Gregg Applauds Passage of Child Protection Safety Act

GREGG APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF CHILD PROTECTION SAFETY ACT

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today announced that the Senate unanimously approved the Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act of 2006, of which he is a cosponsor. This bill establishes a National Sex Offender Registry to maintain a constantly updated, nationwide, geographically searchable database of registered sex offenders. This measure now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval.

Senator Gregg stated, "There is no greater need than helping keep our children safe from harm and those wishing to do them harm. The Child Protection Safety Act, which received overwhelming support in the Senate, will help law enforcement and parents keep track of sex offenders through a national registry. This registry will provide highly detailed identification of each sex offender and greatly assist authorities in investigating child abuse cases. The bill's tough new penalties for violent and sexual crimes against children will make sure that justice is fully served for such heinous acts."

Protecting the safety of children, and giving them safe environments in which to grow up, has long been a top priority for Senator Gregg. As past Chairman, and still a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the Department of Justice, Senator Gregg focused significant resources on initiatives aimed at preventing violence against children, as well as mentoring programs that provide children with safe and supportive opportunities to learn and grow and gain valuable life skills. Senator Gregg has been nationally recognized for his work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Children's Advocacy Centers and the Afterschool Alliance. In addition, he has provided increased funding for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Girl Scouts and Boys Scouts organizations as well as McGruff the Crime Dog. In New Hampshire, Senator Gregg has steered federal resources to the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, expansion of the Youth Safe Havens at several NH locations, and developing a child protection training program for law enforcement officials handling cases involving children.

The new national database will include the identification, address, employment status, personal vehicle, a recent photograph and information regarding criminal history on each offender. This measure also imposes tougher penalties for sex offenses and violent crimes against children, including: mandatory penalties for violent crimes against children including the possibility of the death penalty for the murder of a child in a federal offense; a mandatory 30-year penalty against any act of aggravated sexual abuse against a child; and mandatory 10-year penalty for sex trafficking and expansion of the two-strikes life sentence for sex trafficking offenses.

http://gregg.senate.gov/press/2006/July/0720_child_protection_act.htm