[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H10238-H10241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      KEEPING THE INTERNET DEVOID OF SEXUAL PREDATORS ACT OF 2008

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 431) to require convicted sex 
offenders to register online identifiers, and for other purposes, and 
ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                 S. 431

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Keeping the Internet Devoid 
     of Sexual Predators Act of 2008'' or the ``KIDS Act of 
     2008''.

     SEC. 2. REGISTRATION OF ONLINE IDENTIFIERS OF SEX OFFENDERS.

       (a) In General.--Section 114(a) of the Sex Offender 
     Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16914(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (7) as 
     paragraphs (5) through (8); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) Any electronic mail address or other designation the 
     sex offender uses or will use for self-identification or 
     routing in Internet communication or posting.''.
       (b) Updating of Information.--Section 113(c) of the Sex 
     Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 
     16913(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
     ``The Attorney General shall have the authority to specify 
     the time and manner for reporting of other changes in 
     registration information, including any addition or change of 
     an electronic mail address or other designation used for 
     self-identification or routing in Internet communication or 
     posting.''.
       (c) Failure To Register Online Identifiers.--Section 2250 
     of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or (d)'' after 
     ``subsection (a)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Knowing Failure To Register Online Identifiers.--
     Whoever--
       ``(1) is required to register under the Sex Offender 
     Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.); 
     and
       ``(2) uses an email address or any other designation used 
     for self-identification or routing in Internet communication 
     or posting which the individual knowingly failed to provide 
     for inclusion in a sex offender registry as required under 
     that Act;

     shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 
     10 years, or both.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendment; Directive to United States 
     Sentencing Commission.--Section 141(b) of the Adam Walsh 
     Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-248; 
     120 Stat. 602) is amended by striking ``offense specified in 
     subsection (a)'' and inserting ``offenses specified in 
     subsections (a) and (d) of section 2250 of title 18, United 
     States Code''.

     SEC. 3. CHECKING OF ONLINE IDENTIFIERS AGAINST SEX OFFENDER 
                   REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

       (a) Public Access.--Section 118(b) of the Sex Offender 
     Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16918(b)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

[[Page H10239]]

       ``(4) any electronic mail address or designation used for 
     self-identification or routing in Internet communication or 
     posting; and''.
       (b) Online Identifier Checking System for Social Networking 
     Websites.--Section 121 of the Sex Offender Registration and 
     Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16921) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(d) Checking System for Social Networking Websites.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall maintain a 
     system available to social networking websites that permits 
     the automated comparison of lists or databases of the 
     electronic mail addresses and other designations used for 
     self-identification or routing in Internet communication or 
     posting of the registered users of such websites, to the 
     corresponding information contained in or derived from sex 
     offender registries.
       ``(2) Qualification for use of system.--A social networking 
     website seeking to use the system established under paragraph 
     (1) shall submit an application to the Attorney General which 
     provides--
       ``(A) the name and legal status of the website;
       ``(B) the contact information for the website;
       ``(C) a description of the nature and operations of the 
     website;
       ``(D) a statement explaining why the website seeks to use 
     the system; and
       ``(E) such other information or attestations as the 
     Attorney General may require to ensure that the website will 
     use the system--
       ``(i) to protect the safety of the users of such website; 
     and
       ``(ii) not for any unlawful or improper purpose.
       ``(3) Searches against the system.--
       ``(A) In general.--A social networking website approved to 
     use the system established under paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(i) submit the information to be compared in a form 
     satisfying the technical requirements for searches against 
     the system; and
       ``(ii) pay any fee established by the Attorney General for 
     use of the system.
       ``(B) Frequency of use of the system.--A social networking 
     website approved by the Attorney General to use the system 
     established under paragraph (1) may conduct searches under 
     the system as frequently as the Attorney General may allow.
       ``(C) Authority of ag to suspend use.--The Attorney General 
     may deny, suspend, or terminate use of the system by a social 
     networking website that--
       ``(i) provides false information in its application for use 
     of the system; or
       ``(ii) may be using or seeks to use the system for any 
     unlawful or improper purpose.
       ``(4) Limitation on release of internet identifiers.--
       ``(A) No public release.--Neither the Attorney General nor 
     a social networking website approved to use the system 
     established under paragraph (1) may release to the public any 
     list of the e-mail addresses or other designations used for 
     self-identification or routing in Internet communication or 
     posting of sex offenders contained in the system.
       ``(B) Additional limitations.--The Attorney General shall 
     limit the release of information obtained through the use of 
     the system established under paragraph (1) by social 
     networking websites approved to use such system.
       ``(C) Strict adherence to limitation.--The use of the 
     system established under paragraph (1) by a social networking 
     website shall be conditioned on the website's agreement to 
     observe the limitations required under this paragraph.
       ``(D) Rule of construction.--This subsection shall not be 
     construed to limit the authority of the Attorney General 
     under any other provision of law to conduct or to allow 
     searches or checks against sex offender registration 
     information.
       ``(5) Limitation on liability.--
       ``(A) In general.--A civil claim against a social 
     networking website, including any director, officer, 
     employee, parent, or agent of that social networking website, 
     arising from the use by such website of the National Sex 
     Offender Registry, may not be brought in any Federal or State 
     court.
       ``(B) Intentional, reckless, or other misconduct.--
     Subsection (a) shall not apply to a claim if the social 
     networking website, or a director, officer, employee, or 
     agent of that social networking website--
       ``(i) engaged in intentional misconduct; or
       ``(ii) acted, or failed to act--

