Trafficking Bill Includes Meehan Provision to Close Sex Offender Loophole

Press Release

The bipartisan Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S.178), passed by the House of Representatives this afternoon, includes a provision championed by Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) that closes a loophole in sexual offender registry requirements. The legislation mandates the Department of Defense provide the Department of Justice with sex offender registration information of individuals who are released from military corrections facilities or are convicted by court-martial of criminal sexual activity.

The legislation was approved with an overwhelming 99-0 vote in the Senate in April and now goes to the President's desk for his signature. It includes language similar to H.R. 956, the Military TRAC Act, sponsored by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Meehan.

"We have a responsibility to do everything possible to protect innocents from sexual predators," said Congressman Meehan. "But there exists a loophole that does not require the Department of Defense to notify federal law enforcement when it releases personnel convicted of sex crimes. In almost 250 identified cases, personnel convicted of these crimes were released from custody but never were never placed on any local or FBI offender registry. The current system relies on the offenders to add themselves to any sexual predator registry."

"The legislation approved by the House today will require the Pentagon to inform the Justice Department when it releases a sexual offender into a local jurisdiction. It will keep our communities safer by closing this loophole and ensuring law enforcement is aware when an offender is released. I thank my colleague Rep. Speier for her leadership for victims. I'm pleased Congress has acted to address this issue and I hope the President signs the bill into law promptly," Meehan said.

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