[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H387-H394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTERNATIONAL MEGAN'S LAW TO PREVENT DEMAND FOR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 515) to protect 
children from exploitation, especially sex trafficking in tourism, by 
providing advance notice of intended travel by registered child-sex 
offenders outside the United States to the government of the country of 
destination, requesting foreign governments to notify the United States 
when a known child-sex offender is seeking to enter the United States, 
and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendments is as follows:
  Senate amendments:

       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the 
     ``International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and 
     Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of 
     Traveling Sex Offenders''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Angel Watch Center.
Sec. 5. Notification by the United States Marshals Service.
Sec. 6. International travel.
Sec. 7. Reciprocal notifications.
Sec. 8. Unique passport identifiers for covered sex offenders.
Sec. 9. Implementation plan.
Sec. 10. Technical assistance.
Sec. 11. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 12. Rule of construction.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Megan Nicole Kanka, who was 7 years old, was abducted, 
     sexually assaulted, and murdered in 1994, in the State of New 
     Jersey by a violent predator living across the street from 
     her home. Unbeknownst to Megan Kanka and her family, he had 
     been convicted previously of a sex offense against a child.
       (2) In 1996, Congress adopted Megan's Law (Public Law 104-
     145) as a means to encourage States to protect children by 
     identifying the whereabouts of sex offenders and providing 
     the means to monitor their activities.
       (3) In 2006, Congress passed the Adam Walsh Child 
     Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-248) to 
     protect children and the public at large by establishing a 
     comprehensive national system for the registration and 
     notification to the public and law enforcement officers of 
     convicted sex offenders.
       (4) Law enforcement reports indicate that known child-sex 
     offenders are traveling internationally.
       (5) The commercial sexual exploitation of minors in child 
     sex trafficking and pornography is a global phenomenon. The 
     International Labour Organization has estimated that 
     1,8000,000 children worldwide are victims of child sex 
     trafficking and pornography each year.
       (6) Child sex tourism, where an individual travels to a 
     foreign country and engages in sexual activity with a child 
     in that country, is a form of child exploitation and, where 
     commercial, child sex trafficking.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Angel Watch 
     Center established pursuant to section 4(a).
       (2) Convicted.--The term ``convicted'' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 111 of the Adam Walsh Child 
     Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16911).
       (3) Covered sex offender.--Except as otherwise provided, 
     the term ``covered sex offender'' means an individual who is 
     a sex offender by reason of having been convicted of a sex 
     offense against a minor.
       (4) Destination country.--The term ``destination country'' 
     means a destination or transit country.
       (5) Interpol.--The term ``INTERPOL'' means the 
     International Criminal Police Organization.
       (6) Jurisdiction.--The term ``jurisdiction'' means--
       (A) a State;
       (B) the District of Columbia;
       (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
       (D) Guam;
       (E) American Samoa;
       (F) the Northern Mariana Islands;
       (G) the United States Virgin Islands; and
       (H) to the extent provided in, and subject to the 
     requirements of, section 127 of the Adam Walsh Child 
     Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16927), a 
     Federally recognized Indian tribe.
       (7) Minor.--The term ``minor'' means an individual who has 
     not attained the age of 18 years.
       (8) National sex offender registry.--The term ``National 
     Sex Offender Registry'' means the National Sex Offender 
     Registry established by section 119 of the Adam Walsh Child 
     Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16919).
       (9) Sex offender under sorna.--The term ``sex offender 
     under SORNA'' has the meaning given the term ``sex offender'' 
     in section 111 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety 
     Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16911).
       (10) Sex offense against a minor.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``sex offense against a minor'' 
     means a specified offense against a minor, as defined in 
     section 111 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act 
     of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16911).
       (B) Other offenses.--The term ``sex offense against a 
     minor'' includes a sex offense described in section 111(5)(A) 
     of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 
     U.S.C. 16911(5)(A)) that is a specified offense against a 
     minor, as defined in paragraph (7) of such section, or an 
     attempt or conspiracy to commit such an offense.
       (C) Foreign convictions; offenses involving consensual 
     sexual conduct.--The limitations contained in subparagraphs 
     (B) and (C) of section 111(5) of the Adam Walsh Child 
     Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16911(5)) shall 
     apply with respect to a sex offense against a minor for 
     purposes of this Act to the same extent and in the same 
     manner as such limitations apply with respect to a sex 
     offense for purposes of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and 
     Safety Act of 2006.

     SEC. 4. ANGEL WATCH CENTER.

       (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall establish within the Child Exploitation 
     Investigations Unit of U.S. Immigrations and Customs 
     Enforcement a Center, to be known as the ``Angel Watch 
     Center'', to carry out the activities specified in subsection 
     (e).
       (b) Incoming Notification.--
       (1) In general.--The Center may receive incoming 
     notifications concerning individuals seeking to enter the 
     United States who have committed offenses of a sexual nature.
       (2) Notification.--Upon receiving an incoming notification 
     under paragraph (1), the Center shall--
       (A) immediately share all information received relating to 
     the individual with the Department of Justice; and
       (B) share all relevant information relating to the 
     individual with other Federal, State, and local agencies and 
     entities, as appropriate.
       (3) Collaboration.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall collaborate with the Attorney General to establish a 
     process for the receipt, dissemination, and categorization of 
     information relating to individuals and specific offenses 
     provided herein.
       (c) Leadership.--The Center shall be headed by the 
     Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement, in collaboration with the Commissioner of U.S. 
     Customs and Border Protection and in consultation with the 
     Attorney General and the Secretary of State.
       (d) Members.--The Center shall consist of the following:
       (1) The Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement.
       (2) The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
       (3) Individuals who are designated as analysts in U.S. 
     Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and 
     Border Protection.