       ``(I) with actual malice;
       ``(II) with reckless disregard to a substantial risk of 
     causing injury without legal justification; or
       ``(III) for a purpose unrelated to the performance of any 
     responsibility or function described in paragraph (3).

       ``(C) Ordinary business activities.--Subsection (a) shall 
     not apply to an act or omission to act relating to an 
     ordinary business activity of any social networking website, 
     including to any acts related to the general administration 
     or operations of such website, the use of motor vehicles by 
     employees or agents of such website, or any personnel 
     management decisions of such websites.
       ``(D) Minimizing access.--A social networking website shall 
     minimize the number of employees that are provided access to 
     the list of electronic mail addresses, and other designations 
     used for self-identification or routing in Internet 
     communication or posting by persons in the National Sex 
     Offender Registry.
       ``(6) Rule of construction.--Nothing is this section shall 
     be construed to require any Internet website, including a 
     social networking website, to compare its database of 
     registered users with the list of electronic mail addresses 
     and other designations used for self-identification or 
     routing in Internet communication or posting by persons in 
     the National Sex Offender Registry, and no Federal or State 
     liability, or any other actionable adverse consequence, shall 
     be imposed on such website based on its decision not to 
     compare its database with such list.''.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 111 of the Sex Offender Registration and 
     Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16911) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(15) The term `social networking website' means an 
     Internet website that--
       ``(A) allows users, through the creation of web pages or 
     profiles or by other means, to provide information about 
     themselves that is available publicly or to other users; and
       ``(B) offers a mechanism for communication with other 
     users.
       ``(16) The term `Internet' has the meaning given that term 
     in section 1101 of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (47 U.S.C. 
     151 note).
       ``(17) The term `electronic mail address' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 3 of the Controlling the Assault 
     of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (15 
     U.S.C. 7702).''.

     SEC. 5. CRIMINALIZATION OF AGE MISREPRESENTATION IN 
                   CONNECTION WITH ONLINE SOLICITATION OF A MINOR.

       Section 2422 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Misrepresentation of Age.--Whoever knowingly 
     misrepresents his or her age using the Internet or any other 
     facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce or the 
     mail, with the intent to further or facilitate a violation of 
     this section, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned 
     not more than 20 years. A sentence imposed under this 
     subsection shall be in addition and consecutive to any 
     sentence imposed for the offense the age misrepresentation 
     was intended to further or facilitate.''.

