Richard J. Durbin
Senator for Illinois · Democratic · United States
“(c) Duties of the Commission.--The Commission shall-- (1) conduct pursuant to subsection (a) a comprehensive study that examines and assesses the adequacy of laws addressing child marriage and the extent of child marriage across the country, including making specific findings relating to-- (A) barriers to and gaps in services for minors f…”
“(c) Duties of the Commission.--The Commission shall-- (1) conduct pursuant to subsection (a) a comprehensive study that examines and assesses the adequacy of laws addressing child marriage and the extent of child marriage across the country, including making specific findings relating to-- (A) barriers to and gaps in services for minors f…”
“(4) Qualifications.--Members appointed under paragraph (1) shall have demonstrated experience or expertise in-- (A) providing services to survivors of child marriage in the United States; (B) providing services to immigrant survivors of child marriage in the United States; (C) working with State governments to limit child marriage; (D) th…”
“(4) Qualifications.--Members appointed under paragraph (1) shall have demonstrated experience or expertise in-- (A) providing services to survivors of child marriage in the United States; (B) providing services to immigrant survivors of child marriage in the United States; (C) working with State governments to limit child marriage; (D) th…”
“(3) Rule of construction.--The amendments made by this subsection may not be construed to preclude, limit, or modify eligibility of any noncitizen spouse subjected to battery or extreme cruelty and otherwise eligible for relief as a VAWA self-petitioner (as defined in section 101(a)(51) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.”
“(3) Rule of construction.--The amendments made by this subsection may not be construed to preclude, limit, or modify eligibility of any noncitizen spouse subjected to battery or extreme cruelty and otherwise eligible for relief as a VAWA self-petitioner (as defined in section 101(a)(51) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.”
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“This Act may be cited as the ``Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Over 314,000 minors were married in the United States between 2000 and 2021. Most were wed to adult men and some were as young as 10 years of age, though most were 16 or 17 years of age. (2) Child marriage limits educational opportunities. Women who marry before they turn 19 years of age are 50 percent more likely to drop out of high school and 4 times less likely to graduate from college. (3) Girls who marry in their early teens are up to 31 percent more likely to live in future poverty. (4) Child marriage has harmful consequences for mental and physical health. Women who married as children have higher rates of certain psychiatric disorders.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4190-S4194] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] STATEMENT ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Schatz, and Mrs. Gillibrand): S. 5060. A bill to comprehensively combat child marriage in the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 5060 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.”
“Mr. President, we are not judging by this action of objecting the conduct of this judge. That is not for us to judge. Under the Constitution, it is clear. That will be a decision by the House of Representatives and maybe ultimately by the Senate. There is a reason why this has never been done on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and the Senator from Tennessee ignores that reality. It has never been done because it would taint the jury pool if there was ever an impeachment action against this judge. That is why I objected. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.”
“The only factfinding we have is from one Senator in Tennessee. According to the Congressional Research Service, there is no precedent for the Senate adopting a resolution condemning alleged judicial misconduct. The Senate has never done this before. We should not establish a new precedent here, especially when it could taint the jury pool if the Senate later considers articles of impeachment, if that ever happens. It could also open the door to Senate resolutions about other instances of judicial misconduct. We must have the highest standards for Federal judges, and the alleged conduct in this case is inappropriate, unacceptable, perhaps even indefensible. But the Constitution is clear. It is a matter for the House to consider at this point rather than the Senate. For these reasons, I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Barrasso).”
“Voir dire in the courtroom is the judge asking the basic question of potential jurors: Do you have any prejudice against this case that stops you from finding the truth? And people say: I don't. I have an open mind, and I will listen to the evidence and the law. Well, what the Senator from Tennessee wants us to do is to taint the jury, to get us on record before the House has any impeachment activity, before we sit as a jury as to how we are going to rule. That is why it has never been tried before on the floor of the U.S. Senate. I also note the resolution contains multiple material inconsistencies on what the Eleventh Circuit found during its investigation of Judge Ross' misconduct. This underscores that the Senate has not engaged, prior to the election of this resolution, in its own investigation or factfinding.”
