[House Report 104-90]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                     104-90
_______________________________________________________________________


 
         SEXUAL CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN PREVENTION ACT OF 1995

_______________________________________________________________________


 March 28, 1995.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______


   Mr. McCollum, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 1240]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
    The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the 
bill (H.R. 1240) to combat crime by enhancing the penalties for 
certain sexual crimes against children, having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend 
that the bill as amended do pass.
                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
The Amendment....................................................     2
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     3
Hearings.........................................................     4
Committee Consideration..........................................     4
Vote of the Committee............................................     4
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     4
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.....................     5
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................     5
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     5
Inflationary Impact Statement....................................     6
Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion.......................     6
Agency Views.....................................................     8
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     8
Additional Views.................................................    10
    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sexual Crimes Against Children 
Prevention Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN CONDUCT IN SEXUAL EXPLOITATION 
                    OF CHILDREN.

    The United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the sentencing 
guidelines to increase the base offense level for offenses under 
section 2251 or 2252 of title 18, United States Code, by at least 2 
levels.
SEC. 3. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR USE OF COMPUTERS IN SEXUAL EXPLOITATION 
                    OF CHILDREN.

    The United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the sentencing 
guidelines with respect to an offense under--
          (1) section 2251(c)(1)(A); or
          (2) any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 2252(a);
of title 18, United States Code, to increase the offense level by at 
least 2 levels if a computer was used to transmit the notice or 
advertisement to the intended recipient or to transport or ship the 
visual depiction.

SEC. 4. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF CHILDREN WITH INTENT 
                    TO ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY.

    The United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the sentencing 
guidelines to increase the base offense level for an offense under 
section 2423(a) of title 18, United States Code, by at least 3 levels.

SEC. 5. PREDICATE OFFENSES FOR RICO.

    Section 1961(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``sections 1461-1465 (relating to obscene matter)'' and 
inserting ``chapter 71 (relating to obscenity)''.

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

    Section 2423(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``2245'' and inserting ``2246''.

SEC. 7. REPORT BY THE UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the United States Sentencing Commission shall submit a report to 
Congress concerning offenses involving child pornography and other 
sexual crimes against children. In this report the Commission shall 
include--
          (1) an analysis of the sentences imposed for offenses under 
        sections 2251, 2252, and 2423 of title 18, United States Code, 
        and recommendations as to any modifications to the sentencing 
        guidelines that may be appropriate with respect to those 
        offenses;
          (2) an analysis of the sentences imposed for offenses under 
        sections 2241, 2242, 2243, and 2244 of title 18, United States 
        Code, where the victim was under the age of 18 years, and 
        recommendations as to any modifications to the sentencing 
        guidelines that may be appropriate with respect to those 
        offenses;
          (3) an analysis of the type of substantial assistance that 
        courts have recognized as warranting a downward departure from 
        the sentencing guidelines relating to offenses under section 
        2251 or 2252 of title 18, United States Code;
          (4) a survey of the recidivism rate for offenders convicted 
        of committing sexual crimes against children, an analysis of 
        the impact on recidivism of sexual abuse treatment provided 
        during or after incarceration or both, and an analysis of 
        whether increased penalties would reduce recidivism for these 
        crimes; and
          (5) such other recommendations with respect to the offenses 
        described in this section as the Commission deems appropriate.
                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 1240, the ``Sexual Crimes Against Children Prevention 
Act of 1995,'' strengthens the punishment for sexual crimes 
involving children by directing the United States Sentencing 
Commission to make specific modifications to its sentencing 
guidelines with respect to these crimes. The bill makes no 
modifications to the statutory penalties for these crimes, nor 
does it create mandatory minimum penalties. The bill also 
amends the definition of ``predicate acts'' in the Racketeer 
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act so that all obscenity 
crimes will be deemed to the RICO predicate acts.
    The United States Sentencing Commission was created by 
Congress in 1984 as an independent entity within the Judicial 
Branch. Its purpose is to develop guidelines for federal judges 
to use in sentencing offenders, so that disparity among the 
federal districts with respect to sentences imposed for similar 
crimes would be minimized. Each year the Commission recommends 
modifications to the guidelines, which take effect unless 
Congress affirmatively acts either to prevent their 
implementation or modify them. From time to time, Congress has 
also directed the Commission to make specific changes to the 
guidelines.
    The guidelines provide for a base offense level for each 
crime committed. Specific increases to the base offense level 
are required when the sentencing judge determines that other 
specific factors exist with respect to the crime requiring 
enhancement of the offense level. After factoring in 
enhancements, and credits in some instances, the guidelines 
provide a total ``offense level'' number applicable for the 
crime committed. That number corresponds to a sentencing table 
which, together with considerations of prior criminal history, 
sets forth the appropriate sentencing range (in months) that 
the judge must employ when sentencing an offender. H.R. 1240 
directs the Commission to make specific modifications to the 
guidelines applicable to offenses under sections 2251, 2252, 
and 2423(a) of Title 18 of the United States Code.

