**2. SAPO:** Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to announce the Renewed Hope Act, a bill that aims to enhance the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's capabilities to better identify, rescue, and protect victims of online child sexual exploitation.
Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is known for using his platform to make a positive impact, and he is now joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to take greater action in combating child exploitation.
1. Tim Tebow Joins Forces to Combat Child Exploitation
After bringing his fight against child exploitation online to the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year, Tebow joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Reps. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), to announce the Renewed Hope Act of 2024 on the lawn outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.
The bill aims to enhance the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's capabilities to better identify, rescue, and protect victims of online child sexual exploitation and bring child exploiters to justice. According to lawmakers, the bill would expand the authority of special agents to investigate online child sexual exploitation cases, provide grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to enhance their efforts to combat child exploitation, and create a new National Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention and Prosecution Center.
1. Tim Tebow Joins Forces to Combat Child Exploitation
Tebow, through his foundation, has worked closely with Homeland Security Investigations with a mission to identify and rescue as many victims of child sexual abuse as possible. He emphasized the importance of protecting children from online predators and the urgency of working together to combat this growing issue.
"We have to build an army and equip and train them to go after and rescue these boys and girls. That's what it's about," Tebow said. "Everybody needs to be a part of the solution."
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Child Crime Prevention and Safety Center, there were 36.2 million reports of suspected child exploitation online in 2023. In addition, more than half of those victims were between the ages of 12 and 15.
Tebow stressed the need to protect the future generation from the horrors of child exploitation. "This isn't just about policies or procedures. This is about people. This is about the next generation of boys and girls," he said. "Like we always talk about the future, the next generation. This is a chance we really get to make an impact."
The Renewed Hope Act is a bipartisan effort that reflects the urgency of addressing the issue of child exploitation. The bill has gained support from both sides of the aisle, demonstrating the commitment to protecting children from online predators. It is expected to be introduced in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
By joining forces with lawmakers, Tebow is amplifying his voice and leveraging his platform to advocate for the protection of children from the devastating effects of child exploitation. His involvement in the Renewed Hope Act highlights the importance of collaboration and the power of using one's platform to make a difference in the lives of others.