“We sit like juries in criminal courts and civil courts across the United States, and we make bottom-line decisions as to whether the House impeachment shall be sustained. So the action starts in the House. If they vote to impeach, it comes to the Senate. The Senate sits as a jury and decides whether or not the impeachment goes through. That is why this resolution needs to be defeated. Senators serve as jurors in impeachment matters. Passing this resolution--passing this resolution, calling on the Senate to condemn this judge before there has been any effort at impeachment in the House of Representatives--is going to do what they call ``taint the jury.'' He would have already taken a position on the case as to who is right and who is wrong. You can't do that.”
“After someone has been impeached in the House of Representatives, for example a President, the case comes to the Senate for trial. I have sat through at least three of those, [[Page S4175]] maybe more. So we are juries; the U.S. Senate is a jury. What this Constitution, again, tells us when it comes to the role of the Senate: The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. No question about that. If the House impeaches, it is our job to decide whether we agree or not. It takes an extraordinary vote to impeach. And, also, let me be clear, this is critical: When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. That is a pretty high standard, isn't it? You have to swear that what you are doing is constitutional or to the best of your ability. So it is an awesome responsibility.”
“You start with this, the Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the United States says in article I, section 2, the House of Representatives shall have the ``sole power of impeachment''-- removal from office. The sole power of impeachment is in the House of Representatives, not the Senate. So why is that stopping us from this condemnation? Well, let me explain. Under the Constitution, Congress does not respond to judicial misconduct in the form of a Senate resolution. It never has. It is the responsibility of the House of Representatives, specifically the House Judiciary Committee, to investigate the allegations of misconduct and consider the next steps, including impeachment. But here is the critical element: Who is the jury? Where is the trial? It is right here.”
“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, you heard her lay out the case of wrongdoing by a judge. I am going to ask for the Senate to take action to condemn that conduct. Seems pretty straightforward, doesn't it? Turns out, it would be the first time in the history of the Senate that we do something like this. We asked the Congressional Research Service: Is there any Senate precedent for what the Senator from Tennessee is doing? They responded: There is no Senate precedent for either introducing or passing a Senate resolution condemning a judge's illegal misconduct. What? Out of thousands of judges in the United States at the Federal level, surely in history, someone has done something wrong that should be condemned, but it has never been done. Well, it gets down to some basic elements of constitutional law.”
“Last week, Leader Thune filed cloture so that we could move more quickly to Ms. Westercamp's nomination. After you have heard about her background, what do you think as a Senator? Despite her disrespectful and inflammatory comments, she is a priority for the other side. It is a disgrace that Senate Republicans are moving forward on this nomination while Senator McConnell is still in the hospital and so soon after Senator Graham's passing. Judges are chosen for judgment, for character, for maturity, for competence, for independence, and most especially, for their temperament. Ms. Westercamp does not meet that standard. I urge my colleagues to oppose her nomination.”
“There is much, [[Page S4169]] much more that she had to say about Senator Graham. Ms. Westercamp accused Senator Collins of Maine of prioritizing her ``own personal political power'' over loyalty to President Trump and called for her removal, as well as the removal of Senators Murkowski and Cassidy following their vote on the second impeachment effort against the President. Ms. Westercamp even posted a sexually explicit image and joke about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi--a post that Ms. Westercamp herself later described as ``not safe for work.'' Notably, it appears some of her inflammatory, overtly political posts were made while Ms. Westercamp was on duty, actually, as an attorney at the Department of Justice; she was tweeting away. That would violate Federal law.”
“Did you see the damage they did to this U.S. Capitol Building? Yes, we left for our lives. The Vice President was spirited out of here by the Secret Service to protect his life. Ms. Westercamp has also repeatedly attacked Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky for supposedly ``betraying President Trump.'' She even called Senator McConnell ``a modern-day Benedict Arnold,'' and she repeatedly called him ``Cocaine Mitch''--an inflammatory nickname used by MAGA critics of Senator McConnell, the Republican Senator and former leader from Kentucky. I am not going to be able to repeat some of the things that she wrote in her tweets. They are just too much. But of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, she wrote: True to NO ONE but [his] own self-preservation. She crudely called him a name that I can't repeat in the Record for not toeing the MAGA line.”
