[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STUDENT INTERNET SAFETY ACT OF 2009

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                               speech of

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 2009

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my 
colleagues in supporting the ``Student Internet Safety Act of 2009'' 
(H.R. 780), which the House of Representatives passed on June 16, 2009. 
H.R. 780 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
allow local educational agencies that receive Title II (teacher grants) 
funds and Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds, to develop 
and implement programs promoting safe Internet use by students (i.e. 
how to prevent online stalking and promoting parental involvement).
  My colleague from Florida, Representative Adam Putnam is the author 
of H.R. 780. I commend Representative Putnam in crafting thoughtful and 
much needed legislation to provide schools with the ability to teach 
children about the potential dangers associated with the Internet. 
Congressman Putnam said that ``We teach our children how to look both 
ways before crossing the street; we also need to teach them the safety 
rules for the `information superhighway.' '' I could not agree more and 
that is why I was pleased that the House Leadership scheduled a vote on 
H.R. 780.
  I have been a champion for parental rights and for the protection of 
children from violent and sexually explicit material for decades. I was 
one of the leading proponents of the ``Parental Choice in Television 
Act'' and the ``Children's Protection from Violent Programming Act'' 
which lead to the enactment of the V-chip provision of the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996, (Public Law 104-104). Because of those 
efforts, today the V-chip is in practically every television in America 
and it has proven to be a very successful tool, in conjunction with the 
television rating system, for parents who want to protect their kids 
from violent or sexually explicit material on television.
  Today, however, the problem is not television but the Internet and 
that is why H.R. 780 is so important. It will provide another avenue 
for children to learn about Internet safety. There are things parents 
can do to help to keep their kids safe on the Internet. For example the 
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children recommends that:
  Parents choose search engines carefully. Some are specifically 
designed for kids, and others offer kid-safe options.
  Parents tell kids when they come across any material making them feel 
scared, uncomfortable, or confused to immediately tell them or another 
trusted adult.
  Parents help kids find information online. By searching the Internet 
together parents can help them find reliable sources of information and 
distinguish fact from fiction.
  Parents talk with their Internet service providers (ISPs) as many 
offer filters to prevent kids from accessing inappropriate sites. As a 
consumer parents have a right to choose an ISP with the services 
meeting their family's needs.
  There are more tips on safe Internet usage as well as tips on how 
kids can use e-mail and social networking sites safely on the National 
Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website at 
www.missingkids.com. And if a child has ever been sent inappropriate 
material by someone he or she met online or ever inadvertently 
encountered inappropriate material, a report of these types of 
incidents can be filed at www.CyberTipline.com or by calling 1-800-THE-
LOST.

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