[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CHILD PREDATOR ACT OF 2005

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, media stories about sex crimes against 
children are presently being reported at an alarming rate in the United 
States. These crimes are also some of the most underreported of 
criminal acts. Last month in Colorado, an ex-convict for sexual assault 
of a child, a child predator, continued his dastardly deeds against 
kids and assaulted several children. This child molester was able to 
slither and sneak into a quiet Colorado community and prey on the 
innocent children because of registration loopholes in current law.
  One of the victim's grandmothers said, ``People have the right to 
know where sex offenders are living. The police should know. The public 
should know.'' We know the number one thing child predators desire is 
to remain anonymous. Those days are over. No longer can ex-convicts for 
child sexual assault move in and out of our neighborhoods without us 
knowing who they are. While some States have registration laws for 
convicted child predators, when those criminals move across State 
lines, they slip through the system.
  We know that the recidivism rate of a convicted child molester is 
extremely high. When many leave the penitentiary, they continue their 
evil ways against our greatest natural resource, our children.
  So today, Madam Speaker, I am introducing my first bill, the Child 
Predator Act of 2005, to hold these outlaws accountable and impose 
tougher sentences for child predators who reoffend. This act closes 
loopholes in the present law and places tools in the hands of parents 
who want to safeguard their children from these people. This 
legislation amends the Wetterling Act of 1994 in six ways.
  First, the Child Predator Act defines the term ``child predator'' as 
a person who has been convicted of a sexual offense against a victim 
who is a minor if the offense is sexual in nature and the minor is 13 
years of age or younger.
  Second, child predators must report change of residence within 10 
days of a move.
  Third, the Child Predator Act requires community notification. Child 
predators would have to notify, at a minimum, schools, public housing 
and at least two media outlets such as newspapers, television stations 
or radio stations covering that community.
  Fourth, child predators who knowingly fail to register would be 
charged with a Federal felony.
  Fifth, the Child Predator Act would also mandate a national 
registration database. This would be available on a free access 
Internet Web site.
  Finally, the Child Predator Act would require prominent designation 
of a convicted offender as a child predator.
  The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children confirms that 
the sexual victimization of children is overwhelming in magnitude, yet 
largely unrecognized and underreported in the United States. Statistics 
reveal that one in five girls and one in 10 boys are sexually exploited 
before they reach adulthood. Less than 35 percent of those child sexual 
assaults are reported to authorities.
  While through previous legislation we have significantly reduced the 
prevalence of this terrible and real nightmare to children, we must 
stay the course. We must remain ever vigilant and keep in this fight. 
Child predators, like their criminal counterparts in other arenas, are 
innovative. They stalk neighborhoods, playgrounds, Cub Scout dens, 
houses of worship, and as of late they exploit the Internet to target 
youngsters.
  Madam Speaker, we must put child predators on notice and let them 
know once and for all that we will not tolerate this continuing 
victimization of children. I wish to extend an invitation for Members 
of this body to consider enlisting in the Victims Rights Caucus that I 
recently founded and cochair with the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Harris).
  During my 22 years as a felony court judge in Houston, Texas, I have 
seen scores of victims come through my courtroom. Ironically, as large 
a contingent that victims are, they are one of the most 
underrepresented groups in the United States. This session of Congress, 
in cooperation with my fellow representatives, I hope to change this.
  We must always remember that victims do not choose to be victims. As 
L.H. Harrington of the President's task force on victims of crime once 
said, ``Somewhere along the way, the criminal justice system began to 
serve lawyers, judges and defendants. Victims are treated with 
institutionalized disinterest. The neglect of crime victims is a 
national disgrace.''
  Madam Speaker, to be a victim is an unforgettable nightmare but to 
become a victim at the hands of the criminal justice system is an 
unforgivable travesty. The first duty of government is to protect its 
citizens. We as a people are not judged by the way we treat the rich, 
famous and influential but by the way we treat the weak, the innocent, 
the children.

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