[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 131 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CHILD ABDUCTION PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 7, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 5422, the 
Child Abduction Prevention Act. I am greatly troubled by this vote.
  I support the Amber Alert program as a vital means to prevent child 
abductions. I support improving the National Coordination of Amber 
Alert Communications to better track down perpetrators of these 
horrific crimes.
  If this bill had simply been about this important effort to protect 
the safety of our children, I would have supported it. But, House 
Republicans added provisions I cannot in good conscience support and 
will ultimately doom this bill when it comes before the Senate.
  I object to giving law enforcement unrestricted access to abuse 
fundamental privacy rights as this bill does. The Republicans added 
provisions giving the FBI unprecedented wiretap authority to engage in 
secret surveillance of our homes, even sexual acts between consenting 
adults.
  The Republicans added provisions imposing new mandatory minimum 
sentencing requirements despite these having been shown to be 
ineffective in deterring crime.
  Finally, Republicans added provisions expanding the number of crimes 
punishable under the death penalty. This is done despite evidence that 
many Americans have been wrongly sentenced to death.
  By including these controversial provisions, House Republicans blew 
the chance to help protect our children from predators. It is 
inexcusable that they knew that these provisions would make passage of 
this bill impossible in the Senate. Yet, they added them anyway in 
hopes of making this a political issue.
  Ultimately, the Republicans' aim was not to protect children. Their 
aim was to turn voters against Democrats in the Senate who support the 
Amber Alert program, but won't vote for a bill that compromises our 
constitutional rights.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this legislation. 
Lets send a message to the House Republicans that the safety of our 
children and the protection of our Constitutional rights are more 
important than partisan politics.

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