House Approves Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act

July 25, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas,CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, applauded today’s bipartisan House approval of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, H.R. 4472. The legislation, which has already passed the Senate, was approved by voice vote. It now heads to the President for his signature.

"Protecting children from violent exploitation is a priority," Dreier said. "This legislation strengthens existing laws and creates stiffer penalties for those who target children for horrible crimes. It also increases law enforcement’s ability to combat child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet. Giving law enforcement the tools they need to put a stop to these despicable acts is key to ensuring safety and security for our nation’s neighborhoods, and our children."

Among other things, H.R. 4472, the Child Protection and Safety Act, will do the following: improve the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Program to ensure that sex offenders register – and keep current – where they reside, work, and attend school; create the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website to search for sex offender information in each community; require states to notify each other when sex offenders move from one state to another; increase penalties for using the Internet for the sexual exploitation of children; and, increase law enforcement’s ability to combat child pornography.