[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H4548-H4549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING CHILDREN'S AIR TRAVEL PROTECTION ACT AND PARENTAL RIGHTS 
                             PROTECTION ACT

  (Mr. PUTNAM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

[[Page H4549]]

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, last year, as thousands of children do every 
day, a 15-year-old girl from my district logged onto her computer and 
struck up an online acquaintance. Little did she or her family realize 
that this was the beginning of a nightmare that continues to this day.
  Lindsay's new online friend turned out to be a sexual predator who 
eventually convinced her to run away from her home in Florida, 
eventually to Greece. One of the most troubling aspects of this case 
was the lack of support and the disinterest from Federal authorities. 
Not only was the FBI reluctant to become involved, but the U.S. 
Attorney's Office has declined to enforce existing laws, claiming that 
this series of crimes involving interstate and international air 
transport and the use of the Internet to lure a child away from home 
into international sexual servitude is not a matter of Federal 
jurisdiction.
  In response to this failure and the failure of the FAA and the 
Department of Transportation to use their rulemaking authority to 
address any of these issues, I have filed legislation that would 
clarify the power of the Federal Government to bring such predators to 
justice.
  The Children's Air Travel Protection Act and the Parental Rights 
Protection Act would require that airlines get a written certification 
that a minor has parental or guardian's permission and would forbid the 
use of the Internet to interfere with a parent's authority or induce a 
minor to run away from home.
  I would encourage my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring H.R. 2600 
and 2601.

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