[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    JULY 28TH IS INTERNET SAFETY DAY

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                            HON. MARK FOLEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today, we live in a new age and it is 
becoming increasingly apparent that our laws must meet the challenge of 
protecting our children in the face of new threats and new technology.
  The Internet is a powerful tool that has brought new opportunities 
for education, commerce and self-empowerment to millions of Americans. 
However, it also provides a new medium for pedophiles to reach out to 
our most vulnerable citizens--America's children.
  This has become a growing problem and, in 2002, the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation (FBI) reported that online child pornography and/or 
sexual exploitation are the most significant cyber-crimes against 
children.
  I commend the efforts of Court TV and its CEO Henry Schlieff, Al 
Roker and the production team behind AI Roker Investigates: Katie.com 
for bringing attention to online sexual predators. Court TV's active 
role in shedding light on the issue of ``Internet deception'' will help 
protect America's children and raise much needed awareness to parents 
across the country.
  As cochairman of the Congressional Missing & Exploited Children's 
Caucus, I join you in celebrating July 28 as Internet Safety Day in the 
hopes of bringing stronger awareness to the deceptive crimes against 
children that are being perpetrated on the Internet.
  While we work in Congress to give law enforcement the tools to 
protect our children like the highly successful national deployment of 
the AMBER Alert system, the most important weapon of all is showing 
parents how to keep a watchful eye on the activities of their children; 
knowing the people who come into contact with their children in their 
neighborhoods, schools and online; and using plain common sense.

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