[[Page H388]]

       (4) Individuals who are designated as program managers in 
     U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and 
     Border Protection.
       (e) Activities.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the Center 
     shall, using all relevant databases, systems and sources of 
     information, not later than 48 hours before scheduled 
     departure, or as soon as practicable before scheduled 
     departure--
       (A) determine if individuals traveling abroad are listed on 
     the National Sex Offender Registry;
       (B) review the United States Marshals Service's National 
     Sex Offender Targeting Center case management system or other 
     system that provides access to a list of individuals who have 
     provided advanced notice of international travel to identify 
     any individual who meets the criteria described in 
     subparagraph (A) and is not in a system reviewed pursuant to 
     this subparagraph; and
       (C) provide a list of individuals identified under 
     subparagraph (B) to the United States Marshals Service's 
     National Sex Offender Targeting Center to determine 
     compliance with title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection 
     and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.).
       (2) Provision of information to center.--Twenty-four hours 
     before the intended travel, or thereafter, not later than 72 
     hours after the intended travel, the United States Marshals 
     Service's National Sex Offender Targeting Center shall 
     provide, to the Angel Watch Center, information pertaining to 
     any sex offender described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph 
     (1).
       (3) Advance notice to destination country.--
       (A) In general.--The Center may transmit relevant 
     information to the destination country about a sex offender 
     if--
       (i) the individual is identified by a review conducted 
     under paragraph (1)(B) as having provided advanced notice of 
     international travel; or
       (ii) after completing the activities described in paragraph 
     (1), the Center receives information pertaining to a sex 
     offender under paragraph (2).
       (B) Exceptions.--The Center may immediately transmit 
     relevant information on a sex offender to the destination 
     country if--
       (i) the Center becomes aware that a sex offender is 
     traveling outside of the United States within 24 hours of 
     intended travel, and simultaneously completes the activities 
     described in paragraph (1); or
       (ii) the Center has not received a transmission pursuant to 
     paragraph (2), provided it is not more than 24 hours before 
     the intended travel.
       (C) Corrections.--Upon receiving information that a 
     notification sent by the Center regarding an individual was 
     inaccurate, the Center shall immediately--
       (i) send a notification of correction to the destination 
     country notified;
       (ii) correct all data collected pursuant to paragraph (6); 
     and
       (iii) if applicable, notify the Secretary of State for 
     purposes of the passport review and marking processes 
     described in section 240 of Public Law 110-457.
       (D) Form.--The notification under this paragraph may be 
     transmitted through such means as are determined appropriate 
     by the Center, including through U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement attaches.
       (4) Memorandum of agreement.--Not later than 6 months after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the 
     Attorney General to facilitate the activities of the Angel 
     Watch Center in collaboration with the United States Marshals 
     Service's National Sex Offender Targeting Center, including 
     the exchange of information, the sharing of personnel, access 
     to information and databases in accordance with paragraph 
     (1)(B), and the establishment of a process to share 
     notifications from the international community in accordance 
     with subsection (b)(1).
       (5) Passport application review.--
       (A) In general.--The Center shall provide a written 
     determination to the Department of State regarding the status 
     of an individual as a covered sex offender (as defined in 
     section 240 of Public Law 110-457) when appropriate.
       (B) Effective date.--Subparagraph (A) shall take effect 
     upon certification by the Secretary of State, the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General that the 
     process developed and reported to the appropriate 
     congressional committees under section 9 has been 
     successfully implemented.
       (6) Collection of data.--The Center shall collect all 
     relevant data, including--
       (A) a record of each notification sent under paragraph (3);
       (B) the response of the destination country to 
     notifications under paragraph (3), where available;
       (C) any decision not to transmit a notification abroad, to 
     the extent practicable;
       (D) the number of transmissions made under subparagraphs 
     (A),(B), and (C) of paragraph (3) and the countries to which 
     they are transmitted, respectively;
       (E) whether the information was transmitted to the 
     destination country before scheduled commencement of sex 
     offender travel; and
       (F) any other information deemed necessary and appropriate 
     by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
       (7) Complaint review.--
       (A) In general.--The Center shall--
       (i) establish a mechanism to receive complaints from 
     individuals affected by erroneous notifications under this 
     section;
       (ii) ensure that any complaint is promptly reviewed; and
       (iii) in the case of a complaint that involves a 
     notification sent by another Federal Government entity, 
     notify the individual of the contact information for the 
     appropriate entity and forward the complaint to the 
     appropriate entity for prompt review and response pursuant to 
     this section.
       (B) Response to complaints.--The Center shall, as 
     applicable--
       (i) provide the individual with notification in writing 
     that the individual was erroneously subjected to 
     international notification;
       (ii) take action to ensure that a notification or 
     information regarding the individual is not erroneously 
     transmitted to a destination country in the future; and
       (iii) submit an additional written notification to the 
     individual explaining why a notification or information 
     regarding the individual was erroneously transmitted to the 
     destination country and describing the actions that the 
     Center has taken or is taking under clause (ii).
       (C) Public awareness.--The Center shall make publicly 
     available information on how an individual may submit a 
     complaint under this section.
       (D) Reporting requirement.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall submit an annual report to the appropriate 
     congressional committees (as defined in section 9) that 
     includes--
       (i) the number of instances in which a notification or 
     information was erroneously transmitted to the destination 
     country of an individual under paragraph (3); and
       (ii) the actions taken to prevent similar errors from 
     occurring in the future.
       (8) Annual review process.--The Center shall establish, in 
     coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of 
     State, and INTERPOL, an annual review process to ensure that 
     there is appropriate coordination and collaboration, 
     including consistent procedures governing the activities 
     authorized under this Act, in carrying out this Act.
       (9) Information required.--The Center shall make available 
     to the United States Marshals Service's National Sex Offender 
     Targeting Center information on travel by sex offenders in a 
     timely manner.
       (f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``sex offender'' 
     means--
       (1) a covered sex offender; or
       (2) an individual required to register under the sex 
     offender registration program of any jurisdiction or included 
     in the National Sex Offender Registry, on the basis of an 
     offense against a minor.

     SEC. 5. NOTIFICATION BY THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE.

