[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESPONDING TO SUPREME COURT RULING ON PORNOGRAPHY
(Mr. LAMPSIN asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, child pornography was a worldwide industry
that was all but eradicated in the 1980s. Unfortunately, it has
resurfaced with a vengeance, thanks to computer technology. The
explosive growth of computer technology via e-mail, chat rooms and news
groups have created a bigger demand for pornographic pictures of our
children on the Information Superhighway.
Congress must step up to the plate and take some action to stem the
growing tide of child exploitation on the Internet and in other forms.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down the Child Pornography
Protection Act. Today the Congressional Missing and Exploited
Children's Caucus will hold a briefing for members of the caucus on
legislation that is being developed in response to the Supreme Court's
decision.
We must continue to protect our children from exploitation and
pornography. The Supreme Court sent the wrong message to pornographers
all over the world. Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to sends the right
message, and we will, just as we will in returning Ludwig Koons to the
United States. It is not right that Ludwig's pornographer mother
illegally removed him to Italy against the order of the United States
courts. She is a criminal. We need to bring Ludwig home and all of our
children home.
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