“So much for the judgment of this would-be judge. I was in this Chamber during the counting of electoral votes for the 2020 election. Vice President Pence was sitting where the Presiding Officer sits today. Members of Congress watched as Secret Service evacuated the Vice President. Within minutes, we were told to leave as well because a violent mob of armed insurrectionists intended to prevent the certification of the 2020 Presidential election results, which Donald Trump had lost by 7 million popular votes. But Ms. Westercamp dismissed this event entirely. She retweeted a post that read--and I quote: We're all supposed to be sending thoughts and prayers to traumatized Members of Congress whose workday was interrupted for a couple of hours. Mr. President, did you see the video? Did you see the mob?”
“Her offensive, inflammatory, juvenile social media posts demonstrate she lacks the independence and the maturity and the temperament to be a judge. Ms. Westercamp tried to delete her old tweets so we wouldn't see them on the committee. She failed. Our staff was able to recover them. In these tweets, Ms. Westercamp spread conspiracy theories about the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol and attacked Republicans and Democrats alike for being insufficiently loyal to President Trump. She elevated claims that the January 6 attack was ``orchestrated by Members of the Senate, and members of the [Capitol] police.'' Let me repeat that. In her tweets, she claimed that the January 6 attack on the Capitol, which we all saw the news of, was ``orchestrated by Members of the Senate, and members of the [Capitol] police.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4168-S4169] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Nomination of Kara Marie Westercamp Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, those seeking to recoup losses from President Trump's disastrous tariff policies will appear before what is called the Court of International Trade. As is the case with many of President Trump's judicial nominees in his second term, his choice to fill a vacancy on this Court Kara Westercamp was tapped because of her obvious loyalty to the President who nominated her instead of her loyalty to the law.”
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sheehy). Without objection, it is so ordered.”
“(h) Updates to Immigration Forms.--The instructions for Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relatives) and Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiance(e)) shall be updated to reflect the amendments made by this section. ____________________”
“(2) Elements.--The information provided pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be-- (A) made available in multiple languages on the website of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; (B) presented through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services community forums with immigrant communities in the United States; (C) incorporated into video advisories on immigration requirements shown at United States embassies, consulates, and ports of entry; (D) provided to all immigration legal services providers and refugee resettlement agencies in the United States for distribution to the community; and (E) made available on all relevant pages of the website of the Department of State.”
“(IV) Video advisories.--The Secretary of State shall incorporate the information contained in the updated pamphlet into video advisories on immigration requirements shown at United States embassies, consulates, and ports of entry. (g) Public Education on Child Marriage.-- (1) In general.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Attorney General, in coordination with the head of any other appropriate Federal agency, shall immediately, and on an ongoing basis, provide information to the public on-- (A) the harmful impacts of child marriage described in section 2; and (B) the governmental and nongovernmental resources an individual may contact to receive support services relating to such impacts.”
“(II) Public availability.--The Secretary of State shall display and make available to the public at each United States embassy and consulate the updated pamphlet in English and, if available, the primary language of the country in which the embassy or consulate is located. (III) Department of state website.--The Secretary of State shall post the updated pamphlet on each relevant website of the Department of State, including-- (aa) the website of the National Visa Center; (bb) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html ; (cc) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us- visas.html ; (dd) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/ international-travel/emergencies/forced-marriage.html ; and (ee) the website of each consular post that processes visa petitions.”
“(ii) Department of state.-- (I) Applicants.-- (aa) In general.--Except as provided in item (bb), the Secretary of State shall ensure that consular officers directly distribute the updated pamphlet to each applicant for a spousal or fiance visa during the consular interview for such a visa, in the primary language of the applicant. (bb) Exception.--If the updated pamphlet is unavailable in the primary language of an applicant, the consular officer conducting the visa interview shall-- (AA) review the contents of the updated pamphlet with the applicant orally in the primary language of the applicant; and (BB) distribute the English version of the updated pamphlet to the applicant.”