       (a) In General.--The United States Marshals Service's 
     National Sex Offender Targeting Center may--
       (1) transmit notification of international travel of a sex 
     offender to the destination country of the sex offender, 
     including to the visa-issuing agent or agents in the United 
     States of the country;
       (2) share information relating to traveling sex offenders 
     with other Federal, State, local, and foreign agencies and 
     entities, as appropriate;
       (3) receive incoming notifications concerning individuals 
     seeking to enter the United States who have committed 
     offenses of a sexual nature and shall share the information 
     received immediately with the Department of Homeland 
     Security; and
       (4) perform such other functions at the Attorney General or 
     the Director of the United States Marshals Service may 
     direct.
       (b) Consistent Notification.--In making notifications under 
     subsection (a)(1), the United States Marshals Service's 
     National Sex Offender Targeting Center shall, to the extent 
     feasible and appropriate, ensure that the destination country 
     is consistently notified in advance about sex offenders under 
     SORNA identified through their inclusion in sex offender 
     registries of jurisdictions or the National Sex Offender 
     Registry.
       (c) Information Required.--For purposes of carrying out 
     this Act, the United States Marshals Service's National Sex 
     Offender Targeting Center shall--
       (1) make the case management system or other system that 
     provides access to a list of individuals who have provided 
     advanced notice of international travel available to the 
     Angel Watch Center;
       (2) provide the Angel Watch Center a determination of 
     compliance with title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection 
     and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.) for the list 
     of individuals transmitted under section 4(e)(1)(C);
       (3) make available to the Angel Watch Center information on 
     travel by sex offenders in a timely manner; and
       (4) consult with the Department of State regarding 
     operation of the international notification program 
     authorized under this Act.
       (d) Corrections.--Upon receiving information that a 
     notification sent by the United States Marshals Service's 
     National Sex Offender Targeting Center regarding an 
     individual was inaccurate, the United States Marshals 
     Service's National Sex Offender Targeting Center shall 
     immediately--
       (1) send a notification of correction to the destination 
     country notified;
       (2) correct all data collected in accordance with 
     subsection (f); and
       (3) if applicable, send a notification of correction to the 
     Angel Watch Center.
       (e) Form.--The notification under this section may be 
     transmitted through such means as are determined appropriate 
     by the United States Marshals Service's National Sex Offender 
     Targeting Center, including through the INTERPOL notification 
     system and through Federal Bureau of Investigation Legal 
     attaches.
       (f) Collection of Data.--The Attorney General shall collect 
     all relevant data, including--
       (1) a record of each notification sent under subsection 
     (a);
       (2) the response of the destination country to 
     notifications under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), 
     where available;

[[Page H389]]

       (3) any decision not to transmit a notification abroad, to 
     the extent practicable;
       (4) the number of transmissions made under paragraphs (1) 
     and (2) of subsection (a) and the countries to which they are 
     transmitted;
       (5) whether the information was transmitted to the 
     destination country before scheduled commencement of sex 
     offender travel; and
       (6) any other information deemed necessary and appropriate 
     by the Attorney General.
       (g) Complaint Review.--
       (1) In general.--The United States Marshals Service's 
     National Sex Offender Targeting Center shall--
       (A) establish a mechanism to receive complaints from 
     individuals affected by erroneous notifications under this 
     section;
       (B) ensure that any complaint is promptly reviewed; and
       (C) in the case of a complaint that involves a notification 
     sent by another Federal Government entity, notify the 
     individual of the contact information for the appropriate 
     entity and forward the complaint to the appropriate entity 
     for prompt review and response pursuant to this section.
       (2) Response to complaints.--The United States Marshals 
     Service's National Sex Offender Targeting Center shall, as 
     applicable--
       (A) provide the individual with notification in writing 
     that the individual was erroneously subjected to 
     international notification;
       (B) take action to ensure that a notification or 
     information regarding the individual is not erroneously 
     transmitted to a destination country in the future; and
       (C) submit an additional written notification to the 
     individual explaining why a notification or information 
     regarding the individual was erroneously transmitted to the 
     destination country and describing the actions that the 
     United States Marshals Service's National Sex Offender 
     Targeting Center has taken or is taking under subparagraph 
     (B).
       (3) Public awareness.--The United States Marshals Service's 
     National Sex Offender Targeting Center shall make publicly 
     available information on how an individual may submit a 
     complaint under this section.
       (4) Reporting requirement.--The Attorney General shall 
     submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional 
     committees (as defined in section 9) that includes--
       (A) the number of instances in which a notification or 
     information was erroneously transmitted to the destination 
     country of an individual under subsection (a); and
       (B) the actions taken to prevent similar errors from 
     occurring in the future.
       (h) Definition.--In this section, the term ``sex offender'' 
     means--
       (1) a sex offender under SORNA; or
       (2) a person required to register under the sex offender 
     registration program of any jurisdiction or included in the 
     National Sex Offender Registry.

     SEC. 6. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.

       (a) Requirement That Sex Offenders Provide International 
     Travel Related Information To Sex Offender Registries.--
     Section 114 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act 
     of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16914) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and;
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
       ``(7) Information relating to intended travel of the sex 
     offender outside the United States, including any anticipated 
     dates and places of departure, arrival, or return, carrier 
     and flight numbers for air travel, destination country and 
     address or other contact information therein, means and 
     purpose of travel, and any other itinerary or other travel-
     related information required by the Attorney General.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Time and Manner.--A sex offender shall provide and 
     update information required under subsection (a), including 
     information relating to intended travel outside the United 
     States required under paragraph (7) of that subsection, in 
     conformity with any time and manner requirements prescribed 
     by the Attorney General.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments to Section 2250 of Title 18, 
     United States Code.--Section 2250 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
     (c) and (d), respectively;
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) International Travel Reporting Violations.--Whoever--
       ``(1) is required to register under the Sex Offender 
     Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.);
       ``(2) knowingly fails to provide information required by 
     the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act relating 
     to intended travel in foreign commerce; and
       ``(3) engages or attempts to engage in the intended travel 
     in foreign commerce;

     shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 
     years, or both.''; and
       (3) in subsections (c) and (d), as redesignated, by 
     striking ``subsection (a)'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``subsection (a) or (b)''.
       (c) Implementation.--In carrying out this Act, and the 
     amendments made by this Act, the Attorney General may use the 
     resources and capacities of any appropriate agencies of the 
     Department of Justice, including the Office of Sex Offender 
     Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and 
     Tracking, the United States Marshals Service, INTERPOL 
     Washington-U.S. National Central Bureau, the Federal Bureau 
     of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the United 
     States Attorneys' Offices.

