[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCTION OF THE CHILD ABUSE NOTIFICATION ACT

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                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 1997

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce the 
Child Abuse Notification Act of 1997. Children are solicited by 
pedophiles on the Internet everyday, and child pornography rings are 
doing a thriving business peddling their filth over the Internet. These 
actions are crimes. However, few perpetrators are apprehended because 
law enforcement can't effectively police the Internet, and Internet 
crimes are frequently not reported.
  Federal law requires photo developers, doctors, teachers, and 
therapists to report incidents of suspected child abuse to law 
enforcement. However, Internet service providers [ISP's] are not 
currently held to that same standard. As a result, ISP's often respond 
to complaints of criminal activity against children by simply removing 
the offender from their system. Perpetrators are free to move to a new 
system or re-register under a new name. Either way, children are no 
safer.
  That's why I hope you will join me as a cosponsor of the Child Abuse 
Notification Act. This bill would add Internet service providers to the 
categories of professionals who must report suspected child abuse to 
law enforcement. This simple and effective legislation will help make 
the Internet safer for our children.
  I hope my colleagues will join me by cosponsoring this important 
legislation. We must not allow a small band of criminals take the 
opportunities provided by the Internet away from our children.

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