“Citizenship and Immigration Services, including-- (aa) the homepage of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; and (bb) https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/forced-marriage . (IV) Community forums.--The Director shall present the updated pamphlet through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services community forums with immigrant communities in the United States. (V) Legal services providers.--The Director shall provide the updated pamphlet to [[Page S4194]] all immigration legal services providers in the United States for distribution to the community.”
“(bb) Exception.--If the updated pamphlet is unavailable in the primary language of a petitioner or beneficiary, the Director shall mail and email the English version of the updated pamphlet to the petitioner or beneficiary. (II) Public availability.-- (aa) U.S. citizenship and immigration services offices.-- The Director shall display and make available to the public, in a publicly accessible location of each U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office, the updated pamphlet-- (AA) in English; and (BB) in multiple additional languages, including, in the case of a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office located in a foreign country, the 1 or more primary languages of such country. (III) U.S. citizenship and immigration services website.-- The Director shall post the updated pamphlet on each relevant website of U.S.”
“3068) entitled ``Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the United States and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-Based Visa'' to include the educational materials and information provided pursuant to paragraph (1). (B) Distribution of updated pamphlet.-- (i) U.S. citizenship and immigration services.-- (I) Petitioners and beneficiaries.-- (aa) In general.--Except as provided in item (bb), on receipt of a spousal or fiance visa petition, the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (referred to in this subsection as the ``Director'') shall mail and email the pamphlet updated under subparagraph (A) (referred to in this subsection as the ``updated pamphlet'') to the petitioner and beneficiary of such petition, in the primary languages of such petitioner and beneficiary.”
“(f) Public Education on Changes to Immigration Law.-- (1) In general.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State, in coordination with the head of any other appropriate Federal agency, shall immediately, and on an ongoing basis, provide educational materials and information to the public, in multiple languages, that describe the changes to the immigration laws made by the amendments under this section. (2) Updates to advisory pamphlet.-- (A) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall update the advisory pamphlet required under section 833 of the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-162; 119 Stat.”
“(d) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall only apply to-- (1) petitions or applications for any status or benefit under the immigration laws that are filed or otherwise submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) marriages that are completed after such date of enactment, except with respect to interviews described in subsection (e). (e) Interview Requirement.--An immigration officer or a consular officer, as applicable, shall conduct a separate, private interview of each party to a spousal or fiance visa petition or application prior to approval, in all cases in which at least one party was under 18 years of age at the time of the marriage or engagement that forms the basis of the petition or application occurred, regardless of the date on which such marriage or engagement occurred.”
“(3) Rule of construction.--The amendments made by this subsection may not be construed to preclude, limit, or modify eligibility of any noncitizen spouse subjected to battery or extreme cruelty and otherwise eligible for relief as a VAWA self-petitioner (as defined in section 101(a)(51) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(51))), or any battered spouse (within the meaning of section 240A(b)(2) of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(2))), for any available relief under the immigrations laws without regard to either spouse's age at time of marriage. (c) Proxy Marriage.--Section 101(a)(35) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(35)) is amended by striking ``marriage shall have been consummated'' and inserting ``parties have met in person during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of the ceremony''.”
“(C) Spouses of lawful permanent residents.--Section 203(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: ``(A) who-- ``(i) are the spouses of noncitizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who are 18 years of age or older and were at least 18 years of age at the time of marriage; and ``(ii)(I) were at least 18 years of age on the date of the marriage to a lawful permanent resident spouse unless the State of the United States in which the petitioner and beneficiary seek to reside together would have permitted them to marry under the laws in effect in such State at the time of filing; and ``(II) are at least 18 years of age or, if residing in a State described in subclause (I), are at least 16 years of age and establish a compelling, urgent humanitarian reason for the issuance of a visa, arising from a risk of individualized and targeted harm to the noncitizen if the visa is denied, which reason may not include parental consent, a child in common with the petitioner, pregnancy, or any combination of such factors; ``(B) who are the children of noncitizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or ``(C) who are the unmarried sons or unmarried daughters (but are not the children) of noncitizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence,''.”