     SEC. 7. RECIPROCAL NOTIFICATIONS.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, should seek reciprocal international 
     agreements or arrangements to further the purposes of this 
     Act and the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.). Such agreements or arrangements 
     may establish mechanisms and undertakings to receive and 
     transmit notices concerning international travel by sex 
     offenders, through the Angel Watch Center, the INTERPOL 
     notification system, and such other means as may be 
     appropriate, including notification by the United States to 
     other countries relating to the travel of sex offenders from 
     the United States, reciprocal notification by other countries 
     to the United States relating to the travel of sex offenders 
     to the United States, and mechanisms to correct and, as 
     applicable, remove from any other records, any inaccurate 
     information transmitted through such notifications.

     SEC. 8. UNIQUE PASSPORT IDENTIFIERS FOR COVERED SEX 
                   OFFENDERS.

       (a) Amendment to Public Law 110-457.--Title II of Public 
     Law 110-457 is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 240. UNIQUE PASSPORT IDENTIFIERS FOR COVERED SEX 
                   OFFENDERS.

       ``(a) In General.--Immediately after receiving a written 
     determination from the Angel Watch Center that an individual 
     is a covered sex offender, through the process developed for 
     that purpose under section 9 of the International Megan's Law 
     to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through 
     Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders, the 
     Secretary of State shall take appropriate action under 
     subsection (b).
       ``(b) Authority To Use Unique Passport Identifiers.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2), 
     the Secretary of State shall not issue a passport to a 
     covered sex offender unless the passport contains a unique 
     identifier, and may revoke a passport previously issued 
     without such an identifier of a covered sex offender.
       ``(2) Authority to reissue.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary of State may reissue a passport that does not 
     include a unique identifier if an individual described in 
     subsection (a) reapplies for a passport and the Angel Watch 
     Center provides a written determination, through the process 
     developed for that purpose under section 9 of the 
     International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and 
     Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of 
     Traveling Sex Offenders, to the Secretary of State that the 
     individual is no longer required to register as a covered sex 
     offender.
       ``(c) Defined Terms.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `covered sex offender' means an individual 
     who--
       ``(A) is a sex offender, as defined in section 4(f) of the 
     International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and 
     Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of 
     Traveling Sex Offenders; and
       ``(B) is currently required to register under the sex 
     offender registration program of any jurisdiction;
       ``(2) the term `unique identifier' means any visual 
     designation affixed to a conspicuous location on the passport 
     indicating that the individual is a covered sex offender; and
       ``(3) the term `passport' means a passport book or passport 
     card.
       ``(d) Prohibition.--The Secretary of State, the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General, and their 
     agencies, officers, employees, and agents, shall not be 
     liable to any person for any action taken under this section.
       ``(e) Disclosure.--In furtherance of this section, the 
     Secretary of State may require a passport applicant to 
     disclose that they are a registered sex offender.
       ``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect upon 
     certification by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, and the Attorney General, that the process 
     developed and reported to the appropriate congressional 
     committees under section 9 of the International Megan's Law 
     to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through 
     Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders has been 
     successfully implemented.''.

     SEC. 9. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
     the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General shall 
     develop a process by which to implement section 4(e)(5) and 
     the provisions of section 240 of Public Law 110-457, as added 
     by section 8 of this Act.
       (b) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General 
     shall jointly submit a report to, and shall consult with, the 
     appropriate congressional committees on the process developed 
     under subsection (a), which shall include a description of 
     the proposed process and a timeline and plan for 
     implementation of that process, and shall identify the 
     resources required to effectively implement that process.
       (c) ``Appropriate Congressional Committees'' Defined.--In 
     this section, the term ``appropriate congressional 
     committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (3) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate;
       (4) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (5) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

[[Page H390]]

       (6) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (7) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
       (8) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 10. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

       The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney 
     General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, may provide 
     technical assistance to foreign authorities in order to 
     enable such authorities to participate more effectively in 
     the notification program system established under this Act.

     SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018.

