[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2737-S2741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 2085. Mr. COBURN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1925, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act 
of 1994; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. IDENTIFYING UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION WITHIN THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

       (a) Requirement to Identify and Describe Programs.--Each 
     fiscal year, for purposes of the report required by 
     subsection (c), the Attorney General shall--
       (1) identify and describe every program administered by the 
     Department of Justice;
       (2) for each such program--
       (A) determine the total administrative expenses of the 
     program;
       (B) determine the expenditures for services for the 
     program;
       (C) estimate the number of clients served by the program 
     and beneficiaries who received assistance under the program 
     (if applicable); and
       (D) estimate--
       (i) the number of full-time employees who administer the 
     program; and
       (ii) the number of full-time equivalents (whose salary is 
     paid in part or full by the Federal Government through a 
     grant or contract, a subaward of a grant or contract, a 
     cooperative agreement, or another form of financial award or 
     assistance) who assist in administering the program; and
       (3) identify programs within the Federal Government 
     (whether inside or outside the agency) with duplicative or 
     overlapping missions, services, and allowable uses of funds.
       (b) Relationship to Catalog of Domestic Assistance.--With 
     respect to the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2)(B) of 
     subsection (a), the Attorney General may use the same 
     information provided in the catalog of domestic and 
     international assistance programs in the case of any program 
     that is a domestic or international assistance program.
       (c) Report.--Not later than February 1 of each fiscal year, 
     the Attorney General shall publish on the official public 
     website of the agency a report containing the following:
       (1) The information required under subsection (a) with 
     respect to the preceding fiscal year.

[[Page S2738]]

       (2) The latest performance reviews (including the program 
     performance reports required under section 1116 of title 31, 
     United States Code) of each program of the agency identified 
     under subsection (a)(1), including performance indicators, 
     performance goals, output measures, and other specific 
     metrics used to review the program and how the program 
     performed on each.
       (3) For each program that makes payments, the latest 
     improper payment rate of the program and the total estimated 
     amount of improper payments, including fraudulent payments 
     and overpayments.
       (4) The total amount of unspent and unobligated program 
     funds held by the Department and grant recipients (not 
     including individuals) stated as an amount--
       (A) held as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which 
     the report is submitted; and
       (B) held for five fiscal years or more.
       (5) Such recommendations as the Attorney General considers 
     appropriate--
       (A) to consolidate programs that are duplicative or 
     overlapping;
       (B) to eliminate waste and inefficiency; and
       (C) to terminate lower priority, outdated, and unnecessary 
     programs and initiatives.
       (d) Consolidating Unnecessary Duplication Within the 
     Department of Justice.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law and not later than 150 days after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall--
       (1) use available administrative authority to eliminate, 
     consolidate, or streamline Government programs and agencies 
     with duplicative and overlapping missions identified in--
       (A) the February 2012 Government Accountability Office 
     report to Congress entitled ``2012 Annual Report: 
     Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government 
     Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue'' (GAO 12 
     342SP); and
       (B) subsection (a);
       (2) identify and report to Congress any legislative changes 
     required to further eliminate, consolidate, or streamline 
     Government programs and agencies with duplicative and 
     overlapping missions identified in--
       (A) the February 2012 Government Accountability Office 
     report to Congress entitled ``2012 Annual Report: 
     Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government 
     Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue'' (GAO 12 
     342SP); and
       (B) subsection (c); and
       (3) develop a plan that would result in financial cost 
     savings of no less than 20 percent of the nearly 
     $3,900,000,000 in duplicative grant programs identified by 
     the Government Accountability Office as a result of the 
     actions required by paragraph (1).
       (e) Eliminating the Backlog of Unanalyzed Dna From Sexual 
     Assault, Rape, Kidnapping, and Other Criminal Cases.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law and not later than 
     1 year after the enactment of this section, the Director of 
     the Office of Management and Budget in consultation with 
     Attorney General shall--
       (1) rescind from the appropriate accounts the total amount 
     of cost savings from the plan required in subsection (d)(3);
       (2) apply as much as 75 percent of the savings towards 
     alleviating any backlogs of analysis and placement of DNA 
     samples from rape, sexual assault, homicide, kidnapping and 
     other criminal cases, including casework sample and convicted 
     offender backlogs, into the Combined DNA Index System; and
       (3) return the remainder of the savings to the Treasury for 
     the purpose of deficit reduction.
       (f) Reporting the Savings Resulting From Consolidating 
     Unnecessary Duplication.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, the Attorney General shall post a report on the 
     public Internet website of the Department of Justice 
     detailing--
       (1) the programs consolidated as a result of this section, 
     including any programs eliminated;
       (2) the total amount saved from reducing such duplication;
       (3) the total amount of such savings directed towards the 
     analysis and placement of DNA samples into the Combined DNA 
     Index System;
       (4) the total amount of such savings returned to the 
     Treasury for the purpose of deficit reduction; and
       (5) additional recommendations for consolidating 
     duplicative programs, offices, and initiatives within the 
     Department of Justice.
       (g) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrative expenses.--The term ``administrative 
     expenses'' has the meaning as determined by the Director of 
     the Office of Management and Budget under section 504(b)(2) 
     of Public Law 111 85 (31 U.S.C. 1105 note), except the term 
     shall also include, for purposes of that section and this 
     section--
       (A) costs incurred by the Department as well as costs 
     incurred by grantees, subgrantees, and other recipients of 
     funds from a grant program or other program administered by 
     the Department; and
       (B) expenses related to personnel salaries and benefits, 
     property management, travel, program management, promotion, 
     reviews and audits, case management, and communication about, 
     promotion of, and outreach for programs and program 
     activities administered by the Department.
       (2) Performance indicator; performance goal; output 
     measure; program activity.--The terms ``performance 
     indicator'', ``performance goal'', ``output measure'', and 
     ``program activity'' have the meanings provided by section 
     1115 of title 31, United States Code.
       (3) Program.--The term ``program'' has the meaning provided 
     by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in 
     consultation with the Attorney General and shall include any 
     organized set of activities directed toward a common purpose 
     or goal undertaken by the Department of an agency that 
     includes services, projects, processes, or financial or other 
     forms of assistance, including grants, contracts, cooperative 
     agreements, compacts, loans, leases, technical support, 
     consultation, or other guidance.
       (4) Services.--The term ``services'' has the meaning 
     provided by the Attorney General and shall be limited to only 
     activities, assistance, and aid that provide a direct benefit 
     to a recipient, such as the provision of medical care, 
     assistance for housing or tuition, or financial support 
     (including grants and loans).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2086. Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
McConnell, and Mr. Vitter) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by him to the bill S. 1925, to reauthorize the Violence 
Against Women Act of 1994; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end, add the following:

