Rick Scott and Carlos Giménez File SCREEN Act to Strengthen Visa Screening for Suspected Child Predators

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) filed companion bills on September 24, 2026, to expand visa screening for suspected child predators. The legislation, called the Strengthened Checks for Reliable Evaluation of Entrants Nationwide, would let the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security receive certain reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The bills focus on access to information gathered through the center’s CyberTipline. They would make the two departments eligible to receive relevant reports while vetting visa applicants.

Scott framed the measure as a safeguard against people he described as foreign child predators obtaining visas and entering the United States. He said:

“The greatest country in the history of the world should have 100% certainty that we aren't letting child predators come here on work visas,”

Scott also said the bill would help “fix this glaring oversight and keep American kids safe from these despicable people.”

The proposal would add two agencies to CyberTipline recipients

Under current federal law, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children can disclose CyberTipline information only to specified recipients. Those include law enforcement agencies investigating child sexual exploitation, kidnapping or enticement crimes.

The proposal would add the State Department and Homeland Security to that group for visa and travel vetting. Its central change is who can receive certain reports, and for what screening purpose. It addresses visa screening rather than criminal sentencing.

The information would be available to the departments as they assess visa applicants and travelers. The bill does not describe a new criminal charge; its stated mechanism is expanded access to reports held by the center. The sponsors say the access could help agencies identify people they consider dangerous before they enter or remain in U.S. communities.

Sponsors cited cases involving cruise-line workers on C-1/D visas

The rationale for the bills points to foreign workers admitted on C-1/D visas. Sponsors cited recent reports about some cruise-line workers who were later found with child sexual abuse material.

The concern also encompasses workers reported or convicted in cases involving that material. The proposal would make relevant CyberTipline information available during vetting, extending the pool of federal agencies that can receive the reports for that purpose.

Sponsors in both chambers say the reports could flag risks before entry

Scott introduced the Senate version with Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) as a co-sponsor. Budd said he was “proud” to join Scott, arguing that State and DHS should have access to NCMEC data to identify travelers and visa applicants possessing illicit material exploiting children and prevent them from entering the United States.

Giménez filed the House companion with Reps. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) and Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.) as co-sponsors. He said the measure would give the departments “critical information” to “help identify dangerous predators before they can enter or remain in our communities.”

Giménez described the bill as a response to gaps in screening systems. He said:

“The criminals who exploit innocent children online cannot be allowed to hide behind our borders or take advantage of gaps in our screening systems.”

The measure therefore has sponsors and named co-sponsors in both chambers. Their stated case centers on making certain reports available to the agencies responsible for screening, not on changing the penalties in child-exploitation cases.

Both bills remained before the committee process

The Senate and House versions were awaiting committee referral or consideration in reporting dated September 25 and September 26, 2026. Neither bill had advanced beyond that stage in the status described for those dates.