     SEC. 12. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit 
     international information sharing or law enforcement 
     cooperation relating to any person pursuant to any authority 
     of the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland 
     Security, or any other department or agency.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to protect children 
     and others from sexual abuse and exploitation, including sex 
     trafficking and sex tourism, by providing advance notice of 
     intended travel by registered sex offenders outside the 
     United States to the government of the country of 
     destination, requesting foreign governments to notify the 
     United States when a known sex offender is seeking to enter 
     the United States, and for other purposes.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan F. 
Boyle) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous materials on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, child predators thrive on secrecy, a secrecy that allows 
them to commit heinous crimes against the weakest and most vulnerable.
  Today the House has under consideration H.R. 515, the International 
Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes 
Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders, a law that 
will significantly thwart child sexual exploitation in the United 
States and abroad through a comprehensive and efficient system that 
warns law enforcement of traveling sex offenders.
  Mr. Speaker, I first introduced International Megan's Law back in 
2008. It has passed the House three times--2010, 2014, 2015--and, 
thankfully, passed the United States Senate in December.
  International Megan's Law honors the memory of Megan Kanka, a 
precious little girl from my hometown of Hamilton who suffered and died 
at the hands of a sexual predator. Megan was just 7 years old when she 
was kidnapped, raped, and brutally murdered in 1994. Her assailant 
lived across the street. Unbeknownst to her family and other residents 
in the neighborhood, he was a convicted repeat sex offender.
  Due to the extraordinary work by Megan's courageous parents, Maureen 
and Richard Kanka, the New Jersey State Legislature passed and the 
Governor signed the original Megan's Law in 1994 and expanded it in 
2001. It requires registration and public notification of convicted sex 
offenders living in the community.
  Today all 50 States and all U.S. territories have a Megan's Law. 
Because of this law, parents, guardians, universities, school 
officials, sports coaches, law enforcement, and the public at large are 
now empowered with the critical information they need to mitigate harm 
to children.
  We know from law enforcement and media documentation that Americans 
on the U.S. sex offender registries are caught sexually abusing 
children in Asia, Central and South America, Europe, and, frankly, 
everywhere.
  A deeply disturbing 2010 report by the GAO found that at least 4,500 
U.S. passports were issued to registered sex offenders in fiscal year 
2008 alone. Typically, Mr. Speaker, a passport is valid for 10 years, 
meaning some or many of the tens of thousands of registered sex 
offenders possessing passports may be on the prowl internationally 
looking to exploit and abuse.
  Ernie Allen, who served for 30 years as the president and CEO of the 
Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the International Centre 
for Missing and Exploited Children, recently said: ``It is clear that 
there is a substantial category of offenders who do not offend as a 
lapse of judgment; they do it as a lifestyle. And these are the 
offenders who are most likely to travel to seek victims in places where 
the offender is most likely to be anonymous and most likely to avoid 
identification and apprehension.''
  Studies suggest and demonstrate that even when caught, prosecuted, 
and jailed, for a number of predators, the propensity to recommit these 
crimes at a later date remains. For example, a 2008 study by Oliver, 
Wong, and Nicholaichuk showed that untreated sex offenders were 
reconvicted for sexual crimes at a rate of 17.7 percent after 3 years, 
24.5 percent after 5 years, and 32 percent after 10 years. Keep in 
mind, Mr. Speaker, that these are just the rates for those who were 
caught again and then convicted.
  Pedophiles and other sexual predators often harm more than one 
victim. There are different studies that showed large numbers of child 
victims and large numbers of acts committed against those children. For 
every victim who reports, there are likely many others who could not, 
would not, and cannot come forward.
  Mr. Speaker, some of those exploited children are prostituted by 
human traffickers to pedophiles. The International Labour Organization 
has estimated that 1.8 million children are victims of commercial 
sexual exploitation around the world each year.
  It is imperative that we take the lessons learned on how to protect 
our children from known child sex predators within our borders and 
expand those protections globally to prevent convicted U.S. sex 
offenders from harming children abroad. It is imperative that we teach 
other countries how to establish their own Megan's Law and push other 
countries to warn us in the United States when their sex offenders are 
traveling here.
  Specifically, H.R. 515 will authorize and empower the Angel Watch 
Center, operating under the auspices of Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, to check flight manifests against sex offender registries 
and quickly warn destination countries when sex offenders are headed 
their way.
  The Angel Watch Center is authorized to send actual information about 
child sex offender travel to destination countries in a timely fashion 
for those countries to assess the potential damage and dangers to their 
kids and to respond appropriately, whether it is to deny entry or visa, 
monitor travel, or limit travel.
  To prevent offenders from thwarting International Megan's Law 
notification procedures by country hopping to an alternative 
destination not previously disclosed, H.R. 515 includes provisions for 
the State Department to develop a passport identifier or, as we put it 
in the bill, ``any visual designation affixed to a conspicuous location 
on the passport indicating that the individual is a covered sex 
offender.'' A passport, Mr. Speaker, so identified provides law 
enforcement and Customs an additional tool to protect children.
  The passport identifier is only for those who have been found guilty 
of a sex crime involving a child and have been deemed dangerous enough 
to be listed on a public sex offender registry. When this information 
is no longer public knowledge in the United States--in other words, 
they are off the registry--the passport identifier, in like manner, 
will no longer be required.
  It is worth noting that some States already require sex offenders to 
have their status listed on their driver's licenses--Alabama, Florida, 
Delaware, and Louisiana, to name a few. Ironically, it has been 
reported that some registered sex offenders have used their passports 
as an ID in order to keep their status secret.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. Speaker, in order to protect potential victims, H.R. 515 also 
aims to establish a durable system of reciprocity among the nations of 
the world. International Megan's Law directs the Secretary of State to 
seek agreements with other countries so that the U.S. is notified in 
advance of incoming sex offenders.

[[Page H391]]