     SEC. 6. KNOWINGLY ACCESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY WITH THE INTENT 
                   TO VIEW CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

       (a) Materials Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors.--
     Section 2252(a)(4) of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, or knowingly 
     accesses with intent to view,'' after ``possesses''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, or knowingly 
     accesses with intent to view,'' after ``possesses''.
       (b) Materials Constituting or Containing Child 
     Pornography.--Section 2252A(a)(5) of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, or knowingly 
     accesses with intent to view,'' after ``possesses''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, or knowingly 
     accesses with intent to view,'' after ``possesses''.

     SEC. 7. CLARIFYING BAN OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 110 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in section 2251--
       (A) in each of subsections (a), (b), and (d), by inserting 
     ``using any means or facility of interstate or foreign 
     commerce or'' after ``be transported'';
       (B) in each of subsections (a) and (b), by inserting 
     ``using any means or facility of interstate or foreign 
     commerce or'' after ``been transported'';
       (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``computer'' each place 
     that term appears and inserting ``using any means or facility 
     of interstate or foreign commerce''; and
       (D) in subsection (d), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' after ``is 
     transported'';
       (2) in section 2251A(c), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' after ``or 
     transported'';
       (3) in section 2252(a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' after 
     ``ships'';
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by inserting ``using any means or facility of 
     interstate or foreign commerce or'' after ``distributes, any 
     visual depiction''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``using any means or facility of 
     interstate or foreign commerce or'' after ``depiction for 
     distribution'';
       (C) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by inserting ``using any means or facility of 
     interstate or foreign commerce'' after ``so shipped or 
     transported''; and
       (ii) by striking ``by any means,''; and
       (D) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' after ``has 
     been shipped or transported''; and
       (4) in section 2252A(a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' after 
     ``ships'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce'' after ``mailed, 
     or'' each place it appears;
       (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' after 
     ``mails, or'' each place it appears;

[[Page H10240]]

       (D) in each of paragraphs (4) and (5), by inserting ``using 
     any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' 
     after ``has been mailed, or shipped or transported''; and
       (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``using any means or 
     facility of interstate or foreign commerce or'' after ``has 
     been mailed, shipped, or transported''.
       (b) Affecting Interstate Commerce.--Chapter 110 of title 
     18, United States Code, is amended in each of sections 2251, 
     2251A, 2252, and 2252A, by striking ``in interstate'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``in or affecting 
     interstate''.
       (c) Certain Activities Relating to Material Involving the 
     Sexual Exploitation of Minors.--Section 2252(a)(3)(B) of 
     title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, 
     shipped, or transported using any means or facility of 
     interstate or foreign commerce'' after ``that has been 
     mailed''.
       (d) Certain Activities Relating to Material Constituting or 
     Containing Child Pornography.--Section 2252A(a)(6)(C) of 
     title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ``or by 
     transmitting'' and all that follows through ``by computer,'' 
     and inserting ``or any means or facility of interstate or 
     foreign commerce,''.

                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Conyers

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Conyers:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Keeping the Internet Devoid 
     of Sexual Predators Act of 2008'' or the ``KIDS Act of 
     2008''.

