled by ORACLE CORPORATION, FIERCE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Budget/Appropriations · Education · Health Issues · Intelligence +14 more7 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2018Filing

CRAIGSLIST, INC.filed by SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP

Telecommunications · Consumer Issues/Safety/Products · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Advertising +1 more6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

NETCHOICEIts PAC: Netchoice PAC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Consumer Issues/Safety/Products6 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2018Filing

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNIONfiled by AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, 627 CONSULTING, LLC

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV · Constitution · Telecommunications5 filings · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

FAIR GIRLS INCfiled by FAIR GIRLS, INC.

Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice5 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2018Filing

182 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.