  I would like to offer my profound appreciation, Mr. Speaker, to 
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for his deep and abiding commitment to 
combating human trafficking in all of its ugly manifestations, for 
scheduling the House vote 12 months ago on International Megan's Law 
and another dozen or so anti-human trafficking measures sponsored by 
Members from both sides of the aisle.
  That was historic and had never been done like that before. So I 
thank him for that leadership and for working closely with the Senate 
in order to help bring this bill to fruition.
  His policy adviser, Emily Murry, was remarkable, as was and is Kelly 
Dixon.
  I would like to thank our distinguished chairman of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, and Ranking Member Eliot Engel for their 
strong support for this bill and for the assistance of Jessica Kelch, 
Doug Anderson, and Janice Kaguyutan.
  Janice will remember. She traveled with one of my staffers years ago 
investigating this terrible issue, which is a global scourge.
  Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee on 
the Senate side, truly made this bill a priority and carried it over 
the finish line in the Senate. Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Mr. 
Chairman, for that.
  His professional staff, Caleb McCarry and Counsel Sarah Ramig, showed 
remarkable dedication and persistence through multiple interagency 
negotiations.
  His chief of staff, Todd Womack, and legislative director, Rob 
Strayer, skillfully guided the bill through the process on the Senate 
side, and I can't thank them enough.
  I also want to thank my good friend Ben Cardin--Ben and I serve and 
have served for decades on the Helsinki Commission--for his support and 
for his efforts.
  I am grateful to Senator Richard Shelby and Senator Barbara Mikulski 
for their assistance and driving better Angel Watch Center 
collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service's Sex Offender Targeting 
Center.
  USMS will be required to vet names sent out by the Angel Watch Center 
and share previously vetted names with the Center in order to maximize 
expertise, avoid duplication of efforts, and ensure accuracy of 
international notifications.
  I would note that Senator Shelby also championed the passport 
provisions that will ensure sex offenders with crimes against children 
cannot end-run the system.
  I would like to thank his professional staffer, Shannon Hines, who 
was extraordinarily smart and creative during this process.
  Thanks to professional staffer Jen Deci as well as Senator Mikulski's 
staffer, Jennifer Eskra, for their tireless work as well.
  Senator John Cornyn, majority leader, did not rest on his success 
earlier this year in navigating the Justice for Victims of Trafficking 
Act through the Senate, but persisted until International Megan's Law 
was complete over on the Senate side.
  Last, but not least, I would like to thank my chief of staff, Mary 
Noonan, who has been tenacious in guiding this bill past obstacle after 
obstacle, and Allison Hollabaugh, who worked energetically, 
effectively, and expertly with the agencies and other interested 
parties to achieve the final bill.
  I also would like to thank my former top Foreign Affairs Committee 
staff member, Sheri Rickert, who spent countless hours over several 
years negotiating with disparate parties trying to achieve passage of 
the bill. Those efforts, Sheri, were not in vain.
  I would like to thank the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children for their strong endorsement of the bill, the International 
Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, ECPAT-USA, and the Family 
Research Council, for their input, counsel, and strong support.
  I again first introduced this bill in 2008, alongside Megan Kanka's 
parents, Maureen and Richard Kanka. Maureen and Richard, Mr. Speaker, 
are heroic people. They have fought for decades to spare children and 
their families from horrific crimes that can and must be prevented.
  While they still carry deep emotional and psychological scars, 
Maureen and Richard's selflessness, love of others, and vision have 
protected countless children from harm.
  Enactment of International Megan's Law will expand meaningful child 
protection at home and around the world, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as 
much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure.
  Let me first thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his 
leadership on human rights and anti-trafficking issues and for his hard 
work on International Megan's Law.
  I also want to thank the Judiciary Committee for its bipartisan input 
on this bill. This legislation is the product of a lot of hard work and 
reflects a commitment to advancing practical and effective ways to help 
those victimized by sexual predators.
  This is hard to believe, but around the world today there are tens of 
millions of victims of human trafficking, which is what we call modern-
day slavery. Many of these victims are children exploited in 
prostitution.
  In many countries, extreme poverty and gaps in law enforcement create 
zones of impunity where sex offenders exploit vulnerable children. 
Sometimes local officials have no idea this is going on. Sometimes they 
turn a blind eye, and sometimes officials are even complicit in this 
crime.
  We have a responsibility to protect all victims and to crack down on 
this crime that destabilizes communities, fuels corruption, and 
undermines the rule of law.
  International Megan's Law aims to prevent child sex offenders and 
traffickers from exploiting vulnerable children when they cross an 
international border.
  This bill would establish an Angel Watch Center within ICE--
Immigration and Customs Enforcement--and provide advance notice to 
foreign governments when a convicted child sex offender travels to 
their country.
  This bill will hopefully prevent some of these horrific crimes from 
taking place.
  But, Mr. Speaker, fighting modern slavery requires a much more 
comprehensive response. Beyond prevention, governments must do all they 
can to protect victims: robust identification efforts; policies and 
procedures that get victims out of harm's way; comprehensive support 
services that include physical and mental health care; education 
opportunities; legal assistance; reintegration with family and 
community; and, of course, aggressive investigations and prosecutions 
to go after those responsible for such heinous crimes.
  The reality is, the sad reality, is that no single government or 
single law will put an end to human trafficking. But every step we take 
strengthens our ability to prevent these crimes, protect victims, and 
punish those responsible.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Senate amendment to 
H.R. 515.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from North Carolina, (Mr. Pittenger), a member of the 
Financial Services Committee who has been very active in the fight 
against human trafficking.
  Mr. PITTENGER. Chairman Smith, thank you so much for your leadership 
on behalf of these individuals.
  Thank you, Chairman Royce, for your strong leadership as well.
  Mr. Speaker, right now more than 20 million people worldwide are 
caught up in modern-day slavery. We call it human trafficking.
  This isn't just a problem over there. In the city I represent--
Charlotte--Maria was trapped when she answered an ad for an aspiring 
actress. Rosa was snatched from a local gas station while waiting for a 
ride.
  My good friend, Antonia Childs, dreamed of owning a bakery before 
falling victim to human trafficking. Thankfully, Antonia was rescued 
and now leads a vital Charlotte organization rescuing women, including 
Maria and Rosa.
  As a Nation, we must take responsibility for our part in this 
horrific, multi-billion-dollar illicit industry. As Members of 
Congress, we must take an active role in ending human trafficking 
worldwide.
  That is why, on January 22, 2015, I became an original cosponsor in 
support

[[Page H392]]