                        TITLE XI--THE SAFER ACT

     SECTION 1101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Sexual Assault Forensic 
     Evidence Registry Act of 2012'' or the ``SAFER Act of 2012''.

     SEC. 1102. DEBBIE SMITH GRANTS FOR AUDITING SEXUAL ASSAULT 
                   EVIDENCE BACKLOGS.

       Section 2 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 
     2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(6) To conduct an audit consistent with subsection (n) of 
     the samples of sexual assault evidence that are in the 
     possession of the State or unit of local government and are 
     awaiting testing.'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(4) Allocation of grant awards for audits.--For each of 
     fiscal years 2012 through 2016, not less than 7 percent of 
     the grant amounts distributed under paragraph (1) shall be 
     awarded for the purpose described in subsection (a)(6).''; 
     and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(n) Use of Funds for Auditing Sexual Assault Evidence 
     Backlogs.--
       ``(1) Eligibility.--The Attorney General may award a grant 
     under this section to a State or unit of local government for 
     the purpose described in subsection (a)(6) only if the State 
     or unit of local government--
       ``(A) submits a plan for performing the audit of samples 
     described in such subsection; and
       ``(B) includes in such plan a good-faith estimate of the 
     number of such samples.
       ``(2) Grant conditions.--A State or unit of local 
     government receiving a grant for the purpose described in 
     subsection (a)(6) shall--
       ``(A) not later than 1 year after receiving such grant--
       ``(i) complete the audit referred to in paragraph (1)(A) in 
     accordance with the plan submitted under such paragraph; and
       ``(ii) for each sample of sexual assault evidence 
     identified in such audit, subject to paragraph (4), enter 
     into the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry 
     established under subsection (o) the information listed in 
     subsection (o)(2);
       ``(B) not later than 21 days after receiving possession of 
     a sample of sexual assault evidence that was not in the 
     possession of the State or unit of local government at the 
     time of such audit, subject to paragraph (4), enter into the 
     Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry the information 
     listed in subsection (o)(2) with respect to the sample; and
       ``(C) not later than 30 days after a change in the status 
     referred to in subsection (o)(2)(A)(v) of a sample with 
     respect to which the State or unit of local government has 
     entered information into such Registry, update such status.
       ``(3) Extension of initial deadline.--The Attorney General 
     may grant an extension of the deadline under paragraph (2)(A) 
     to a State or unit of local government that demonstrates that 
     more time is required for compliance with such paragraph.
       ``(4) Samples exempt from registry requirement.--A State or 
     unit of local government is not required under paragraph (2) 
     to enter into the Registry described in such paragraph 
     information with respect to a sample of sexual assault 
     evidence if--
       ``(A) the sample is not considered criminal evidence (such 
     as a sample collected anonymously from a victim who is 
     unwilling to make a criminal complaint); or
       ``(B) the sample relates to a sexual assault for which the 
     prosecution of each perpetrator is barred by a statute of 
     limitations.
       ``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Awaiting testing.--The term `awaiting testing' means, 
     with respect to a sample of sexual assault evidence, that--
       ``(i) the sample has been collected and is in the 
     possession of a State or unit of local government;
       ``(ii) DNA and other appropriate forensic analyses have not 
     been performed on such sample; and

[[Page S2739]]

       ``(iii) the sample is related to a criminal case or 
     investigation in which final disposition has not yet been 
     reached.
       ``(B) Final disposition.--The term `final disposition' 
     means, with respect to a criminal case or investigation to 
     which a sample of sexual assault evidence relates--
       ``(i) the conviction or acquittal of all suspected 
     perpetrators of the crime involved;
       ``(ii) a determination by the State or unit of local 
     government in possession of the sample that the case is 
     unfounded; or
       ``(iii) a declaration by the victim of the crime involved 
     that the act constituting the basis of the crime was not 
     committed.
       ``(C) Possession.--
       ``(i) In general.--The term `possession', used with respect 
     to possession of a sample of sexual assault evidence by a 
     State or unit of local government, includes possession by an 
     individual who is acting as an agent of the State or unit of 
     local government for the collection of the sample.
       ``(ii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in clause (i) shall 
     be construed to create or amend any Federal rights or 
     privileges for non-governmental vendor laboratories described 
     in regulations promulgated under section 210303 of the DNA 
     Identification Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14131).''.

     SEC. 1103. SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EVIDENCE REGISTRY.