                Background and Need for the Legislation

    H.R. 1240 is based, in part, on Title III of H.R. 11, the 
``Family Reinforcement Act.'' H.R. 11 was contained in the 
``Contract with America,'' and it addressed several challenges 
and difficulties facing American families, such as caring for 
elderly relatives and collecting child support. Title III 
pertained to child pornography and sexual abuse of children, 
two of the most destructive forces attacking today's families. 
H.R. 1240 is built upon the conceptual framework of Title III 
of H.R. 11.
    There is no adequate way to measure the damage caused by 
those who produce and sell child pornography. Child 
pornographers rob children of their innocence and leave them 
harmed for life. Society must not tolerate this behavior, and 
the federal government must have the resolve and the necessary 
tools to combat it. H.R. 1240 is designed to help ensure that 
the punishment imposed for these crimes is appropriate to the 
harm caused by that crime.
    Perhaps the most significant feature of this bill is the 
direction to the United States Sentencing Commission to provide 
for an enhancement to the base offense levels in its guidelines 
in cases where the offender uses a computer to traffick in 
child pornography, or to distribute an advertisement seeking to 
buy or sell child pornography. Distributing child pornography 
through computers is particularly harmful because it can reach 
an almost limitless audience. Because of its wide dissemination 
and instantaneous transmission, computer-assisted trafficking 
is also more difficult for law enforcement officials to 
investigate and prosecute. Additionally, the increasing use of 
computers to transmit child pornography substantially increases 
the likelihood that this material will be viewed by, and thus 
harm, children. Finally, the Committee notes with particular 
concern the fact that pedophiles may use a child's fascination 
with computer technology as a lure to drag children into sexual 
relationships. In light of these significant harms, it is 
essential that those who are caught and convicted for this 
conduct be punished severely.

                                Hearings

    No hearings were held on H.R. 1240.
                        Committee Consideration

    On March 16, 1995, the Subcommittee on Crime met in open 
session and ordered reported the bill H.R. 1240, as amended, by 
voice vote, a quorum being present. On March 22, 1995, the 
Committee met in open session and ordered reported the bill 
H.R. 1240, with amendment, by voice vote, a quorum being 
present.

                         Vote of the Committee

    Mr. Frank offered an amendment to strike section 5 of the 
bill concerning the inclusion of certain obscenity offenses as 
RICO predicate acts. The Frank amendment was defeated by a roll 
call vote of 11 to 22.

        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Hyde                            Mr. Moorhead
Mr. Sensenbrenner                   Mr. McCollum
Mr. Conyers                         Mr. Gekas
Mrs. Schroeder                      Mr. Coble
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Smith (TX)
Mr. Berman                          Mr. Gallegly
Mr. Boucher                         Mr. Canady
Mr. Nadler                          Mr. Inglis
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Goodlatte
Mr. Becerra                         Mr. Buyer
Mr. Serrano                         Mr. Hoke
                                    Mr. Bono
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. Bryant (TN)
                                    Mr. Chabot
                                    Mr. Flanagan
                                    Mr. Barr
                                    Mr. Bryant (TX)
                                    Mr. Reed
                                    Mr. Scott
                                    Ms. Lofgren
                                    Ms. Jackson Lee

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(A) of rule XI of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee reports 
that the findings and recommendations of the Committee, based 
on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
in the descriptive portions of this report.

