Congressman Michael Bilirakis Congressman Michael Bilirakis.  Proudly representing the people of the 9th Congressional District of Florida
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Punishing Those Who Harm the Innocent

September 19, 2005
 

As a parent of two and a grandfather of six, I am deeply disturbed by reports of violence and sexual assault against children.  Like many Americans, I find it absolutely deplorable that anyone would kidnap or abduct a child for their own evil purposes.  Heinous crimes against the most innocent and vulnerable of our society must not be tolerated and must, when they occur, be severely punished.

The alarming statistics speak for themselves.  According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), one in five girls and one in ten boys are sexually exploited before they reach adulthood, yet less than 35 percent of the incidents are reported to authorities.  In fact, approximately 67 percent of all victims of sexual assault are juveniles under the age of 18, and 34 percent are under the age of 12.  One in seven victims of sexual assault is under the age of six.

The DOJ estimates that there are approximately 500,000 convicted sex offenders in the United States.  Of these, 100,000 are “lost” and have failed to register in communities as required under current law.  We do not know where they live, work, or go to school.

Florida has experienced this problem acutely in the past year, with the high-profile abductions and sexual assaults of Jessica Lunsford and Sarah Lunde.  I commend the Florida Legislature and Governor Jeb Bush for enacting the Jessica Lunsford Act to strengthen protections for children.  And I am pleased to report that the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved the Children’s Safety Act, legislation which John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted, has called “the most important piece of child protection legislation ever.”

The Children’s Safety Act is comprehensive legislation to address the epidemic of violence and sexual abuse against our nation’s children.  The bill would improve the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Program to ensure that sex offenders register, and keep current, where they reside, work and attend school.  The Children’s Safety Act also would require states to have a uniform, public access sex offender registration website and to notify each other when a sex offender moves from one state to another.  In addition, the bill would increase criminal penalties against child sexual predators and sex offenders who fail to comply with registration requirements.

The Children’s Safety Act is an important step in our nation’s fight to protect children from those who threaten to steal their innocence and exploit their trust.  I implore the Senate to take swift action on this legislation so it can be sent to President Bush for his signature into law.  Protecting our children today is critical to ensuring our nation’s future success.

 

   
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