       (a) In General.--Section 2 of the DNA Analysis Backlog 
     Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135), as amended by 
     section 1102 of this title, is further amended by adding at 
     the end the following new subsection:
       ``(o) Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (j), not later 
     than 1 year after the date of enactment of the SAFER Act of 
     2012, the Attorney General shall establish a Sexual Assault 
     Forensic Evidence Registry (in this subsection referred to as 
     the `Registry') that--
       ``(A) allows States and units of local government to enter 
     information into the Registry about samples of sexual assault 
     evidence that are in the possession of such States or units 
     of local government and are awaiting testing; and
       ``(B) tracks the testing and processing of such samples.
       ``(2) Information in registry.--
       ``(A) In general.--A State or unit of local government that 
     chooses to enter information into the Registry about a sample 
     of sexual assault evidence shall include the following 
     information:
       ``(i) The date of the sexual assault to which the sample 
     relates.
       ``(ii) The city, county, or other appropriate locality in 
     which the sexual assault occurred.
       ``(iii) The date on which the sample was collected.
       ``(iv) The date on which information relating to the sample 
     was entered into the Registry.
       ``(v) The status of the progression of the sample through 
     testing and other stages of the evidentiary handling process, 
     including the identity of the entity in possession of the 
     sample.
       ``(vi) The date or dates after which the State or unit of 
     local government would be barred by any applicable statutes 
     of limitations from prosecuting a perpetrator of the sexual 
     assault for the sexual assault.
       ``(vii) Such other information as the Attorney General 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(B) Personally identifiable information.--The Attorney 
     General shall ensure that the Registry does not include 
     personally identifiable information or details about a sexual 
     assault that might lead to the identification of the 
     individuals involved, except for the information listed in 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(3) Sample identification number.--
       ``(A) In general.--A State or unit of local government that 
     chooses to enter information about a sample of sexual assault 
     evidence into the Registry shall assign to the sample a 
     unique numeric or alphanumeric identifier.
       ``(B) Unique identifier required.--In assigning the 
     identifier under subparagraph (A), a State or unit of local 
     government may use a case-numbering system used for other 
     purposes, but the Attorney General shall ensure that the 
     identifier assigned to each sample is unique with respect to 
     all samples entered by all States and units of local 
     government.
       ``(4) Update of information.--A State or unit of local 
     government that chooses to enter information about a sample 
     of sexual assault evidence into the Registry shall, not later 
     than 30 days after a change in the status of the sample 
     referred to in paragraph (2)(A)(v), update such status.
       ``(5) Internet access.--The Attorney General shall make 
     publicly available aggregate non-individualized and non-
     personally identifying data gathered from the Registry, to 
     allow for comparison of backlog data by State and unit of 
     local government, on an appropriate Internet website.
       ``(6) Technical assistance.--The Attorney General shall--
       ``(A) provide a means by which an entity that does not have 
     access to the Internet may enter information into the 
     Registry; and
       ``(B) provide the technical assistance necessary to allow 
     States and units of local government to participate in the 
     Registry.''.
       (b) Funding.--Section 2(j) of the DNA Analysis Backlog 
     Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135(j)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and for carrying out subsection (o)'' 
     after ``for grants under subsection (a)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``For 
     each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016, not less than 1 
     percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated under the 
     previous sentence for such fiscal year shall be for carrying 
     out subsection (o).''

     SEC. 1104. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year 
     for which a grant is made for the purpose described in 
     section 2(a)(6) of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act 
     of 2000, as added by section 1102 of this title, the Attorney 
     General shall submit to Congress a report that--
       (1) lists the States and units of local government that 
     have been awarded such grants and the amount of the grant 
     received by each such State or unit of local government;
       (2) states the number of extensions granted by the Attorney 
     General under section 2(n)(3) of the DNA Analysis Backlog 
     Elimination Act of 2000, as added by section 1102 of this 
     title; and
       (3) summarizes the processing status of the samples of 
     sexual assault evidence about which information has been 
     entered into the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry 
     established under section 2(o) of the DNA Analysis Backlog 
     Elimination Act of 2000, as added by section 1103(a) of this 
     title, including the number of samples that have not been 
     tested.

                     TITLE XII--JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS

     SEC. 1201. REDUCING THE RAPE KIT BACKLOG.

       Section 2(c)(3) of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act 
     of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135(c)(3)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(C) For each of fiscal years 2012 through 2014, not less 
     than 75 percent of the total grant amounts shall be awarded 
     for a combination of purposes under paragraphs (2) and (3) of 
     subsection (a).''.

     SEC. 1202. ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR AGGRAVATED INTERSTATE 
                   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

       Section 2261(b) of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``not less than 15 
     years'' after ``any term of years'';
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``20 years'' and 
     inserting ``25 years''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``10 years'' and 
     inserting ``15 years''.

     SEC. 1203. ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE.

       Section 2241 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), in the undesignated matter following 
     paragraph (2), by striking ``any term of years or life'' and 
     inserting ``not less than 10 years or imprisoned for life''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (b), in the undesignated matter following 
     paragraph (2), by striking ``any term of years or life'' and 
     inserting ``not less than 5 years or imprisoned for life''.

     SEC. 1204. ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION 
                   OF CHILD PROSTITUTES.

       Section 2423(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
     following: ``, but if the individual who was transported in 
     interstate or foreign commerce had not attained 12 years of 
     age, imprisoned not less than 20 years or for life.''.

     SEC. 1205. FINDING FUGITIVE SEX OFFENDERS.

