[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 154 Introduced in House (IH)]

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105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 154

 Expressing the sense of the House that the Nation's children are its 
 most valuable assets and that their protection should be the Nation's 
                           highest priority.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 1997

 Mr. Collins submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House that the Nation's children are its 
 most valuable assets and that their protection should be the Nation's 
                           highest priority.

Whereas the Nation's most valuable and vulnerable asset is its children;
Whereas their protection should be one of our highest priorities;
Whereas over 1,000,000 children are reported missing, and over 100,000 attempted 
        nonfamily abductions take place every year;
Whereas over 750,000 children under the age of 18 disappear for some length of 
        time every year;
Whereas law enforcement officials constantly encounter crimes against children;
Whereas sex offenders are nine times more likely to repeat their crimes than any 
        other class of criminal;
Whereas nearly two-thirds of State prisoners serving time for rape and sexual 
        assault victimized children; and
Whereas while many missing children are returned to their homes, many others are 
        exposed to danger and exploitation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) all Members of Congress should take appropriate action 
        to ensure the safety and protection of children in their 
        jurisdictions;
            (2) State governments should have in effect laws which 
        register offenders convicted of sexual crimes against children 
        and laws which require law enforcement to notify communities of 
        the presence of these offenders;
            (3) States should have in effect laws which severely punish 
        individuals convicted of offenses against children, especially 
        crimes involving abduction, sexual assault, exploitation, and 
        stalking;
            (4) law enforcement agencies should take the necessary 
        steps to safeguard children against the dangers of abduction 
        and exploitation; and
            (5) State and local law enforcement agencies should work in 
        close cooperation with Federal law enforcement to ensure a 
        rapid and efficient response to reports of child abductions, 
        especially in cases where a child's life may be in danger.
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