“(B) Immediate relatives.--Section 201(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, a noncitizen spouse may only be considered the immediate relative of a United States citizen spouse if-- ``(I) the United States citizen spouse is at least 18 years of age and was at least 18 years of age at the time of marriage; and ``(II) the noncitizen spouse-- ``(aa) was at least 18 years of age on the date of his or her marriage to a United States citizen spouse unless the State of the United States in which the petitioner and beneficiary seek to reside together would have permitted them to marry under the laws in effect in such State at the time of filing; and ``(bb) is at least 18 years of age or, if residing in a State described in item (aa), is at least 16 years of age and establishes a compelling, urgent humanitarian reason for the issuance of a visa, arising from a risk of individualized and targeted harm to such noncitizen if such visa is denied, which reason may not include parental consent, a child in common with the petitioner, pregnancy, or any combination of such factors.''.”
“1101(a)(15)(K)) is amended to read as follows: ``(K) subject to subsections (d) and (r) of section 214, a noncitizen-- ``(i)(I) who is the fiancee or fiance of a citizen of the United States (other than a citizen described in section 204(a)(1)(A)(viii)(I)) who is at least 18 years of age; and ``(II) who-- ``(aa) seeks to enter the United States solely to conclude a valid marriage with the petitioner within ninety days after admission; and ``(bb) is at least 18 years of age; ``(ii)(I) who has concluded a valid marriage with a citizen of the United States who is the petitioner who is at least 18 years of age and was at least 18 years of age on the date of the marriage (other than a citizen described in section 204(a)(1)(A)(viii)(I)); and ``(II) who-- ``(aa) is the beneficiary of a petition to accord a status under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) that was filed under section 204 by the petitioner; ``(bb) seeks to enter the United States to await the approval of such petition and the availability to the noncitizen of an immigrant visa; ``(cc) was at least 18 years of age on the date of his or her marriage to the petitioner, unless that State of the United States in which the petitioner and beneficiary seek to reside together would have permitted them to marry under the laws in effect in such State at the time of filing; and ``(dd) is at least 18 years of age or, if residing in a State described in item (cc), is at least 16 years of age and establishes a compelling, urgent humanitarian reason for the issuance of a visa, arising from a risk of individualized and targeted harm to such noncitizen if such visa is denied, which reason may not include parental consent, a child in common with the petitioner, pregnancy, or any combination of such factors; or ``(iii) who is the minor child of a noncitizen described in clause (i) or (ii) and is accompanying, or following to join, the noncitizen.''.”
“(2) Immigration laws.--The term ``immigration laws'' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)). (b) Modifications to Immigration Provisions Relating to Marriage.-- (1) Definition of noncitizen.--Section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(53) The term `noncitizen' means any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States.''. (2) Classifications relating to visas for noncitizen fiances and spouses.-- (A) K visas.--Section 101(a)(15)(K) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.”
“(b) Composition of the Working Group.--The working group established under subsection (a) shall be composed of 8 members, [[Page S4193]] of whom at least 1 member shall be from the following components of the Department of Justice: (1) The Office of Legal Policy. (2) The Office of Legislative Affairs. (3) The Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Criminal Division. (4) The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Criminal Division. (5) The Office on Violence Against Women. SEC. 10. MODIFICATIONS TO IMMIGRATION PROVISIONS RELATING TO MARRIAGE. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) In general.--Except as otherwise specifically provided, any term used in this section that is used in the immigration laws shall have the meaning given such term in the immigration laws.”
“(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall establish a working group which shall, not later than 180 days after the date on which the National Commission to Combat Child Marriage in the United States issues the final report required under section 4(g)(2), promulgate a model State statute that-- (1) prohibits child marriage by requiring a person to be at least 18 years of age or, for a State with an age of majority that is older than 18 years of age, the age of majority in the State, at the time of marriage; (2) allows any individual married as a minor to choose to petition for such marriage to be voided; and (3) restricts any party who was an adult at the time of marriage to a person younger than the age of majority from voiding such a marriage.”