       (a) Subpoena Authority for the United States Marshals 
     Service.--Section 566(e)(1) of title 28, United States Code, 
     is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) issue administrative subpoenas in accordance with 
     section 3486 of title 18 solely for the purpose of 
     investigating unregistered sex offenders (as that term is 
     defined in section 3486 of title 18).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment to Administrative Subpoena 
     Statute.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3486(a)(1) of title 18, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)--
       (i) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (ii) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
       (iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
       ``(ii) an unregistered sex offender conducted by the United 
     States Marshals Service, the Director of the United States 
     Marshals Service; or''; and
       (B) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(D) As used in this paragraph--
       ``(i) the term `Federal offense involving the sexual 
     exploitation or abuse of children' means an offense under 
     section 1201, 1591, 2241(c), 2242, 2243, 2251, 2251A, 2252, 
     2252A, 2260, 2421, 2422, or 2423, in which the victim is an 
     individual who has not attained the age of 18 years; and
       ``(ii) the term `sex offender' means an individual required 
     to register under the Sex Offender Registration and 
     Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.).''.
       (2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 3486(a) 
     of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``United State'' and 
     inserting ``United States'';

[[Page S2740]]

       (B) in paragraph (9), by striking ``or (1)(A)(ii)'' and 
     inserting ``or (1)(A)(iii)''; and
       (C) in paragraph (10), by striking ``paragraph (1)(A)(ii)'' 
     and inserting ``paragraph (1)(A)(iii)''.
       (c) Report.--Section 3486 of title 18, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Reports.--The Attorney General shall submit to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on 
     the Judiciary of the House of Representatives an annual 
     report containing--
       ``(1) the number of subpoenas issued by the United States 
     Marshals pursuant to section 566(e)(1)(C) of title 28;
       ``(2) the crime being investigated pursuant to the issuance 
     of each subpoena; and
       ``(3) the number of unregistered sex offenders arrested by 
     the United States Marshals subsequent to the issuance of a 
     subpoena pursuant to section 566(e)(1)(C) of title 28 and the 
     information that led to each individual's arrest.''.

     SEC. 1206. REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE DNA FINGERPRINT ACT 
                   OF 2005.

       Not later than 180 days after date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prepare and 
     submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and 
     the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
     Representatives a report that--
       (1) describes, in detail, the measures and procedures taken 
     by the Secretary to comply with any regulation promulgated 
     pursuant to section 3(e)(1) of the DNA Analysis Backlog 
     Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135a(e)(1)); and
       (2) provides a detailed explanation of the circumstances 
     and specific cases, if available, in which--
       (A) the Secretary failed to comply with any regulation 
     promulgated pursuant to such section 3(e)(1);
       (B) the Secretary requested the Attorney General approve 
     additional limitations to, or exceptions from, any regulation 
     promulgated pursuant to such section 3(e)(1); or
       (C) the Secretary consulted with the Attorney General to 
     determine that the collection of DNA samples is not feasible 
     because of operational exigencies or resource limitations.

