[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 89 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H6766-H6767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STUDENT INTERNET SAFETY ACT OF 2009

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 780) to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 to promote the safe use of the Internet by students, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H. R. 780

       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 ``Student Internet Safety Act 
     of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. PROMOTING THE SAFE USE OF THE INTERNET BY STUDENTS.

        Each local educational agency that receives funds under 
     part D of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6751 et seq.) or part A of title IV of 
     such Act (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) may use such funds to 
     develop and implement programs that promote the safe use of 
     the Internet by students, such as programs that--
       (1) educate students about appropriate online behavior, 
     including interacting with individuals on social networking 
     Web sites and in chat rooms;
       (2) protect students against online predators, 
     cyberbullying, or unwanted exposure to inappropriate 
     material; or
       (3) promote involvement by parents in the use of the 
     Internet by their children.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 
780 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Student Internet Safety 
Act of 2009. In a world where we rely on the Internet for a variety of 
purposes, including education, we need to ensure that today's youth are 
taught how to safely navigate the World Wide Web.
  Recent research shows that 93 percent of all children between the 
ages of 12 and 17 are online. Additionally, the average child between 
the ages of 2 and 11 years old views more online video than his or her 
parents. Clearly, it is time that we ensure children are taught 
healthy, safe and smart ways to utilize their time online.
  Too often our news is filled with stories of students falling victim 
to cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and other forms of online harassment. 
With students' use of online social networking sites growing at a very 
rapid pace and an abundance of material inappropriate for children on 
the Internet, these threats show no sign of decreasing. We must begin 
taking steps to provide our children with guidance and instructions on 
how to be safe in an increasingly digital world. By promoting programs 
that educate children on Internet safety and increased parental 
involvement, the Student Internet Safety Act will help us begin to stem 
the tide of these alarming threats to today's youth.
  When navigated safely and correctly, the Internet can provide 
students with a remarkable resource to get help with homework, do 
research for school projects, virtually tour historical sites, explore 
special interests, and share information with peers around the world. 
Mr. Speaker, it is our responsibility to make sure children are 
protected from and educated about the numerous online threats in order 
to maximize the priceless opportunities to advance learning that the 
digital world provides.
  According to a Microsoft survey of parents, at least 56 percent of 
children access the Internet from school for a variety of purposes. 
This number will increase as we move forward. This legislation is a 
vital step towards promoting the safe use of the Internet by students.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Putnam of Florida for introducing 
this legislation, and I once again express my support for this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 780, the Student 
Internet Safety Act of 2009, which was introduced by my friend and 
colleague, Representative Adam Putnam.
  This bill will allow local education agencies that receive Federal 
funds under the Safe and Drug Free Schools State Grants program and the 
Education Technology State Grants program to spend those dollars on 
developing and implementing programs that promote the safe use of the 
Internet by students. This important bill would allow school districts 
to use Federal funds to educate their students about appropriate online 
behavior, including interacting with individuals on social networking 
Web sites and in chat rooms. They could also use the funds to protect 
students against online predators, cyberbullying, or unwanted exposure 
to inappropriate materials, or promote involvement by parents in the 
use of the Internet by their children.
  The Internet is a technological advancement that can be extremely 
useful for students, educators, and parents. Today, almost every public 
school in the United States has Internet access, and 79 percent of high 
school students use the Internet on a daily basis, including looking 
for information to assist them with their school work. These statistics 
are impressive and would have been unheard of a decade ago, but they 
demonstrate the changing nature of technology in our Nation's schools.
  Today's youngest generation is the first generation to be born into a 
world proliferated by the Internet. These students use the Internet 
almost every day. From email, to social networking sites, to online 
interactive teaching forums, online encyclopedias, the Internet 
provides students and teachers with numerous tools and benefits every 
day.
  However, there are many dangers inherent with technology as well. 
Children, especially young children, are at risk of becoming victims of 
numerous Internet-related crimes, including child pornography, 
cyberstalking, predators posing as children, or even more heinous 
crimes, including murder and rape. In addition to falling victim to 
Internet-related crimes, children can be exposed to age-inappropriate 
or harmful materials while browsing the Internet or conducting research 
for homework.
  We know that the most effective way to prevent children from becoming 
victims of Internet-related crimes is to educate them as to how to 
avoid dangerous situations. There are several Internet sites and 
software programs that advise parents on how to talk about the subject 
with their children: what the dangers are, how to teach children to 
avoid them, and how best to monitor their children's Internet 
activities at home and at school. And public schools that receive funds 
under the Educational Technology State Grant programs are required to 
have Internet filtering software that limits what sites children can 
access from school computers.

[[Page H6767]]

  However, many schools struggle to provide some form of Internet 
safety education or purchase this important software which would 
protect students against Internet crimes. It is clear that while much 
is being done, much more is required of us as the use of technology 
continues to expand.
  H.R. 780, the Student Internet Safety Act, will ensure that schools 
and school districts provide students with the tools they need to use 
the Internet in a safe and secure manner to further their education. In 
today's world of Internet technology and global communication, a 
child's safety must be our number one priority.
  I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Putnam, for introducing this 
important piece of legislation. I am proud to rise in support of it and 
ask my colleagues to support this bill that will promote the safe use 
of the Internet by students.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time. I urge my 
colleagues to support the legislation and yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the gentlewoman 
from Washington, I recognize her very fine eloquent statements about 
the Student Internet Safety Act of 2009. I urge my colleagues to 
support the passage of this act.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rothman of New Jersey). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from the Northern Mariana 
Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House suspend the rules and pass the 
bill, H.R. 780, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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