         Committee on Government Reform and Oversight Findings

    No findings or recommendations of the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight were received as referred to in 
clause 2(l)(3)(D) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    Clause 2(l)(3)(B) of House Rule XI is inapplicable because 
this legislation does not provide new budgetary authority or 
increased tax expenditures.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    In compliance with clause 2(l)(C)(3) of rule XI of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee sets 
forth, with respect to the bill, H.R. 1240, the following 
estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 403 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, March 27, 1995.
Hon. Henry J. Hyde,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed H.R. 1240, the Sexual Crimes Against Children 
Prevention Act of 1995, as ordered reported by the House 
Committee on the Judiciary on March 22, 1995. CBO estimates 
that enacting H.R. 1240 would not result in any significant 
cost to the federal government. Because enactment of H.R. 1240 
would not affect direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you go 
procedures would not apply to the bill.
    This bill would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to 
increase the prison sentences for those persons convicted of 
sexually exploiting children. These enhanced sentences would 
include sentences for sexual crimes where computers were used 
to transmit material for the recruitment of children. In 
addition, H.R. 1240 would enable the federal government to 
prosecute people who sell obscene material or broadcast it on 
cable or subscription television under the Racketeer Influenced 
and Corrupt Organizations law. Finally, the bill would require 
the U.S. Sentencing Commission to conduct a study on the 
relationship between sexual crimes and sentences imposed.
    According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the sexual 
crimes addressed by H.R. 1240 are usually prosecuted by state 
authorities rather than federal authorities. Assuming that this 
situation continues, CBO estimates that the increased sentences 
under this bill would have no significant impact on the 
operating costs of federal prisons. In addition, CBO estimates 
that the cost to prepare the U.S. Sentencing Commission study 
would not be significant. Also, because the bill would not 
affect state sentencing guidelines, CBO estimates that enacting 
H.R. 1240 would not affect the budgets of state or local 
governments.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Susanne S. 
Mehlman.
            Sincerely,
                                              James L. Blum
                                   (For June E. O'Neill, Director).
                     Inflationary Impact Statement

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee estimates that H.R. 
1240 will have no significant inflationary impact on prices and 
costs in the national economy.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Sec. 1. Short title

    Section 1 states the short title of the bill as the 
``Sexual Crimes Against Children Prevention Act of 1995.''

Sec. 2. Increased penalties for certain conduct in sexual exploitation 
        of children

    Section 2 of the bill directs the United States Sentencing 
Commission to amend the sentencing guidelines to increase the 
base offense levels for offenses involving the creation of, or 
trafficking in, child pornography. The increases are to be at 
least two levels. These increases will cause the sentence range 
for a first-time offender convicted of creating child 
pornography, when no sentence enhancement factors are present, 
to be increased from the current 57-71 months to at least 70-87 
months. The sentencing range applicable to a first-time 
offender convicted of trafficking in child pornography, when no 
sentence enhancement factors are present, will increase from 
the current 18-24 months to at least 24-30 months.

Sec. 3. Increased penalties for use of computers in sexual exploitation 
        of children

    Section 3 of the bill directs the United States Sentencing 
Commission to amend its sentencing guidelines to provide for an 
enhancement to the applicable base offense level when an 
offender uses a computer to commit crimes involving the 
trafficking in child pornography or advertising to buy or sell 
child pornography. While these actions are illegal under 
present law, and the base offense levels for these crimes are 
increased by section 2 of the bill, section 3 mandates an 
enhancement of at least three offense levels if the offender 
used a computer to commit either of those offenses.

Sec. 4. Increased penalties for transportation of Children with Intent 
        to engage in criminal sexual activity

    Section 4 directs the United States Sentencing Commission 
to increase the base offense level for the crime of 
transporting minors across state lines for the purpose of 
prostitution or criminal sexual activity. The increase is to be 
at least three levels. The resulting modification in sentence 
range would increase the punishment for a first-time offender, 
when no sentence enhancement factors are present, from the 
current 21-27 months to at least 30-37 months.
Sec. 5. Predicate offenses for RICO

    Section 5 of the bill amends the definition of ``predicate 
acts'' in the RICO statute so that all obscenity offenses under 
Title 18 of the United States Code are included. Prior to 1988, 
all obscenity offenses were included as RICO predicate acts. 
Additional obscenity offenses were added to Title 18 in 1988, 
but these new crimes were not included in the definition of 
predicate acts. Section 5 corrects that omission.

Sec. 6. Technical correction

    Section 6 makes a technical amendment to correct an 
erroneous cross-reference in one of the new child crime 
statutes enacted as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law 
Enforcement Act of 1994 (Pub. L. No. 103-322). That act added a 
new section 2245 to Title 18 and caused the existing section 
2245 to be renumbered as new section 2246. That act also added 
new section 2423(b), which contained a cross-reference to the 
existing section 2245. As a result of the enactment of new 
section 2245, the cross-reference in section 2423(b) to section 
2245 was incorrect and should have been a reference to new 
section 2246. Section 5 of H.R. 1240 makes this technical 
correction.