     SEC. 1207. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) According to the Department of Justice, there was a 59 
     percent increase in identified victims of human trafficking 
     worldwide between 2009 and 2010.
       (2) According to the Department of Health and Human 
     Services, human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal 
     enterprise in the world.
       (3) Experts estimate that up to 300,000 children are at 
     risk of sexual exploitation each year in the United States.
       (4) Experts estimate that the average female victim of sex 
     trafficking is forced into prostitution for the first time 
     between the ages of 12 and 14 and the average male victim is 
     forced into prostitution for the first time between the ages 
     of 11 and 13.
       (5) The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 40 percent 
     of incidents investigated by federally funded task forces on 
     human trafficking between 2008 and 2010 involved the sexual 
     exploitation of a child.
       (6) According to the classified advertising consultant 
     Advanced Interactive Media Group (referred to in this 
     subsection as ``AIM Group''), Backpage.com is the leading 
     United States website for prostitution advertising.
       (7) Backpage.com is owned by Village Voice Media Holdings, 
     LLC (referred to in this section as ``Village Voice Media'').
       (8) The National Association of Attorneys General has 
     tracked more than 50 cases in which charges were filed 
     against those trafficking or attempting to traffic minors on 
     Backpage.com.
       (9) In February 2011, Myrelle and Tyrelle Locket were each 
     sentenced to 4 years in prison on charges of trafficking of 
     persons for forced labor or services for operating an 
     Illinois sex trafficking ring that included minors. The 
     Lockets used Backpage.com to facilitate the prostitution.
       (10) In March 2011, Arthur James Chappell was sentenced to 
     28 years in prison on charges of sex trafficking of a minor 
     for running a prostitution ring with at least 1 juvenile 
     victim in Minnesota. Arthur Chappell used Backpage.com to 
     facilitate the prostitution.
       (11) In April 2011, Brandon Quincy Thompson was sentenced 
     to life imprisonment for sex trafficking a child by force and 
     an additional 120 months for soliciting the murder of a 
     Federal witness. Brandon Thompson ran a South Dakota 
     prostitution ring involving multiple underage girls. Brandon 
     Thompson used Backpage.com to facilitate the prostitution.
       (12) In May 2011, Clint Eugene Wilson was sentenced to 20 
     years in prison on charges of sex trafficking of a minor by 
     force, fraud or coercion for forcing a 16-year old Dallas 
     girl into prostitution. Clint Wilson threatened to assault 
     the girl and forced her to get a tattoo that branded her as 
     his property. Clint Wilson used Backpage.com to facilitate 
     the prostitution.
       (13) In August 2011, Demetrius Darnell Homer was sentenced 
     to 20 years in prison on charges of sex trafficking of a 
     minor for violently forcing a 14-year-old Atlanta girl into 
     prostitution. Demetrius Homer controlled the girl through 
     beatings, threatened her with a knife, shocked her with a 
     taser in front of another underage girl he placed in 
     prostitution, and forced the girl to engage in prostitution 
     while she was pregnant with his child. Demetrius Homer used 
     Backpage.com to facilitate the prostitution.
       (14) In February 2012, Leighton Martin Curtis was sentenced 
     to 30 years in prison on charges of sex trafficking of a 
     minor and production of child pornography for pimping a 15-
     year- girl throughout Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina 
     for more than a year. Leighton Curtis prostituted the girl to 
     approximately 20 to 35 customers per week through 
     advertisements on Backpage.com. Leighton Curtis used 
     Backpage.com to facilitate the prostitution.
       (15) In March 2012, Ronnie Leon Tramble was sentenced to 15 
     years in prison on charges of sex trafficking through force, 
     fraud and coercion for forcing more than 5 young women and 
     minors into prostitution over a period of at least 5 years 
     throughout the State of Washington. Ronnie Tramble constantly 
     subjected the victims to brutal physical and emotional abuse 
     during this time period. Ronnie Tramble used Backpage.com to 
     facilitate the prostitution.
       (16) According to AIM Group, 80 percent of online 
