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P.L. 110-401, The Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2007
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
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There was no up-or-down vote in the House.
There was no up-or-down vote in the Senate.
Visitor Comments 
Jennifer Ferreira
January 3, 2008, 4:08pm (report abuse)What I would like to see is the federal government funding for Acts such as these go to the prevention of cyber crime, by way of cracking down on the purveyors of child pornography, and by focusing on the Internet itself as means of preventing the exploitation of children, by taking child pornography off the Internet and going after those who commit atrocious acts on a child for profit.
I would like to see the federal government focus on the disruption of the child pornography industry by finding and punishing those directly involved with the abuse of children for profit, such as those who rape and molest, those who photograph and film the act, and those who put the images and videos on pay-for-access websites for financial gain, and less on those who solely view child pornography in their own home.
Jennifer Ferreira
January 3, 2008, 4:11pm (report abuse)There appears to be a problem in this country of access to these horrible images and videos, as they are easily come by on the Internet, whether free or by paid access.
There is no hard evidence to suggest or prove that all viewers of child pornography are child molesters, or intend to harm children. There is more evidence to suggest that those who view child pornography do so because of a pornography addiction, and access the images during the course of their addiction because they are available so readily.
Jennifer Ferreira
January 3, 2008, 4:12pm (report abuse)I believe that if such things were not easily available on the Internet, there would not be so many cases of possession of possession and viewing of child pornography, and there would be little or no demand. Therefore, the focus needs to be put on prevention of Internet child pornography by going after those who commit the crimes against children by physical means in order to satisfy their own sexual or financial needs.
Jennifer Ferreira
January 3, 2008, 4:13pm (report abuse)While I understand that viewing and possessing fuels the child pornography industry, the crime of viewing child pornography with no instance of child abuse on the part of the viewer is punished to an extreme in this country, with long prison sentences, fines and further restrictions as sex offenders after prison, when rehabilitative counseling and treatment is more effective and should be priority.
Jennifer Ferreira
January 3, 2008, 4:14pm (report abuse)I would like to see the federal government focus on educating parents and children about Internet safety and the importance of monitoring children's online activities to prevent potential predators from contacting and harming innocent children, rather than entrapping those who are deemed potential predators in online stings. When presented with an opportunity, there are many who would cautiously engage in sexually oriented conversations with a minor child when they otherwise would not.
Jennifer Ferreira
January 3, 2008, 4:14pm (report abuse)Parents should monitor their children's online activities and be aware of who they are speaking to and what the conversations consist of, in order to report men and women who are truly predators seeking victims aggressively on line. I am urging Congress to fund Acts that would catch true predators.
I am asking Congress to fund Acts that would directly end the abuse of children, instead of finding and punishing those who have not been accused of or who have not been proven to have had direct contact with minors for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Jennifer Ferreira
January 3, 2008, 4:16pm (report abuse)I am urging Congress to protect children all over the world by focusing directly on their abusers and those who profit from that abuse, instead of spending billions of dollars on finding and prosecuting the consumer, who is very often not guilty of actual physical abuse against a child.
I am asking Congress to consider the families and children of those who are convicted of possession of child pornography and of those who have been convicted of the online enticement of children who were convicted based on entrapment in stings to catch online predators, in cases where there has been no evidence to prove that the convicted have ever harmed a child, or have ever intended to.
JF
January 3, 2008, 4:16pm (report abuse)We bear the heavy burden of watching our loved ones go to prison, and then be further punished under Acts such as the Adam Walsh Act, etc. These Acts and laws have torn families apart, have caused burdens on those who have already been punished for their crime, and take the focus off those who are TRUE predators and a serious risk to society.
I urge Congress to focus on the perpetrators of physical child abuse, and fund Acts and laws that will focus on those that are truly guilty of an offense against a child, and the education of parents and children when it comes to cyber crime.
PLEASE GET THE FACTS
July 30, 2008, 5:11pm (report abuse)Rep. Wasserman Schultz's PROTECT Our Children Act passed overwhelmingly in the House in November 07. The Senate has obstructed passage of this important legislation.
Please become informed about this bill - here's must-see video of relevant congressional testimony.
http://www.house.gov/list/press/fl20_schultz/PROTECTmediapage.html
In particular, please watch the testimony of Waserman-Schultz, Weeks, Mueller, Waters, and Kozakiewicz.
Also visit http://protect.org/
Thanks
eric j branstrom
September 15, 2008, 6:58pm (report abuse)any person who does not vote for this bill to pass...should be ashamed of him or her self...if there isnt enough money to pass it we should FIND IT AND FAST somewhere else...our most important assest in OUR country is OUR CHLDREN...i am a male 74 years old and hope someone listens thank you
Marie Suarez
September 15, 2008, 7:07pm (report abuse)Please, please pass this bill immediately, if not sooner. I was a victim of child molestation from a grandfather when I was young. I lived without trusting grown men in my family until I grew older. There were no protection laws for me over 50 years ago. How long should we continue to ignore these crimes against innocent children who have no voice! Society wonders why we have so many problems with gender identity when we continue to ignore and prosecute the perpetrators. Please protect our children today and our future generations children. May God bless the children!
vicki
September 15, 2008, 9:06pm (report abuse)After watching Oprah Show on Sept 15 2008 I urge you to pass bill 1738
Carolina
September 15, 2008, 10:04pm (report abuse)Jennifer Ferreira...you must be joking. Your views come across as very ignorant with regard to the far reaching effects of child pornography. These victims are violated anytime their images are viewed, regardless of what the intention of the viewer is. I'm sure you would have a different viewpoint if we were talking about one of your children. Your comments represent what is wrong with our society. People don't get outraged until it affects them personally. I'm ready to support a bill to protect your loved ones even if you are not willing to do the same for me.
