[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 64 (Monday, May 22, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4915-S4916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL INTERNET SAFETY MONTH

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 486, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 486) designating June 2006 as 
     ``National Internet Safety Month.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I introduced a resolution 
designating June 2006 as National Internet Safety Month. I am pleased 
to have Mr. Allen, Mr. Craig, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Vitter, Ms. Landrieu, 
Mrs. Dole, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Burns, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Warner, Mr. Johnson, 
Mr. Roberts, Mr. Santorum, and Mr. DeWine join me in introducing this 
resolution.
  The Internet has become one of the most significant advances in the 
twentieth century and, as a result it affects people's lives in a 
positive manner each day. However, this technology presents dangers 
that need to be brought to the attention of all Americans. Never before 
has the problem of online predatory behavior been more of a concern. 
Consider the pervasiveness of Internet access by children and the rapid 
increase in Internet crime and predatory behavior. Never before have 
powerful educational solution's--such as Internet safety curricula for 
grades kindergarten through 12--been more critical and readily at hand.
  i-SAFE America is one of the nonprofit organizations that has worked 
tirelessly to educate our youth and our community on these important 
issues. Formed in 1998, i-SAFE America educates youth in all 50 states 
Washington, DC, and Department of Defense schools worldwide to ensure 
that they have a safe experience online.
  It is imperative that all Americans learn about the Internet safety 
strategies which will help keep their children safe from victimization. 
Consider the facts: In the United States, about 90 percent of children 
between the ages of 5 and 17 use computers, and about 59 percent use 
the Internet. Approximately 26 percent of children in that age group 
are online more than 5 hours a week, and 12 percent spend more time 
online than they do with their friends.
  An alarming statistic is that 39 percent of youths in grades 5 
through 12 in the United States admit giving out their personal 
information, such as their name, age, and gender over the Internet. 
Furthermore, 11.5 percent of students in this age group have actually 
met face to face with a stranger they met on the Internet.
  Most disturbing are the patterns of Internet crimes against children. 
In 1996, the Federal Bureau of Investgation was involved in 113 cases 
involving Internet crimes against children. In 2001, the FBI opened 
1,541 cases against people suspected of using the Internet to commit 
crimes involving child pornography or abuse.
  Now is the time for America to focus its attention on supporting 
Internet safety, especially bearing in mind that children will soon be 
on summer vacation and will spend more time online.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 486) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 486

       Whereas, in the United States, more than 90 percent of 
     children between the ages of 5 years old and 17 years old, or 
     approximately 47,000,000 children, now use computers;
       Whereas approximately 59 percent of children in that age 
     group, or approximately 31,000,000 children, use the 
     Internet;
       Whereas approximately 26 percent of the children of the 
     United States in grades 5 through 12 are online for more than 
     5 hours a week;
       Whereas approximately 12 percent of those children spend 
     more time online than they spend interacting with their 
     friends;
       Whereas approximately 53 percent of the children and teens 
     of the United States like to be alone when ``surfing'' the 
     Internet;
       Whereas approximately 29 percent of those children believe 
     that their parents would express concern, restrict their 
     Internet use, or

[[Page S4916]]

     take away their computer if their parents knew which sites 
     they visited while surfing on the Internet;
       Whereas approximately 32 percent of the students of the 
     United States in grades 5 through 12 feel that they have the 
     skills to bypass protections offered by the installation of 
     filtering software;
       Whereas approximately 31 percent of the youths of the 
     United States have visited an inappropriate website on the 
     Internet;
       Whereas approximately 18 percent of those children have 
     visited an inappropriate website more than once;
       Whereas approximately 51 percent of the students of the 
     United States in grades 5 through 12 trust the individuals 
     that they chat with on the Internet;
       Whereas approximately 33 percent of the students of the 
     United States in grades 5 through 12 have chatted on the 
     Internet with an individual whom they have not met in person;
       Whereas approximately 11.5 percent of those students have 
     later met with a stranger with whom they chatted on the 
     Internet;
       Whereas approximately 39 percent of the youths of the 
     United States in grades 5 through 12 have admitted to giving 
     out their personal information, iincluding their name, age, 
     and gender, over the Internet; and
       Whereas approximately 14 percent of those youths have 
     received mean or threatening email while on the Internet: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 2006 as ``National Internet Safety 
     Month'';
       (2) recognizes that National Internet Safety Month provides 
     the citizens of the United States with an opportunity to 
     learn more about--
       (A) the dangers of the Internet; and
       (B) the importance of being safe and responsible online;
       (3) commends and recognizes national and community 
     organizations for--
       (A) promoting awareness of the dangers of the Internet; and
       (B) providing information and training that develops 
     critical thinking and decision-making skills that are needed 
     to use the Internet safely; and
       (4) calls on Internet safety organizations, law 
     enforcement, educators, community leaders, parents, and 
     volunteers to increase their efforts to raise the level of 
     awareness for the need for online safety in the United 
     States.

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