[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H229]]
                              {time}  1415
                              MASHA'S LAW

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the heartbreaking 
story of a 13-year-old girl in my district and to call for tougher 
penalties for child pornography.
  I have introduced, along with Representative Tierney, H.R. 4703, 
called Masha's law after 13-year-old Masha Allen, whose adoptive father 
posted pornographic images of her at age 5 on the Internet. Thankfully, 
law enforcement officials tracked and convicted her father. Masha now 
lives in Douglasville, Georgia, with a new and loving adoptive parent. 
However, hundreds of her images are still on the Internet; and her 
photographs are some of the most widely downloaded pictures in the 
world.
  Mr. Speaker, we absolutely must do something to harshly reprimand 
those who produce, distribute and consume child pornography. Did you 
know that under current law the penalties for illegally downloading 
music are three times higher than the penalties for downloading child 
pornography? This is absurd and unjust. My legislation would increase 
the statutory damages for victims of child exploitation and ensure 
victims can sue those who download their pictures.
  We must protect those who have no way of protecting themselves from 
this horrific and sickening crime, and I ask that you join me in 
supporting Masha's law.

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