WASHINGTON – Sen.
Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Amy Klobuchar
(D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) this
week to introduce the Project Safe Childhood Act, which would make
improvements to the investigation and prosecution of online child exploitation.
“We must do all we
can to ensure America’s next generation grows up safe from abuse and harm,” Grassley said. “This bill will harness
the power of the federal government to go after the criminals who exploit our
children and will make sure kids are protected.”
“The threats our
children face online from unidentified predators are vicious and pervasive,” Cornyn said. “Our bill would improve
the ability of federal prosecutors and law enforcement to go after online child
predators with new technology and protect vulnerable children from this heinous
crime.”
“We must do
everything we can to protect our children from online exploitation and abuse,” Klobuchar said. “By modernizing the
Project Safe Childhood program, our bipartisan legislation will ensure that law
enforcement has the tools and resources it needs to rescue victims and
prosecute those who commit these terrible crimes.”
“Increasing
collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement is critical to
addressing the scourge of online child sexual exploitation,” Blumenthal said. “By modernizing the
Project Safe Childhood initiative, our bipartisan legislation will hold
predators accountable and provide victims with the care and protection they
need. These crimes must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law.”
“Our children are
our most precious and vulnerable members of society, and the Project Safe
Childhood Act is a vital step toward keeping them safe from online predators,” Blackburn said. “This bill ensures that
federal prosecutors and the DOJ can work with law enforcement and use new
technology to rescue victims and quickly arrest offenders. By modernizing the
system used for investigating child exploitation crimes, we can help protect
more children.”
Sens. Chris Murphy
(D-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are also cosponsors. Companion
legislation was introduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives by
Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Wesley Hunt (R-Texas).
Background
Project Safe
Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation
and abuse. The Project Safe Childhood Act would modernize the
investigation and prosecution of online child exploitation crimes. It would
make improvements to how federal prosecutors and law enforcement work together
and use new technology to go after predators. The bill would also require
federal prosecutors to coordinate with law enforcement and experts to develop
training materials and strategies to rescue child victims while quickly
arresting offenders.
The legislation is
endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association, National Association
of Police Organizations, Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN),
National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Fraternal Order of Police, Rights 4
Girls, National Children’s Alliance and National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children.
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