“No property that is on any land or in any building owned by, leased to, or otherwise used by or under the control of the Federal Government may be used to facilitate a marriage unless both of the individuals marrying are at least 18 years of age at the time of the marriage. SEC. 9. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CHILD MARRIAGE.”
“(f) Allocation of Increased Formula Grant Funds.--The Attorney General shall allocate an increase in the amount provided to a State under the covered formula grants under this section such that-- (1) 25 percent the amount of the increase is provided under the program described in subsection (a)(1); and (2) 75 percent the amount of the increase is provided under the program described in subsection (a)(2). (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032. SEC. 8. FEDERAL LIMITATIONS ON CHILD MARRIAGE.”
“(d) Grant Increase.--The amount of the increase provided to a State under the covered formula grants under this section shall be equal to not more than 10 percent of the average of the total amount of funding provided to the State under the covered formula grants under the 3 most recent awards to the State. (e) Period of Increase.-- (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall provide an increase in the amount provided to a State under the covered formula grants under this section for a 2-year period. (2) Limit.--The Attorney General may not provide an increase in the amount provided to a State under the covered formula grants under this section more than 4 times.”
“(b) Increased Funding for Formula Grants Authorized.--The Attorney General shall increase the amount provided to a State under the covered formula grants in accordance with this section if the State has in place a law that prohibits marriage for individuals who have not attained 18 years of age or, if more than 18 years of age, the age of majority for the State. (c) Application.--A State seeking an increase in the amount provided to the State under the covered formula grants shall include in the application of the State for each covered formula grant such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require, including information about the law described in subsection (b).”
“``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $375,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.''. SEC. 7. STATE INCENTIVES TO ELIMINATE CHILD MARRIAGE. (a) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``covered formula grant'' means a grant under-- (1) part T of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10441 et seq.) (commonly referred to as the ``STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program''); or (2) section 41601 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12511) (commonly referred to as the ``Sexual Assault Services Program'').”
“``(3) Tasks.--A task force established under paragraph (1) shall-- ``(A) collect Statewide statistics for each of the 10 years preceding the date of the grant award on the number, age, sex, and residency of individuals in the eligible State who were younger than 18 years of age at the time of the marriage of such individual; ``(B) examine the risk factors that lead to child marriage and negative impacts from child marriage in the eligible State, including the relationship between child marriage and threats to a minor's safety, health, and well-being, and including risk factors and impacts such as forced or coerced marriage, family violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, educational impacts, poverty, and other negative impacts on individuals who are younger than 18 years of age who marry; ``(C) develop policy recommendations for the eligible State to address negative impacts of child marriage on individuals and the intersection between child marriage and forced or coerced marriage, family violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, and human trafficking; and ``(D) prepare a report with the recommendations of the task force regarding how best to protect individuals who are younger than 18 years of age from the negative impacts of child marriage and forced or coerced marriages and enabling already-married individuals who are younger than 18 years of age to protect themselves from these forms of abuse.”
“``(2) Appointees.--A task force established under paragraph (1) shall include individuals with-- ``(A) advocacy expertise in combating family violence, sexual assault, or child abuse or neglect issues; ``(B) experience in social work or school counseling, with preference for such individuals with experience providing culturally specific services; ``(C) experience in providing legal assistance to survivors of family violence or sexual assault with a preference for such individuals with experience serving such survivors who are younger than 18 years of age; ``(D) experience in providing legal assistance to individuals with needs for child protection services, including foster youth, homeless and runaway youth, and youth otherwise at-risk for needing such services; ``(E) judicial experience with cases involving child protection and family violence issues; ``(F) legal experience with cases involving emancipation, guardianship, or child-specific protection orders, with special preference for such individuals who have worked on cases involving forced or coerced marriage; or ``(G) providing professional medical or mental health services to youth who have experienced child, early, or forced marriage.”
“``(a) In General.-- ``(1) Program.--From amounts made available under subsection (c), the Secretary may award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible States to establish a State- based task force to examine child marriage in the eligible State. ``(2) Eligible state.--In this section, the term `eligible State' means a State that permits an individual younger than 18 years of age to marry. ``(3) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an eligible State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. ``(b) State Task Force.-- ``(1) In general.--An eligible State awarded a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall establish a task force to examine child marriage in the eligible State.”