of Chairman Smith's H.R. 515, the International Megan's Law to Prevent 
Child Exploitation.
  H.R. 515 ensures foreign countries are notified when an American sex 
offender who has previously abused children is traveling to that 
country. It encourages foreign countries to provide us with the same 
vital information when a sex offender is traveling to America.
  It attacks the sickening practice of child sex tourism by requiring 
the United States to notify other countries when convicted pedophiles 
travel abroad.
  It encourages President Obama to use bilateral agreements and 
assistance to establish reciprocal notification so that we will know 
when convicted child offenders are coming here.
  International Megan's Law takes valuable lessons we have learned 
about protecting our children here in the United States and expands 
those protections globally so all communities can join together to take 
the necessary steps to protect our children.
  Please join me in taking this important step to end modern slavery 
today.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
speakers on our side. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the distinguished chairman of 
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 515, the 
International Megan's Law, focused on preventing demand for child sex 
trafficking.
  I really want to acknowledge the hard work by the Member from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith), his perseverance here as the bill's author, as he 
has tried on several occasions to get this through the Senate and to 
the President's desk. With this action today, this bill, when it passes 
the floor, will go to the President's desk.
  I think it is very important that we understand the magnitude of this 
problem, as he has tried to convey to us here, and how this is going to 
strengthen the hand of law enforcement.
  We want law enforcement to consider this a new tool. It will combat 
the appalling industry of child sex tourism, in which adults travel 
overseas to exploit children in other countries.
  My chief of staff, Amy Porter, has gone on several humanitarian 
missions to work with very young children in Cambodia and elsewhere in 
South Asia as well. As she shows you the photographs of these little 
girls exploited and traumatized by this predatory activity, it is hard 
to fathom that men from around the world, including America, including 
our country, engage in this predatory activity.
  While the countries they travel to lack the resources needed to deal 
with this rising number of child predators, this legislation is going 
to help us offset that.
  One of the most discouraging things that my chief of staff, Amy, 
found was that, in Cambodia, it was the local police chief who himself 
was involved in the practice.
  Now, upon her return to again check on this, she found that they had 
put an end to that. He was no longer in this trade, in this type of 
business. It had been cleaned up some with pressure from the United 
States, but it is still ongoing. So this will help us fight back.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Collins of New York). The time of the 
gentleman has expired.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield the gentleman 1 minute.
  Mr. ROYCE. At present, multiple U.S. Government agencies are working 
to combat human trafficking and child sex tourism, but there has been a 
troubling lack of coordination and information sharing and 
notifications to foreign countries that a potential sexual criminal is 
heading their way, and those notifications are very inconsistent.
  This bill clarifies the responsibility, puts it on the Justice 
Department and the Department of Homeland Security. It better 
coordinates those efforts. And, importantly, by proactively helping 
other countries to identify those incoming child predators, we will 
encourage them to alert us when foreigners convicted of sex offenses 
against children attempt to enter into the United States.

                              {time}  1645

  So I commend Chairman Smith for his work on this bipartisan 
legislation, and I encourage all Members to support its passage. It 
will be on the President's desk here after our action this evening.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute 
to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).
  Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentlemen for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 515, the 
International Megan's Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking.
  I would like to thank, like so many have, Congressman Chris Smith for 
introducing this important legislation to protect innocent children 
from the evils of sexual predators in the United States and worldwide.
  As a mother who raised three beautiful children, I can tell you that 
the constant concern for their safety and protection never goes away. 
When they were young, I worried if they were safe at the playground 
down the street, if they were safe at the shopping mall or movie 
theater.
  Named after a young girl who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered at 
just 7 years old by her neighbor, Megan's Law and public knowledge of 
predators in our communities have been critical tools in protecting our 
children and easing some of the many fears that parents feel every 
single day.
  I cannot fathom the anger and anguish felt by Megan's parents and all 
parents whose children fall prey to such sick predators. I would do 
anything to protect my children and all children from sexual predators, 
and I feel blessed that I and my colleagues are in a position where we 
can make a difference.
  We will be able to better identify and scrutinize sex offenders' 
activity, ensuring that they do not engage in the ghastly practice of 
sex tourism either in our own neighborhood or any neighborhood around 
the world.
  The U.S. must take a leading role as a global defender of children 
from sexual abuse. Often planning their trips around locations where 
the most vulnerable children can be found, sex offenders should not be 
allowed to use the anonymity provided by foreign travel to help hide 
their hideous crimes.
  A 2010 Government Accountability Office report showed that in a 
single year, at least 4,500 registered sex offenders received U.S. 
passports to travel internationally. This is absolutely unacceptable, 
Mr. Speaker.
  During my time as a United States ambassador, I was exposed firsthand 
to the horrors of sexual abuse and human trafficking on the 
international level.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield the 
gentlewoman from Missouri an additional 1 minute.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, as elected Members of Congress, we must 
stand up for the powerless, and we must provide a voice for the 
voiceless. Today we are doing just that.
  Passing the International Megan's Law, which will provide advance 
notice of foreign travel by registered sex offenders, is critical. We 
owe it to the innocent angels like Megan to take these crimes out of 
the shadows and do everything we can to prevent future crime both in 
the United States and across the globe.
  Today I will vote to pass the International Megan's Law, and I 
encourage my colleagues to join me in providing protection for 
potential victims worldwide and greater peace of mind for those who 
love them.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to say this is a bipartisan bill. It will 
save children's lives. It will prevent other crimes to victims like 
Megan Kanka from happening not just in the United States but around the 
world.
  I think my good friend, Ann Wagner, said a moment ago that Megan is 
an angel. Her parents are guardian angels. They have taken a pain, an 
agony, and a trauma that is incomprehensible and have worked tirelessly 
to get Megan's

[[Page H393]]

