[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 25 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 25

 Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals 
             and ideals of National Internet Safety Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 2009

 Mr. Gene Green of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals 
             and ideals of National Internet Safety Month.

Whereas the Department of Justice reports that an estimated 77 million children 
        have access to the Internet;
Whereas one in five youth who use the Internet regularly (using the Internet at 
        least once a month for the past six months on a computer at home, at 
        school, in a library, or at someone else's home) have reported receiving 
        a sexual approach or solicitation over the Internet in the past year;
Whereas one in 33 youth received an aggressive sexual solicitation in the past 
        year;
Whereas one in 17 youth reported being threatened or harassed in the past year;
Whereas only a fraction of all episodes were reported to authorities such as the 
        police, an Internet service provider, or a hotline;
Whereas 25 percent of the youth who encountered a sexual approach or 
        solicitation told a parent;
Whereas 40 percent of those reporting an unwanted exposure to sexual material 
        told a parent;
Whereas child predators victimize children over the Internet both by enticing 
        them through online contact for the purpose of engaging them in sexual 
        acts and by exploiting them for sexual tourism (travel with the intent 
        to engage in sexual behavior) for commercial gain;
Whereas child predators also use the Internet to produce, manufacture, and 
        distribute child pornography, to expose young people to child 
        pornography, and to encourage them to exchange pornography;
Whereas the establishment of National Internet Safety Month would increase 
        awareness of Internet predators and educate local communities about ways 
        of preventing crimes against children; and
Whereas the battle in cyberspace for the safety of the Nation's children must be 
        addressed and won: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Internet 
        Safety Month;
            (2) recognizes that parents, teachers, and community 
        leaders can empower children to resist the lures of online 
        predators by educating them at home, in classrooms, and through 
        community groups;
            (3) encourages parents to take online safety concerns 
        seriously and to effectively safeguard their family members 
        from online threats;
            (4) requests that teachers, law enforcement officers, and 
        youth leaders seek out and implement proven tools and resources 
        that are available to educate children on avoiding online 
        victimization;
            (5) asks State governors to actively promote Internet 
        Safety Month and to encourage the full participation of State 
        officials in community partnerships and local initiatives to 
        protect children online;
            (6) encourages the launch of a national media campaign on 
        Internet safety awareness; and
            (7) calls on Internet safety organizations, law enforcement 
        personnel, educators, community leaders, parents, and 
        volunteers to increase their efforts to raise the level of 
        awareness in the United States with respect to the need to 
        prevent Internet predators from committing criminal acts 
        against America's children.
                                 <all>