“1101(a)(15)(K)), as amended by section 10 of this Act; (II) clause (iii)(II) of section 201(b)(2)(A) of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)), as amended by section 10 of this Act; or (III) subparagraph (A)(ii) of section 203(a)(2) of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)(2)), as amended by section 10 of this Act. (B) A summary of feedback from adjudicators of such petitions with respect to whether the evidentiary requirements under the provisions described in subclauses (I) through (III) of subparagraph (A)(ii) provide sufficient guidance, and the manner in which such guidance may be improved. SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATE TASK FORCES TO EXAMINE CHILD MARRIAGE. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 315. STATE TASK FORCES TO EXAMINE CHILD MARRIAGE.”
“(2) Elements.--Each report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) For each petition described in paragraph (1)(A) approved during the 2-year period preceding the report-- (i) the sex of the beneficiary and petitioner; (ii) the ages of the beneficiary and petitioner on-- (I) the date of the marriage; (II) the date on which the petition was submitted; and (III) the date on which the petition was approved; and (iii) in the case of a noncitizen who was under 18 years of age on the date on which such a petition was submitted, a description of the basis upon which the evidentiary requirements were determined to have been met under, as applicable-- (I) clause (ii) of section 101(a)(15)(K) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.”
“(c) Child Marriage and Immigration.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter through 2035, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that assesses the extent to which-- (A) noncitizens who were under 18 years of age on the date of marriage are admitted to the United States as beneficiaries of approved petitions submitted by the United States citizen or lawful permanent resident spouses of the noncitizens; and (B) the United States has admitted nonimmigrant spouses who, on the date on which a nonimmigrant visa petition was submitted for the noncitizens, were under 18 years of age.”
“(2) Assistance in obtaining information.--The Comptroller General of the United States may request that States provide the information necessary to address the portion of the report required under paragraph (1)(C) to the extent authorized by law.”
“(b) Child Marriage in the United States.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing-- (A) Federal laws, regulations, policies, and programs relevant to child marriage and individuals who marry before becoming 18 years of age; (B) applicable laws, or the absence of laws, which define or prohibit child marriage; (C) the extent to which such marriages occurred during the 5-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act in each State; and (D) research and studies published during the 10-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act assessing-- (i) the common or typical circumstances in which such marriages take place, including information indicating the prevalence of forced or coerced marriage and risk factors that may have played a role in such marriages taking place; and (ii) the impact of such marriages on the individuals who were married before turning 18 years of age in the United States, including the impact on the safety and well-being of such individuals, including-- (I) medical and mental health; (II) economic and educational outcomes; (III) risk of or vulnerability to-- (aa) family violence; (bb) abuse or exploitation; (cc) sexual assault and reproductive coercion; (dd) child abuse or neglect; or (ee) human trafficking; and (IV) barriers to and gaps in services for minors facing the threat of forced marriage or [[Page S4192]] already married minors seeking protection from abuse.”
“(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028. SEC. 5. GAO REPORTS. (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Health, Education, and Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.”
“(2) Final report.--The Commission shall, not later than 2 years after the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, submit to the officers and entities named in paragraph (1) a final report containing final findings, conclusions, and recommendations required under this section as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members. (3) Termination.-- (A) In general.--The Commission, and all the authorities of this section, shall terminate 180 days after the date on which the final report is submitted under paragraph (3). (B) Records.--Not later than the date of termination of the Commission under subparagraph (A), all records and papers of the Commission shall be delivered to the Archivist of the United States for deposit in the National Archives.”
“(g) Reports of Commission and Termination.-- (1) Interim report.--The Commission shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, submit an interim report containing preliminary findings, conclusions, and recommendations required under this section as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members to-- (A) the President; (B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (C) the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and (D) the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.”
“(4) Donations.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of donations of services or property. (5) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as a department or agency of the United States. (e) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. (f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to the Commission, including the staff of the Commission.”