     prostitution advertising revenue for the month of February 
     2012 was attributed to Backpage.com.
       (17) According to AIM Group, the number of Backpage.com 
     advertisements for ``escorts'' and ``body rubs,'' a thinly 
     veiled code for prostitution, increased by nearly 5 percent 
     from February 2011 to February 2012.
       (18) According to AIM Group, Backpage.com earned an 
     estimated $26,000,000 between February 2011 and February 2012 
     from prostitution ads.
       (19) Backpage.com vice president, Carl Ferrer acknowledged 
     to the National Association of Attorneys General that the 
     company identifies more than 400 ``adult entertainment'' 
     posts every month that may involve minors. The actual figure 
     could be far greater.
       (20) According to the National Association of Attorneys 
     General, Missouri investigators found that Backpage.com's 
     review procedures are ineffective in policing illegal 
     activity.
       (21) In September 2010, Craigslist.com removed the adult 
     services section of its website following calls from law 
     enforcement and advocacy organizations.
       (22) As of September 16, 2011, 51 Attorneys General of 
     States and territories had called on Backpage.com to shut 
     down the ``adult entertainment'' section of its website.
       (23) On September 16, 2011, the Tri-City Herald published 
     an editorial, ``Attorneys general target sexual exploitation 
     of kids,'' writing, ``...we'd also encourage the owners of 
     Backpage.com to give the attorneys general what they are 
     asking for''.
       (24) On October 25, 2011, 36 clergy members from across the 
     country published an open letter to Village Voice Media in 
     the New York Times, calling on the company to shut down 
     Backpage.com's ``adult entertainment'' section.
       (25) On December 2, 2011, 55 anti-trafficking organizations 
     called on Village Voice Media to shut down Backpage.com's 
     ``adult entertainment'' section.
       (26) On December 29, 2011, the Seattle Times published an 
     editorial, ``Murders strengthen case against Backpage.com,'' 
     writing, ``Backpage.com cannot continue to dismiss the women 
     and children exploited through the website, nor the three 
     women in Detroit who are dead possibly because they were 
     trafficked on the site. Revenue from the exploitation and 
     physical harm of women and minors is despicable. Village 
     Voice Media, which owns Backpage.com, must shut this site 
     down. Until then, all the pressure that can be brought to 
     bear must continue.''
       (27) On March 18, 2012, Nicholas Kristof of the New York 
     Times wrote in an opinion piece entitled ``Where Pimps Peddle 
     Their Goods,'' that ``[t]here are no simple solutions to end 
     sex trafficking, but it would help to have public pressure on 
     Village Voice Media to stop carrying prostitution 
     advertising.''
       (28) On March 29, 2012, Change.org delivered a petition 
     signed by more than 240,000 individuals to Village Voice 
     Media, calling on the company to shut down Backpage.com's 
     ``adult entertainment'' section.
       (29) On January 12, 2012, John Buffalo Mailer, son of 
     Village Voice co-founder Norman Mailer, joined the Change.org 
     petition to shut down the adult services section of 
     Backpage.com, stating, ``For the sake of the Village Voice 
     brand and for the sake of the legacy of a great publication, 
     take down the adult section of Backpage.com, before the 
     Village Voice must answer for yet another child who is abused 
     and exploited because you did not do enough to prevent it.''
       (30) On March 30, 2012, a private equity firm owned by 
     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. completed a deal to sell its 16 
     percent ownership stake in Village Voice Media Holdings, LLC 
     back to management.
       (31) In M.A., ex rel. P.K. v. Village Voice Media Holdings 
     (809 F. Supp. 2d 1041 (2011)), the United States District 
     Court for the Eastern District of Missouri held that section 
     230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230) (as 
     added by the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (Public Law 
     104 104; 110 Stat. 56)) protects Backpage.com from civil 
     liability for the ``horrific victimization'' the teenage 
     plaintiff suffered at the hands of the criminal who posted on 
     the website to perpetrate her vicious crimes.
       (32) The Communications Decency Act of 1996 (Public Law 104 
     104; 110 Stat. 56)) does