Sec. 7. Report by the United States Sentencing Commission

    Section 7 requires the United States Sentencing Commission 
to submit a report to Congress concerning offenses involving 
sexual conduct with children. The Commission is required to 
submit its report to Congress within 180 days from the date of 
enactment of the bill. While the Commission is directed to make 
any recommendations it deems appropriate with respect to these 
crimes, the bill requires the Commission to study certain 
aspects of these crimes and make appropriate recommendations in 
light of this analysis.
    Specifically, the Commission is to analyze the sentences 
that judges have imposed for sexual abuse crimes (18 U.S.C. 
Sec. Sec. 2241, 2242, 2243, and 2244) when the victim was under 
the age of 18; crimes involving child pornography (18 U.S.C. 
Sec. Sec. 2251 and 2252); and the crimes involving interstate 
transportation of minors for immoral purposes or international 
travel for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with a minor 
(18 U.S.C. Sec. 2423). The Commission is to recommend any 
modification to its sentencing guidelines that may be 
appropriate with respect to those offenses in light of its 
analysis. Additionally, the Commission is to include in its 
report an analysis of the type of substantial assistance upon 
which judges have granted the government's motion for a 
downward departure from the sentencing guidelines in cases 
involving offenses under the child pornography statutes (18 
U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 2251 and 2252).
    The report mandated by section 7 also directs the 
Commission to conduct a survey of the recidivism rate for 
offenders convicted of committing sexual crimes against 
children. That section of the report also is to include an 
analysis of the impact on recidivism that results from sexual 
abuse treatment provided during or after incarceration or both, 
and an analysis of whether increased penalties would reduce 
recidivism for sexual crimes against children.

                              Agency Views

    No written views were provided by the Administration.
         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                      TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE

          * * * * * * *

                             PART I--CRIMES

          * * * * * * *

       CHAPTER 96--RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS

          * * * * * * *

Sec. 1961. Definitions

    As used in this chapter--
          (1) ``racketeering activity'' means (A) any act or 
        threat involving murder, kidnapping, gambling, arson, 
        robbery, bribery, extortion, dealing in obscene matter, 
        or dealing in a controlled substance or listed chemical 
        (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances 
        Act), which is chargeable under State law and 
        punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; (B) 
        any act which is indictable under any of the following 
        provisions of title 18, United States Code: Section 201 
        (relating to bribery), section 224 (relating to sports 
        bribery), sections 471, 472, and 473 (relating to 
        counterfeiting), section 659 (relating to theft from 
        interstate shipment) if the act indictable under 
        section 659 is felonious, section 664 (relating to 
        embezzlement from pension and welfare funds), sections 
        891-894 (relating to extortionate credit transactions), 
        section 1029 (relating to fraud and related activity in 
        connection with access devices), section 1084 (relating 
        to the transmission of gambling information), section 
        1341 (relating to mail fraud), section 1343 (relating 
        to wire fraud), section 1344 (relating to financial 
        institution fraud), [sections 1461-1465 (relating to 
        obscene matter)] chapter 71 (relating to obscenity), 
        section 1503 (relating to obstruction of justice), 
        section 1510 (relating to obstruction of criminal 
        investigations), section 1511 (relating to the 
        obstruction of State or local law enforcement), section 
        1512 (relating to tampering with a witness, victim, or 
        an informant), section 1513 (relating to retaliating 
        against a witness, victim, or an informant), section 
        1951 (relating to interference with commerce, robbery, 
        or extortion), section 1952 (relating to racketeering), 
        section 1953 (relating to interstate transportation of 
        wagering paraphernalia), section 1954 (relating to 
        unlawful welfare fund payments), section 1955 (relating 
        to the prohibition of illegal gambling businesses), 
        section 1956 (relating to the laundering of monetary 
        instruments), section 1957 (relating to engaging in 
        monetary transactions in property derived from 
        specified unlawful activity), section 1958 (relating to 
        use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission 
        of murder-for-hire), sections 2251-2252 (relating to 
        sexual exploitation of children), sections 2312 and 
        2313 (relating to interstate transportation of stolen 
        motor vehicles), sections 2314 and 2315 (relating to 
        interstate transportation of stolen property), section 
        2321 (relating to trafficking in certain motor vehicles 
        or motor vehicle parts), sections 2341-2346 (relating 
        to trafficking in contraband cigarettes), sections 
        2421-24 (relating to white slave traffic), (C) any act 
        which is indictable under title 29, United States Code, 
        section 186 (dealing with restrictions on payments and 
        loans to labor organizations) or section 501(c) 
        (relating to embezzlement from union funds), (D) any 
        offense involving fraud connected with a case under 
        title 11 (except a case under section 157 of that 
        title), fraud in the sale of securities, or the 
        felonious manufacture, importation, receiving, 
        concealment, buying, selling, or otherwise dealing in a 
        controlled substance or listed chemical (as defined in 
        section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act), 
        punishable under any law of the United States, or (E) 
        any act which is indictable under the Currency and 
        Foreign Transactions Reporting Act.
          * * * * * * *

