[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 25, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    SENATE RESOLUTION 294--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2000 AS 
                  ``CHILDREN'S INTERNET SAFETY MONTH''

  Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself and Mr. McCain) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 294

       Whereas the Internet is one of the most effective tools 
     available for purposes of education and research and gives 
     children the means to make friends and freely communicate 
     with peers and family anywhere in the world;
       Whereas the new era of instant communication holds great 
     promise for achieving better understanding of the world and 
     providing the opportunity for creative inquiry;
       Whereas it is vital to the well-being of children that the 
     Internet offer an open and responsible environment to 
     explore;
       Whereas access to objectionable material, such as violent, 
     obscene, or sexually explicit adult material may be received 
     by a minor in unsolicited form;
       Whereas there is a growing concern in all levels of society 
     to protect children from objectionable material;
       Whereas the technological option for parents or guardians 
     to filter, block, or review objectionable Internet material 
     is available and effective;
       Whereas information on Internet filtering or blocking 
     technology is unavailable to many parents or guardians; and
       Whereas the Internet is a positive educational tool and 
     should be seen in such a manner rather than as a vehicle for 
     entities to make objectionable materials available to 
     children: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates October 2000 as ``Children's Internet Safety 
     Month'' and supports its official status on the Nation's 
     promotional calendar; and
       (2) supports parents and guardians in promoting the 
     creative development of children by encouraging the use of 
     the Internet in a safe, positive manner with the aid of 
     Internet filtering and blocking technologies.

  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to offer a resolution 
designating October 2000 as ``Children's Internet Safety Month'' on our 
national promotional calendar. This resolution, which I am submitting 
along with my colleague, Senator McCain, recognizes the valuable 
information and opportunities for creative development provided by the 
Internet. It supports parents and guardians as they work to promote 
children's intellectual growth by encouraging safe, positive internet 
use with the aid of Internet filtering and blocking technologies.
  Filtering and blocking technologies can help parents and guardians 
protect their children from objectionable material. This is 
particularly important in those frequent instances when such material 
is obtained by accident, via unsolicited correspondence. With more than 
5,000 new web sites appearing on the Internet each day, we must 
recognize the problems raised by the significant number of sites 
containing objectionable material (defined as material that is violent, 
obscene or sexually explicit). Unfortunately, one-third of all Internet 
web sites are devoted to objectionable material. This presents our 
nation with a moral challenge: to find the means to sustain the 
wonderful freedom of the Internet while protecting children from 
unwanted and potentially harmful Internet material.
  By designating October 2000 as ``Children's Internet Safety Month'' 
on the nation's promotional calendar, we can help parents, guardians, 
and concerned community leaders in their efforts to provide responsible 
Internet protection for our children. We can focus public attention on 
this important issue and encourage development of positive, community 
based programs and events highlighting the need to protect children 
from objectionable Internet material.
  This resolution will help empower the young people of the Internet 
Generation to share ideas and dreams; and to do so free from unwanted 
and intrusive, objectionable Internet material.

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