Law enacted throughout the United States and in some other countries. 
This will take it to the next level and will establish that true 
reciprocal reciprocity regimen, whereby we notice, they notice, 
everybody knows what is going on to take the secrecy out of this travel 
when a convicted pedophile hops on a plane with the idea of exploiting 
children.
  This will have a very measurable impact and will protect children 
from this kind of agony.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, to conclude, I 
second the comments that were made by Mr. Smith. I congratulate the 
family of Megan Kanka. Being a father myself of a 2-year-old daughter, 
I can't imagine losing a little girl, especially in the heinous way 
that they did.
  I remember very much when all of that happened. Hamilton, New Jersey, 
is only about 40 minutes up the road from where I live in Philadelphia, 
and I remember the ugly incident very well. The fact that here we are, 
so many years later, and the family still continues to fight for other 
little girls and little boys is really remarkable and is a testament to 
them.
  I also congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who I 
know has worked tirelessly on this bill for a long period of time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 515, 
International Megan's Law. While I support the underlying goal of 
ensuring that American law enforcement agencies share information on 
potential child sex offenders with foreign law enforcement agencies, I 
am opposed to how one particular provision, added in the Senate 
amendment before us today, would work in practice.
  Other existing provisions of the bill already contain the following 
information-sharing requirements with and among law enforcement 
agencies here in the United States and abroad:
  U.S. sex offenders are required to provide international travel-
related information to the sex offender registries;
  the Department of Homeland Security is required to create the Angel 
Watch Center to receive information on individuals seeking to enter the 
U.S. who have committed offenses of a sexual nature as well as 
registered sex offenders seeking to travel outside the U.S. in order to 
share all relevant information to federal, state, and local law 
enforcement officials;
  the U.S. Marshal's Service is required to notify law enforcement 
agencies of sex offenders seeking to leave the United States who have 
not transmitted their travel information to sex offender registries;
  the U.S. Marshal's Service is required to notify the international 
destination country of a sex offender's upcoming travel; and
  the Secretary of State should seek reciprocal international 
agreements or arrangements to further these goals.
  If our goal is to ensure that customs and border as well as law 
enforcement officials are notified so that they may track and 
investigate those sex offenders who may be engaging in sex tourism or 
pose a threat of absconding, these provisions have addressed those 
concerns.
  As a result, I am skeptical of what more we stand to gain by the 
Senate amendment's provision authorizing the Secretary of State to use 
a ``unique passport identifier for covered sex offenders'' that is 
defined as ``any visual designation affixed to a conspicuous location 
on the passport indicating the individual is a covered sex offender.'' 
At best, if this vague language is meant to describe some sort of code 
or symbol embedded in the passport that is only discernible by law 
enforcement at the border indicating that the traveler is a sex 
offender, it is redundant given the other information-sharing mandated 
by the bill's other provisions. However, if this is interpreted to mean 
something akin to the words ``sex offender'' stamped on the 
identification page of the passport, this raises serious problems and 
will lead to unintended consequences.
  First, it is simply bad policy to single out one category of offenses 
for this type of treatment. We do not subject those who murder, who 
defraud the government or our fellow citizens of millions and billions, 
or who commit acts of terrorism to these restrictions.
  Second, by treating all sexual offenders as one monolithic group 
ignores reality. While some pose a continued and real risk of 
reoffending and may be traveling to engage in sex tourism or other 
illicit acts, not all pose the same risk. Indeed, the failure of this 
provision to allow for the individualized consideration of the facts 
and circumstances surrounding the traveler's criminal history, 
including how much time has elapsed since his last offense, underscores 
how this provision is overbroad. Details such as whether the traveler 
is a serial child rapist versus someone with a decades-old conviction 
from when he was 19-years-old and his girlfriend was 14, just missing 
the Romeo and Juliet exception by one year, are significant and would 
allow law enforcement to more appropriately prioritize their finite 
resources.
  Third, a traveler does not have any recourse with the foreign 
destination country if he or she is refused entry solely on the basis 
of this ``unique passport identifier.'' While the bill has some due 
process provisions, those apply only domestically. There is no recourse 
if a traveler is erroneously denied entry from the destination country.
  Fourth, if the ``unique passport identifier'' is implemented in a way 
that makes it obvious to not only law enforcement officials but any 
member of the general public viewing the passport, this could lead to 
unintended consequences of persecution and harm to the traveler. This 
is especially troubling given that no factual context about the offense 
is provided.
  If our goal is to ensure that domestic and foreign law enforcement 
and customs officials are notified of potential threats, multiple 
existing provisions of the bill already achieve that goal without 
raising these problematic implementation and fairness concerns.
  In summary, while I support the underlying goal of ensuring that 
American law enforcement agencies share information on potential child 
sex offenders with foreign law enforcement agencies, I have grave 
concerns about how the redundant and problematic provision regarding 
the ``unique passport identifier'', added as a Senate amendment, would 
work in practice. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to oppose the 
underlying bill.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 515 
because it seeks to protect our children from predators by identifying 
the whereabouts of sex offenders and providing means to monitor their 
activities.
  This legislation is important because sex trafficking of children is 
a displaceable act that we detest and has been an on-going concern for 
the United States.
  In addition to protecting our children from national threats, we must 
also consider the potential threat from international actors, 
especially during times of increased tourism, like for example the 
Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, World Olympics and other major events 
around the world where tourism is high.
  This legislation by my friend Representative Smith aims to protect 
our children from exploitation, specifically sex trafficking in 
tourism, by providing advance notice of intended travel by registered 
child-sex offenders outside of the United States to the government of 
the destination country.
  This legislation is important because it requests that foreign 
governments notify the United States when a known child-sex offender is 
seeking to enter the United States.
  International child exploitation is increasingly becoming a top 
priority for all nations and certainly is for our country.
  For instance, two years ago, during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, 
reports of child exploitation received global attention.
  According to the Department of State, Brazil is a destination country 
for children subjected to sex trafficking.
  For the case of Brazil, child sex tourists typically arrive from 
Europe and North America.
  According to reports, the Rio de Janeiro civil police identified 
eight hotels and restaurants involved in a child sexual exploitation 
network in two city areas.
  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as you know, is where the World Olympics will 
be hosted this summer.
  According to the Huffington Post, major sporting event usually lead 
to a spike in the demand for sexual predatory activities.
  Unfortunately, these accounts of sexual predatory activity include 
child sex trafficking.
  Here at home, during the 2014 Super Bowl week, the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, along with 50 law enforcement agencies, recovered 16 
teenagers during an enforcement action on child sex trafficking.
  Additionally, more than 45 pimps were arrested, some of whom claimed 
to travel to the Super Bowl location specifically for the purpose of 
prostituting women and children at the sporting event.
  According to Judy Kluger, Director of Sanctuary for Families, and 
former judge for New York City Criminal Court of New York County, New 
York, ``the Super Bowl could never not be breeding grounds for sexual 
exploitation.''
  If a location experiences an exponential increase in large numbers of 
men travelling for entertainment, it will proportionally see an 
increase in those who purchase sex.
  As you all know, I am committed to ensuring the protection of 
children, always championing the protection of children.
  As co-chair of the Children's Caucus, I commend the work of all my 
colleagues here in Congress, dedicated to protecting children here in 
the U.S. and across the globe.

[[Page H394]]

  This is why I support this legislation and I commend Representative 
Smith for championing legislative measures dedicated to the safety and 
protection of our children worldwide.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 515.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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