  CHAPTER 117--TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND RELATED 
                                 CRIMES

          * * * * * * *

Sec. 2423. Transportation of minors

    (a) * * *
    (b) Travel With Intent To Engage in Sexual Act With a 
Juvenile.--A person who travels in interstate commerce, or 
conspires to do so, or a United States citizen or an alien 
admitted for permanent residence in the United States who 
travels in foreign commerce, or conspires to do so, for the 
purpose of engaging in any sexual act (as defined in section 
[2245] 2246) with a person under 18 years of age that would be 
in violation of chapter 109A if the sexual act occurred in the 
special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United 
States shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more 
than 10 years, or both.
          * * * * * * *
             ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE ZOE LOFGREN

    The Committee process for this bill fell far short of what 
which would have produced a law to provide tough sentences and 
meaningful protection for children. Rather than take a 
considered look at a very serious subject, the Committee 
instead chose to play politics and move forward with a largely 
insignificant measure merely to allow the majority to check off 
another item on their Contract on America. This callous 
attitude toward the safety and well being of our children is 
extremely disturbing.
    Crimes against children, particularly those of a sexual 
nature, are among the most heinous and tragic that exist in our 
society. Children are, by their very nature, innocent and 
vulnerable--unable to protect themselves. It is our job to 
protect them.
    The sexual exploitation of children is a crime that can 
have permanent and devastating effects on the psyche and well 
being of a child for the duration of his or her life. Numerous 
studies have shown that the childhood abuse rate of convicted 
criminals far exceeds that of the general population. Victims 
of abuse are also more likely to perpetuate the same abuse when 
they become adults, creating a cycle of tragedy. These crimes 
have a far greater impact than the terrible consequences for 
the individual child.
    The Federal sentencing procedures are very complicated, and 
the Committee was not allowed the time to fully consider the 
sentencing for these crimes, not did we have any hearings or 
testimony from experts on the subject. My initial reaction to 
the sentences for creating child pornography or transporting 
children for the purpose of prostitution is that they are 
shockingly low. For this reason I wanted to substantially 
increase the number of years these people spend in prison.
    The Committee bill instead raises the sentencing guidelines 
for creation of child pornography from about 5 to 6 years up to 
around 7 to 8 years for the first offense. The guidelines for 
interstate child prostitution would go from 21 to 27 months up 
to 27 to 33 months. This means less than three years for 
someone who faces prostitution upon children. Further, 
information provided by the Sentencing Commission indicates 
that even today's low sentences are not imposed by judges in 
roughly a quarter of the cases. Something should be done about 
this. Clearly, there is a need to look not only at advisory 
sentencing guidelines, but at the underlying criminal statute 
to make sure that those who abuse children are taken out of 
circulation.
    I tried to offer amendments to the Committee bill that 
would have enhanced these penalties significantly, but because 
of the ``Band-Aid'' approach of the bill, my amendments were 
ruled non-germane. Because I was trying to offer a real change 
in the punishment of child prostitutes and pronogaphers, my 
proposals were non-germane to a bill that offered only token 
modifications.
    The Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime has assured me 
that this bill is not our final examination of the punishment 
for child pornography and prostitution, and the bill itself 
calls for a study of the issue by the Sentencing Commission, 
but we have lost this opportunity to act not to provide 
meaningful protection for children. I hope that we will revisit 
this matter expeditiously, but in a careful and considered 
manner. The prostitution and exploitation of our children is 
far too serious to treat in the cursory way that this bill has 
done.

                                   Zoe Lofgren.