     SEC. 2. DIRECTION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

       (a) Requirement That Sex Offenders Provide Certain Internet 
     Related Information to Sex Offender Registries.--The Attorney 
     General, using the authority provided in section 114(a)(7) of 
     the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, shall 
     require that each sex offender provide to the sex offender 
     registry those Internet identifiers the sex offender uses or 
     will use of any type that the Attorney General determines to 
     be appropriate under that Act. These records of Internet 
     identifiers shall be subject to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 
     552a) to the same extent as the other records in the National 
     Sex Offender Registry.
       (b) Timeliness of Reporting of Information.--The Attorney 
     General, using the authority provided in section 112(b) of 
     the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, shall 
     specify the time and manner for keeping current information 
     required to be provided under this section.
       (c) Nondisclosure to General Public.--The Attorney General, 
     using the authority provided in section 118(b)(4) of the Sex 
     Offender Registration and Notification Act, shall exempt from 
     disclosure all information provided by a sex offender under 
     subsection (a).
       (d) Notice to Sex Offenders of New Requirements.--The 
     Attorney General shall ensure that procedures are in place to 
     notify each sex offender of changes in requirements that 
     apply to that sex offender as a result of the implementation 
     of this section.
       (e) Definitions.--
       (1) Of ``social networking website''.--As used in this Act, 
     the term ``social networking website''--
       (A) means an Internet website--
       (i) that allows users, through the creation of web pages or 
     profiles or by other means, to provide information about 
     themselves that is available to the public or to other users; 
     and
       (ii) that offers a mechanism for communication with other 
     users where such users are likely to include a substantial 
     number of minors; and
       (iii) whose primary purpose is to facilitate online social 
     interactions; and
       (B) includes any contractors or agents used by the website 
     to act on behalf of the website in carrying out the purposes 
     of this Act.
       (2) Of ``internet identifiers''.--As used in this Act, the 
     term ``Internet identifiers'' means electronic mail addresses 
     and other designations used for self-identification or 
     routing in Internet communication or posting.
       (3) Other terms.--A term defined for the purposes of the 
     Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act has the same 
     meaning in this Act.

     SEC. 3. CHECKING SYSTEM FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Secure system for comparisons.--The Attorney General 
     shall establish and maintain a secure system that permits 
     social networking websites to compare the information 
     contained in the National Sex Offender Registry with the 
     Internet identifiers of users of the social networking 
     websites, and view only those Internet identifiers that 
     match. The system--
       (A) shall not require or permit any social networking 
     website to transmit Internet identifiers of its users to the 
     operator of the system, and
       (B) shall use secure procedures that preserve the secrecy 
     of the information made available by the Attorney General, 
     including protection measures that render the Internet 
     identifiers and other data elements indecipherable.
       (2) Provision of information relating to identity.--Upon 
     receiving a matched Internet identifier, the social 
     networking website may make a request of the Attorney General 
     for, and the Attorney General shall provide promptly, 
     information related to the identity of the individual that 
     has registered the matched Internet identifier. This 
     information is limited to the name, sex, resident address, 
     photograph, and physical description.
       (b) Qualification for Use of System.--A social networking 
