Zonta International is a global organization of individuals dedicated to building a better world for women and girls. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference..
In September 2025, Representatives Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with several other representatives, introduced the bipartisan Protect Your PIN Act of 2025 (H.R. 5594) to amend the 2022 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act and enable local law enforcement agencies to use grant funding to combat identity theft. The funds are supported from the Department of Justice’s Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program.
The 2022 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act grants state, local, and tribal law enforcement entities the authority to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against women, with a focus on domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking, as well as allowing for enhanced sentencing of repeat federal sex offenders and mandating restitution to victims of specified federal sex offenses. Perpetrators can misuse technology to further abuse or stalk their victims by taking their financial technology, communication technology or internet identity. When an offender misuses technology to target and harm a victim, various criminal and civil charges can be applied under a number of U.S. federal and state/territory/tribal laws.
The Protect Your PIN Act also asks Congress to consider shifting greater attention or grant funding toward programs aligned with the goals of violence prevention and research. The primary focus is to enhance funding and support for local law enforcement in the fight against cybercrimes, specifically including identity theft as a recognized area of concern. Below are the main components of the bill:
The 2022 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act grants state, local, and tribal law enforcement entities the authority to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against women, with a focus on domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking, as well as allowing for enhanced sentencing of repeat federal sex offenders and mandating restitution to victims of specified federal sex offenses. Perpetrators can misuse technology to further abuse or stalk their victims by taking their financial technology, communication technology or internet identity. When an offender misuses technology to target and harm a victim, various criminal and civil charges can be applied under a number of U.S. federal and state/territory/tribal laws.
The Protect Your PIN Act also asks Congress to consider shifting greater attention or grant funding toward programs aligned with the goals of violence prevention and research. The primary focus is to enhance funding and support for local law enforcement in the fight against cybercrimes, specifically including identity theft as a recognized area of concern. Below are the main components of the bill:
- Addition of Identity Theft – defines identity theft as a criminal act for local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute.
- Local Law Enforcement Grants – local law enforcement could apply for grants to identify identity theft alongside existing cybercrimes and provides more resources to combat these cybercrimes.
- Expansion of Cybercrime Definitions – integrating “or identity theft” language into the definitions, so it is inclusive of tackling identity theft as a part of cyber-related offences.
- Intent and Purpose – improve the effectiveness and scope of law enforcement in protecting identities and personal information from misuse and criminal activity.
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your representative to co-sponsor and support the Protect Your PIN Act of 2025 (H.R. 5594). If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.
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