Upton Hails Passage of Bill to Protect Kids from Sexual Predators

Upton Hails Passage of Bill to Protect Kids from Sexual Predators
Sturgis case spurred Upton to ensure bill included provision expanding definition of sex offender to include crimes that took place on foreign soil

WASHINGTON , DC - Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) applauded today's House passage of legislation to protect children throughout the country from sex predators by improving the national sex offender registration program. The bipartisan Children's Safety Act of 2005, H.R. 3132, overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 371 to 52.

"With passage of this important child protection legislation, America 's children will be safer in their homes, backyards, schools and neighborhoods," said Upton . "The common sense reforms and strong initiatives contained in this plan will do more to ensure the safety of our children than any federal law since the establishment of the Amber Alert plan. With passage of this bill, America 's mothers and fathers can have greater peace of mind, and feel more secure knowing that their children are safer."

Upton fought to close a loophole in the current law in response to a case that occurred in Sturgis , Michigan . The case involved an adult woman, a resident of Sturgis, who sexually assaulted a minor while working in New Zealand with a missionary group. The woman was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to 16 months in a New Zealand prison. Upon completion of her jail sentence, the convicted sex offender was deported back to the U.S. with a police escort and she eventually returned to her home in Sturgis.

The victim's mother, also a resident of Sturgis, was concerned that the woman who assaulted her daughter was not listed on the sex offender registry. When this was brought to the attention of the local authorities, it was soon learned that sexual assault crimes committed on foreign soil are not recognized by law enforcement officials. This legislation closes the loophole and ensures that crimes committed on foreign soil are recognized by local law enforcement officials.

"This legislation is especially important as it ensures that predators who commit sex crimes abroad do not escape prior convictions when they arrive on, or return to the U.S. soil," said Upton . "Under current law, when an offender who has been convicted abroad for a child sex crime enters the United States , they cross our borders with a clean slate as their convictions do not follow them. As we saw in the case in Sturgis, this loophole defies common sense, and soon, all convictions abroad will soon land child sex offenders on the registry where they belong."

Specifically, the Children's Safety Act:

* Expands coverage of sex offenders to include any felony sex offense and misdemeanor sex offenses;
* Expands covered offenses against children to include possession of child pornography as a triggering offense for registration and notification requirements;
* Requires sex offenders to register prior to release from prison;
* Increases the duration of required periodic registration ;
* Authorizes the creation of up to ten demonstration programs for electronic monitoring of sex offenders;
* Ensures mandatory-minimum punishment for violent and sexual crimes against children.

http://www.house.gov/upton/press/press-09-14-05.html