     website seeking to use the system shall submit an application 
     to the Attorney General which provides--
       (1) the name and legal status of the website;
       (2) the contact information for the website;
       (3) a description of the nature and operations of the 
     website;
       (4) a statement explaining why the website seeks to use the 
     system;
       (5) a description of policies and procedures to ensure 
     that--
       (A) any individual who is denied access to that website on 
     the basis of information obtained through the system is 
     promptly notified of the basis for the denial and has the 
     ability to challenge the denial of access; and
       (B) if the social networking website finds that information 
     is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified, the site 
     immediately notifies the appropriate State registry and the 
     Department of Justice, so that they may delete or correct 
     that information in the respective State and national 
     databases;
       (6) the identity and address of, and contact information 
     for, any contractor that will be used by the social 
     networking website to use the system; and
       (7) such other information or attestations as the Attorney 
     General may require to ensure that the website will use the 
     system--
       (A) to protect the safety of the users of such website; and
       (B) for the limited purpose of making the automated 
     comparison described in subsection (a).
       (c) Searches Against the System.--
       (1) Frequency of use of the system.--A social networking 
     website approved by the Attorney General to use the system 
     may conduct searches under the system as frequently as the 
     Attorney General may allow.
       (2) Authority of attorney general to suspend use.--The 
     Attorney General may deny, suspend, or terminate use of the 
     system by a social networking website that--
       (A) provides false information in its application for use 
     of the system;
       (B) may be using or seeks to use the system for any 
     unlawful or improper purpose;
       (C) fails to comply with the procedures required under 
     subsection (b)(5); or
       (D) uses information obtained from the system in any way 
     that is inconsistent with the purposes of this Act.
       (3) Limitation on release of internet identifiers.--
       (A) No public release.--Neither the Attorney General nor a 
     social networking website approved to use the system may 
     release to the public any list of the Internet identifiers of 
     sex offenders contained in the system.
       (B) Additional limitations.--The Attorney General shall 
     limit the release of information obtained through the use of 
     the system established under subsection (a) by social 
     networking websites approved to use such system.
       (C) Strict adherence to limitation.--The use of the system 
     established under subsection (a) by a social networking 
     website shall be conditioned on the website's agreement to 
     observe the limitations required under this paragraph.
       (D) Rule of construction.--This subsection shall not be 
     construed to limit the authority of the Attorney General 
     under any other provision of law to conduct or to allow 
     searches or checks against sex offender registration 
     information.
       (4) Payment of fee.--A social networking website approved 
     to use the system shall pay any fee established by the 
     Attorney General for use of the system.
       (5) Limitation on liability.--
       (A) In general.--A civil claim against a social networking 
     website, including any director, officer, employee, parent, 
     contractor, or agent of that social networking website, 
     arising from the use by such website of the National Sex 
     Offender Registry, may not be brought in any Federal or State 
     court.
       (B) Intentional, reckless, or other misconduct.--
     Subparagraph (A) does not apply to a claim if the social 
     networking website, or a director, officer, employee, parent, 
     contractor, or agent of that social networking website--
       (i) engaged in intentional misconduct; or
       (ii) acted, or failed to act--