[[Page S2741]]

     not preclude a service provider from voluntarily removing a 
     portion of a website, known to facilitate the sexual 
     exploitation of minors, in order to protect our children.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     Congress--
       (1) supports the efforts of law enforcement agencies to 
     provide training on how to identify victims of sex 
     trafficking, investigate cases of sex trafficking, prosecute 
     sex trafficking offenses, and rescue victims of sex 
     trafficking;
       (2) supports Federal Government, State and local 
     government, non-profit, and faith-based services for 
     trafficking victims, including medical, legal, mental health, 
     housing and other social services; and
       (3) calls on Village Voice Media to act as a responsible 
     global citizen and immediately eliminate the ``adult 
     entertainment'' section of the classified advertising website 
     Backpage.com to terminate the website's rampant facilitation 
     of online sex trafficking.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2087. Mr. KYL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1925, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act 
of 1994; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. LIMITATION ON DEFENSES.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 221 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec.  3447. Limitation on defenses

       ``Foreign or religious law or custom shall not be a defense 
     to any offense under this title.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 221 of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3446 
     the following:

``3447. Limitation on defenses.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2088. Mr. CRAPO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1925, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act 
of 1994; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. CRIME VICTIMS FUND.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts 
     deposited or available in the Fund established under section 
     1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601) in 
     any fiscal year shall be available for obligation in that 
     fiscal year.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2089. Mr. CRAPO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1925, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act 
of 1994; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. CRIME VICTIMS FUND.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts 
     deposited or available in the Fund established under section 
     1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601) in 
     any fiscal year in excess of $1,000,000,000 shall not be 
     available for obligation until the following fiscal year.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2090. Mr. CRAPO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1925, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act 
of 1994; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. CRIME VICTIMS FUND.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts 
     deposited or available in the Fund established under section 
     1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601) in 
     any fiscal year in excess of 35 percent of the total funds in 
     the Fund shall not be available for obligation until the 
     following fiscal year.

                          ____________________