[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ADAM WALSH CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2009

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the Adam Walsh 
Child Protection and Safety Reauthorization Act of 2009. This bill 
reauthorizes a number of programs set to expire at the end of 2009 that 
help to track and apprehend sex offenders.
  In 2006, Congress passed the Adam Walsh Act to protect the public, 
particularly children, from sexual predators. Under the Act, sex 
offenders must register with state or local jurisdictions after 
incarceration or while on probation. The Act expanded the National Sex 
Offender Registry by integrating the information in state sex offender 
registry systems and ensuring that law enforcement agencies across the 
United States have access to this information. The Act further requires 
states to make registry information available to the public via 
government Internet websites. A number of new grant programs were also 
authorized to assist states in improving sex offender registration and 
related requirements of the Act. It is several of these grant programs 
and some related provisions that are expiring at the end of this year, 
though the registration requirements and related authorities are not.
  Unfortunately, many of the programs authorized by the Adam Walsh Act, 
including the expiring programs reauthorized by this bill, have 
received insufficient or no direct funding from Congress.
  There are currently more than 100,000 missing sex offenders who have 
failed to register as required under current law. These predators are 
working, attending school, and living in close proximity to our 
children unbeknownst to parents and law enforcement officials.
  By reauthorizing these important Adam Walsh Act programs, Congress 
will demonstrate its commitment to empower federal, state and local law 
enforcement agencies to protect children and identify, locate and 
apprehend sex offenders.
  These programs were specifically drafted to provide the Department of 
Justice and state and local law enforcement agencies the tools 
necessary to track and apprehend absconders from the Sex Offender 
Registry. These expiring programs reauthorized by this bill include:
  1. The Sex Offender Management Assistance Program (SOMA)--this 
provision awards grants to states to assist with the implementation of 
the sex offender registry under the AWA.
  2. Pilot Program for Monitoring Sexual Offenders--this provision 
empowers the Attorney General to make grants to state, local and tribal 
governments in order to outfit sex offenders with electronic monitoring 
devices. It authorizes appropriations of $5 million for fiscal years 
2010-2014 and thereafter requests the Attorney General to report on the 
effectiveness of the program.
  3. Grants to Combat Sexual Abuse of Children--this provision 
establishes a grant program for law enforcement agencies to combat 
sexual abuse of children with authorized appropriations of the 
necessary sums for fiscal years 2010-2014.
  4. Jessica Lunsford Address Verification Grant Program--this 
provision creates the Jessica Lunsford Address Verification Grant 
Program to enable state, local and tribal grantees to verify the 
addresses of registered sex offenders with authorization of the 
necessary appropriations for fiscal years 2010-2014 and the requirement 
of an Attorney General's report on the effectiveness of the program.
  5. Fugitive Safe Surrender--this provision instructs the Marshals 
Service to establish and coordinate a Fugitive Safe Surrender program 
in designated cities for the capture of fugitives from federal, state 
and local justice. It authorizes appropriations of $8 million for that 
purpose in fiscal years 2010-2014.
  6. Sex Offender Apprehension Grants; Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment 
Grants--this provision creates a grant program available to both public 
and private entities that assist in treatment of juvenile sex offenders 
or that assist the states in their enforcement of sex offender 
registration requirements. Appropriations are authorized for fiscal 
years 2010-2014 in such amounts as are necessary in the case of the 
enforcement grants and in the amount of $10 million per year in the 
case of the juvenile sex offender grants.
  Madam Speaker, Congress should move quickly to reauthorize these 
programs. Congress should also appropriate necessary funds for the full 
implementation of these programs. I urge my colleagues to support the 
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Reauthorization Act of 2009.

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