       (I) with actual malice;
       (II) with reckless disregard to a substantial risk of 
     causing injury without legal justification; or
       (III) for a purpose unrelated to the performance of any 
     responsibility or function described in paragraph (3).

       (C) Minimizing access.--A social networking website shall 
     minimize the number of employees that are provided access to 
     the Internet identifiers for which a match has been found 
     through the system.
       (6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to require any Internet website, including a social 
     networking website, to use the system, and no Federal or 
     State liability, or any other actionable adverse consequence, 
     shall be imposed on such website based on its decision not to 
     do so.

[[Page H10241]]

     SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR 
                   ELECTRONIC MONITORING UNITS USED IN SEXUAL 
                   OFFENDER MONITORING PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Subparagraph (C) of section 621(a)(1) of 
     the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 
     U.S.C. 16981(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(C) Minimum standards.--The electronic monitoring units 
     used in the pilot program shall at a minimum--
       ``(i) provide a tracking device for each offender that 
     contains a central processing unit with global positioning 
     system; and
       ``(ii) permit continuous monitoring of offenders 24 hours a 
     day.''.
       (b) Effective Date.-- The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to grants provided on or after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

  Mr. CONYERS (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank my House and Senate 
colleagues today for their ongoing leadership on this critical issue. 
Today is another significant step in our effort to protect our Nation's 
most precious asset--our children. Together with the PROTECT Act, which 
the House considered earlier, we are sending a message to predators 
that we will not let you get our children.
  The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, that we passed two 
years ago and which increased national registration requirements and 
penalties on sex offenders, was a much needed response to the growing 
threats our Nation's children face each and every day.
  However, the threat still exists and, in fact, continues to grow, 
particularly as technology advances. Social Web sites such as MySpace 
and Facebook give our kids new ways to interact. Yet, they also open 
doors for sexual predators to target them--making it essential that our 
laws keep up with technology.
  The bills that we are considering today send the message that we will 
not tolerate this disturbing trend. The Keeping the Internet Devoid of 
Sexual Predators Act, or KIDS Act, of 2007, ensures that our laws and 
the resources needed to catch and keep these criminals off the street 
are as up-to-date as the technology that our kids are using.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 431, the 
``Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2007'' also 
known as the KIDS Act. This important legislation takes a historic step 
forward in updating and strengthening our laws to protect our kids from 
sexual predators online.
  At the beginning of this Congress, I introduced the House companion 
to the KIDS Act with our dear departed friend, Rep. Paul Gillmor, a 
true champion of protecting children from dangerous sexual predators 
both online and offline. He spent much of his time in Congress fighting 
to keep our kids safe, and I know that he would be very proud of the 
passage of today's legislation.
  When my own kids are online, I want to do everything possible to keep 
them safe from online predators. Sex offenders have no business being 
on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook and the hundreds 
of other social networking sites that kids are on today. This 
bipartisan compromise will make it easier for social networking sites 
to find these offenders and kick these individuals off of their sites 
so that they are not able to prey on our Nation's children.
  Under current law, convicted sex offenders have to register where 
they work, live, go to school, and provide any other information that 
is required by the Attorney General, This act mandates that the 
Attorney General use his authority to require convicted sex offenders 
to register their Internet identifiers such as their email and instant 
messaging addresses. Failure to register internet identifiers as 
required will be treated as any other registration violation punishable 
under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2250. The Department of Justice will then create a 
system to share this information with social networking sites so that 
these companies can keep registered sex offenders from using their 
services.
  According to a University of New Hampshire study, 1 in 7 children 
receive unwanted sexual solicitations online. With nearly 90 percent of 
our Nation's teenagers using the Internet everyday, it is now more 
important than ever to pass legislation like this that updates our laws 
to protect our kids from those who would exploit them online.
  I would like to thank MySpace for their leadership in advancing this 
legislation and for the proactive steps that they have already taken to 
delete convicted registered sex offenders from their site. We hope this 
legislation will encourage others to follow their lead.
  I would also like to thank Chairman Scott, Chairman Conyers, Senator 
Schumer and Representative Rahm Emanuel for their work on this issue. I 
would specifically like to thank House Judiciary staff--Mark Dubester, 
Ted Kalo, Bobby Vassar, Ameer Gopalani and Karen Wilkinson--for their 
hard work in reaching a compromise on this issue. I look forward to 
continuing to work with all of you to protect our children from the 
threat of sex offenders on the Internet.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, child predators will stop at nothing 
to prey on innocent children. The Internet affords them not only a 
virtual world within which to lure children into meeting them but also 
significantly hampers the ability of law enforcement to identify and 
apprehend them.
  The Internet is constantly evolving. A decade ago, email was the 
revolution that connected people in the workplace, on college campuses, 
and across the country. Today, chat rooms and social networking sites 
boast users in the millions from around the world and attract young 
children who may not be aware of the risks involved with sharing 
personal information online.
  We were all shocked to learn last year that over 20,000 registered 
sex offenders were on commercial social networking sites. In response 
to media attention, these sites removed the sex offenders and continue 
to actively monitor their sites.
  S. 431, the Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act or 
KIDS Act of 2007, will help these sites and other Internet providers, 
as well as law enforcement officials, to identify sex offenders lurking 
on the Internet. The bill contains an important provision requiring sex 
offenders to update their registration information to include their 
electronic mail addresses, instant messaging addresses and other 
similar Internet identifiers.
  The KIDS Act also provides a mechanism to allow social networking 
sites to check sex offender registries to prevent sex offenders from 
accessing the site.
  The House passed similar legislation, H.R. 719, last year. However, 
many of these important provisions had been stripped from the bill 
before it was brought to the floor. I am pleased that S. 431 reinstates 
many of these provisions, most importantly, the requirement that sex 
offenders report their email addresses and other Internet identifiers.
  S. 431 also incorporates a provision originally introduced by my 
colleague from Virginia, Congressman Randy Forbes, in H.R. 4094. This 
provision amends the Adam Walsh Act to revise the minimum standards for 
electronic monitoring of sex offenders. This important correction will 
improve the use of these monitoring devices under the Adam Walsh Act 
pilot program.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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