Kayla Hamilton Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/4371
Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

ID: F000478

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate.

December 17, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another exercise in legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Kayla Hamilton Act (HR 4371) claims to "enhance efforts to combat the trafficking of children." How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to appease the moral outrage du jour while perpetuating the same bureaucratic inefficiencies and partisan posturing that have become hallmarks of our esteemed legislative body.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The changes are largely cosmetic, with a focus on "enhancing" existing procedures for placing unaccompanied alien children in secure facilities. In other words, more red tape, more bureaucratic hurdles, and more opportunities for politicians to grandstand.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:

* Unaccompanied alien children (the supposed beneficiaries of this bill) * The Department of Health and Human Services * The Secretary of Homeland Security * The Attorney General * Juvenile justice officials * Lobbyists and special interest groups masquerading as advocates for child welfare

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will likely achieve the following:

* Further entrench the existing bureaucratic quagmire, ensuring that unaccompanied alien children remain in limbo, vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. * Provide a convenient talking point for politicians seeking to appear tough on human trafficking while doing little to address the root causes of this complex issue. * Create new opportunities for pork-barrel spending and cronyism, as various stakeholders jockey for position and funding.

In short, HR 4371 is a classic example of legislative malpractice – a bill that promises much but delivers little, designed to assuage the conscience of lawmakers while perpetuating the status quo. It's a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, a placebo for the gullible, and a cynical exercise in political posturing.

Diagnosis: Terminal case of bureaucratic sclerosis, with symptoms including moral grandstanding, partisan gridlock, and a complete disregard for effective policy solutions. Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: None, as our esteemed lawmakers are too busy congratulating themselves on their "efforts" to actually address the problem.

Related Topics

Transportation & Infrastructure Federal Budget & Appropriations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence State & Local Government Affairs Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Congressional Rules & Procedures Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$87,215
23 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$10,100
Committees
$0
Individuals
$77,115

No PAC contributions found

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
2
RMS LLC
1 transaction
$2,500
3
ROBERT S GUYTON PC
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
GAMBLE, KATHRYN
1 transaction
$6,600
2
AUSTIN, ROBERT
1 transaction
$6,600
3
MOORE, KEVIN
1 transaction
$6,600
4
LOWELL, RANDY
1 transaction
$3,435
5
GRUBBS, WESLEY
1 transaction
$3,435
6
WOOTEN, GAIL
1 transaction
$3,435
7
WELLS, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,435
8
JOHNSON, CYNDI
1 transaction
$3,435
9
JOHNSON, ROBERT
1 transaction
$3,435
10
AVENT, BARRY
1 transaction
$3,435
11
CASSELMAN, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,435
12
MARINO, PATRICK
1 transaction
$3,435
13
VALLARINO, MANUEL
1 transaction
$3,300
14
PLYLER, JUSTIN
1 transaction
$3,300
15
STOREY, JOAN
1 transaction
$3,300
16
PETERS, BP
1 transaction
$3,300
17
BELL, MENDEL J
1 transaction
$3,300
18
WISE, WYMAN
1 transaction
$3,300
19
SHY, STACEY
1 transaction
$3,300
20
PAYNE, FRANK K
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]

ID: N000026

Top Contributors

10

1
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
COM LIVINGSTON, TX
$1,000
Sep 30, 2024
2
GONSOULIN, AL A
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual SUGAR LAND, TX
$6,600
Feb 26, 2024
3
FISHER, KENNETH
FISHER INVESTMENTS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Individual PLANO, TX
$6,600
May 23, 2024
4
FISHER, SHERRILYN
PLANO 6500 LLC MEMBER
Individual PLANO, TX
$6,600
May 23, 2024
5
MARCHELI, DANNY
CLEAR PAVE PRESIDENT
Individual RICHMOND, TX
$5,000
Sep 30, 2023
6
EMPARTIO, JOESPH
HERITAGE RANCH LLC OWNER
Individual RICHMOND, TX
$5,000
Sep 10, 2024
7
DOUDS, KENNETH
KBR BUILDERS OWNER
Individual STAFFORD, TX
$5,000
Dec 3, 2024
8
GILL, EDWARD
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual HALLETTSVILLE, TX
$5,000
Dec 3, 2024
9
MARCHELI, DANIEL
CLEAR PAVE LLC PRESIDENT
Individual RICHMOND, TX
$5,000
Dec 3, 2024
10
DOUDS, ROBERT F JR.
SELF EMPLOYED CONSTRUCTION
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$5,000
Dec 3, 2024

Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]

ID: M001212

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$2,800
Dec 31, 2024
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Nov 8, 2023
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jul 22, 2024
4
JLS HOLDINGS LLC
Organization SALT LAKE CITY, UT
$9,900
Jul 13, 2023
5
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
May 16, 2024
6
HEMMCO LLC
Organization OREM, UT
$2,500
Sep 15, 2023
7
R & O CONSTRUCTION
Organization OGDEN, UT
$2,500
Sep 13, 2023
8
SISTERS MOVEMENT
Organization MCKINNEY, TX
$1,000
Sep 11, 2023
9
RAHMAN PROPERTIES
Organization SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX
$250
Feb 14, 2024
10
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
Organization CRANDON, WI
$3,300
Dec 23, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 31 nodes and 30 connections

Total contributions: $106,215

Top Donors - Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount

3 Orgs20 Individuals