[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 46 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF CYBERANGELS

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                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 12, 2000

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to 
recognize an outstanding organization that is aggressively fighting 
crimes against children on the Internet.
  Tragically, in increasing numbers, our children are being exploited 
over the Internet. Everyday, pedophiles are contacting our children via 
the Internet in those places where we want to believe they are most 
secure--in our homes, our schools, and our libraries. Our law 
enforcement agencies, both local and federal, are working overtime to 
apprehend these cybermolesters. And, now they are receiving help from 
an unexpected source--citizen volunteers organized through a group 
called Cyberangels.
  Cyberangels is an exemplary, New Jersey-based Internet safety group 
that helps to keep our children safe while they use the Internet. 
Cyberangels is well-known for their advice on child Internet safety, 
but recently they have taken a more active role in combating Internet 
crimes against children through their cyber-sleuthing--tracing 
individuals over the Internet. This noble group of volunteers has 
already reunited three families with their children who were victims of 
cybermolesters.
  Most recently these volunteers aided the family of a 13-year-old girl 
in the town Fanwood, New Jersey, a town in my Congressional District. 
This young girl left her home to meet an 18-year-old man that she met 
on the Internet. Through the technical sleuth work of Cyberangels--
tracking the man through his E-mail address--the girl and her family 
were reunited in little more than a day.
  Cyberangels sets an excellent example of how private citizens and law 
enforcement agencies can work together to reduce Internet crimes. It is 
my hope that Congress will soon do their part in protecting our 
children by enacting legislation to filter harmful material out of 
schools and libraries and ensure that cybermolesters receive the 
punishment they deserve.
  In the meantime, Mr. Speaker I hope that you will join me in 
commending Cyberangels for their superb efforts to keep our children 
safe while they roam the vast resources on the Web. I also encourage 
everyone to visit Cyberangels on the web at www.cyberangels.com.

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