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H.R. 4371 119th Congress House

Kayla Hamilton Act

Official title: To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance efforts to combat the trafficking of children

Introduced: July 14, 2025 Introduced by: Russell Fry Republican · South Carolina See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Border security and unlawful immigrationChild safety and welfareDetention of personsHuman trafficking
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Immigration status and proceduresJuvenile crime and gang violenceSmuggling and trafficking
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White House position
Supports Statement of Administration Policy · Trump administration · Dec 16, 2025 Read the SAP
 Everywhere this bill has been 21 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 17, 2025
Received in the Senate.
Dec 16, 2025
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate H.R. 4371, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Stansbury demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Dec 16, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 16, 2025
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Dec 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)
Dec 16, 2025
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 218 (Roll no. 339).
Dec 16, 2025
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5933-5934)
Dec 16, 2025
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
Dec 16, 2025
Ms. Stansbury moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H5927)
Dec 16, 2025
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Dec 16, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4371.
Dec 16, 2025
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 951. (consideration: CR H5921-5927)
Dec 16, 2025
Rule H. Res. 951 passed House.
Dec 16, 2025
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 951 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.
Dec 16, 2025
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.
Oct 17, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-345.
Oct 17, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 297.
Sep 10, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 13.
Sep 10, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jul 14, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Dec 16, 2025 House · vote #340 On Passage Passed 225–201 See who voted →
Dec 16, 2025 House · vote #339 On Motion to Recommit Failed 208–218 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 135 – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 951, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Comm… Agreed to Dec 16, 2025
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What's happening now December 17, 2025

Received in the Senate.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Kayla Hamilton Act

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider additional information when it makes placement determinations for unaccompanied alien children in its custody. Under federal law, an unaccompanied alien child is a minor with no lawful immigration status and no parent or legal guardian in the United States to provide care and physical custody.

Current law requires HHS to (1) place a child in the least restrictive setting that is in the child's best interest, and (2) assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor prior to placing a child with that sponsor. 

In determining the least restrictive setting, this bill requires (currently, permits) HHS to consider the child's danger to self, danger to the community, and flight risk. Additionally, the bill requires placement in a secure facility in the case of a child who is 13 years of age or older and has gang-related markings or tattoos or a history of gang-related arrests or criminal conduct.

In assessing the safety and suitability of a sponsor, this bill requires HHS to collect and provide to the Department of Homeland Security information about all adult residents of the household, including name, date of birth, Social Security number, immigration status, contact information, and the results of all background and criminal records checks. The bill also prohibits HHS from placing a child with a sponsor who is unlawfully present in the United States. 

 Hearings & markups 2
 Related & companion bills 2
  • HRES 951 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify a…
  • S 3054 Kayla Hamilton Act
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 22

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bodies those filers lobbied

A filing lists the bills it worked on and the parts of government it contacted in separate sections, so these are the bodies those filers named anywhere in the filing, not a per-bill breakdown.

See all 22 filings →
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Moore, Barry
Alabama · Jul 14, 2025
 R
Nehls, Troy E.
Texas · Jul 14, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4371: Kayla Hamilton Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4371/
MLA
"H.R. 4371: Kayla Hamilton Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4371/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4371, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4371/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4371: Kayla Hamilton Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4371/)
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