With the partisan politics in Washington at an all-time high, it is easy to get caught up in the problems and misplaced agendas that seem to be at work. That is why I want to take this opportunity to highlight one of the major bipartisan initiatives I am proud to be a part of ­­protecting America’s children. There is no simple solution or 5-step program to ensuring their safety, but there are measures we can take and laws we can pass to protect their future.

As the father of two teenagers, a seventeen year-old and a fourteen year-old, I know first hand the thoughts and worries that many parents of teenagers in this day and age are facing. Just like any parent, I want the best opportunities and experiences for my children. And just like any parent, I want to be able to keep up with all aspects of my children’s lives including the situations and content they are exposed to.

In this day and age, technology moves at an extreme pace, which can yield both the positive and the negative. Advanced technology allows greater opportunities and access to information, education and entertainment. Yet, the ever changing world of technology sometimes can get ahead of a parent’s ability to adequately track and comprehend each new option that is presented to our children.

We must have real penalties and aggressive investigations of internet predators, not empty promises and endangered youth. It is imperative that Congress do everything it can to help out today’s parents and protect our youth. One of the biggest challenges we as parents face today is the Internet. The Internet has its flaws, such as exposing our kids to content a parent would not deem appropriate. This is why I have cosponsored two bills to help keep our kids safe and our homes secure from online predators.

H.R. 3479, the Internet Safety and Child Protection Act, would require age-verification technology to be used when accessing certain sites on the Internet.  Our youth are the largest group of consumers on the Internet and the information at their fingertips is limitless. This bill would add a barrier on both ends, making it harder for predators to reach our kids and making it less likely for our kids to access sites where predators seek them out.

I have also cosponsored H.R. 4982, also called the “SAFERNET” Act of 2006. This important bill will not only seek out and punish web predators, but will launch a national public awareness campaign regarding online threats. We must be proactive and educate parents, children and law enforcement officials about the dangers of Internet predators.

Times have changed and they will keep changing. But even with the emergence of so many exciting new technologies there should be no greater priority than protecting our kids. That is why it is up to us as a nation to make sure our children take advantage of every opportunity afforded them while we as parents do our part to ensure they have a safe, healthy environment in which to grow. After all, they are our future.