Lisa Kuehn
September 16, 2008, 12:52am (report abuse)My goodness protect our children ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT CAN'T TALK. Babies are being abused right this moment. We pay our taxes and we have every right to dictate where the funds go. Time is wasting. PLEASE PASS PROTECT Our Children Act S. 1738.
Concerned Parent
Tracy
September 16, 2008, 1:04am (report abuse)Ms Jennifer Ferreira...reading your statements have made me very angry. Certainly anyone going out of their way to access child pornography for is SICK. Why would you want to protect someone like that. And if they get busted in a sting ALL THE BEST! You are in denial of some kind.
Heather Pebbles
September 16, 2008, 11:29am (report abuse)Ms. Jennifer Ferreira,
Your opinion and views are out of touch. What if a child is unsuspectedly photographed at recess. (An older child taking pictures under the dress?) How would I as a parent even know the incident happened, until the local authorities found the images in a website for Pedophiles! All the monitoring of children online is not going to cure these people. They are sick people that deserve to be punished. Why don't you give up a few hours of your day and go to your local police department and talk to a member of the force that deals with these sick people on a daily basis. Look at how many lives are ruined from Pedophiles and the Internet Predators. Look up the statistics of the longterm affects of victimization from Pedophiles. Educate yourself before you begin to put your ignorance online for the world to read.
J Smilja
September 16, 2008, 10:18pm (report abuse)Jennifer Ferreira and the rest of out of touch society;
How are we to find the purveyors of exploited images and videos of children without in fact finding the people who consume them? If the statistics are right and 40% of these "consumers" are actually "purveyors" and or actively molesting children, aren't we talking about one in the same? Every time a predator views a pornagraphic image of a child, is that not a crime to that child and their family? A sickness in that adult that cannot be cured? The entire industry and any and everyone involved in it needs to be taken down for justice to be served and safety to be had for all of our children. Do you even have a grasp of the horrors that these children face, because this is real, not just some charity fund raiser.
Patty McMillain
September 16, 2008, 10:31pm (report abuse)If you go to Oprah's website she has a template letter that you can email your state Senators urging the passing of this needed Act. Please do it for the children and grandchildren, they need our protection now and always.
Kim Martin
September 17, 2008, 7:44am (report abuse)Please....we need to do something to protect our children. We need to pass this bill....it is a small price to pay for these kids.
L. Fuette
September 17, 2008, 3:20pm (report abuse)It is a very dangerous assumption to make that those merely viewing child pornography aren't necessarily physically harming young children or wouldn't should they have the opportunity. Any form of child pornography, whether it's ownership on ones computer, or use to facilitate physical harm on a child, is child abuse in it's most horrific form. Viewers of child pornography fuel the fire which is terribly dangerous in itself. Anyone taking part in child pornography in whatever capacity should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law - PERIOD. Our children - NOT child predators - should be protected. It is therefore imperative the Senate passes bill 1738 - our children are counting on it!
Krista Gassib
September 17, 2008, 3:53pm (report abuse)With so much of our tax payers dollars going to bail out private companies like AIG, I would love to re-direct it to worthy causes like this one. Forget the war on drugs let's break down some doors and get these guys!!!
Jen
September 18, 2008, 3:28pm (report abuse)Bill 1738 must be passed. We act like there are only enough people in this world to protect children from certain types of crime. Cyber crime is a "behind the scenes" type of crime - which means it is that much scarier. We have enough people in this world that can focus on this crime just like any other. Let's get it under control as much as possible before it is too late! Our children our worth it.
Gina Pike
September 18, 2008, 11:50pm (report abuse)Jennifer Ferreira, I agree with everything you wrote. And Heather Pebbles, you wrote that these sick people deserve to be punished. Well, if they're sick doesn't that mean that they need help and not prison? Please people, focus on the ones who are getting rich off of these poor kids. This is turning into a modern day witch hunt. Get the facts before you prosecute innocent people.
Carolina
September 19, 2008, 5:00pm (report abuse)Gina: Some of us do have the facts through having survived abuse. "Innocent" people will not be prosecuted. The innocent children will be protected.
Arizona Lady
September 20, 2008, 12:34am (report abuse)S. 3344 is better than S. 1738. 3344 addresses the protection of our children specifically, 1738 is attached to several bills I'm NOT FOR!! 3344 brings 1738 to real action and not just a bunch of 36 other bills... a whole agenda of issues and spending which equals less money for defending our children. I read about all of this information at these links:
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=LatestNews.PressRe... />
and
http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2008/07/24/the-coburn-omnibus-36-bi...
Response to Arizona Lady
September 21, 2008, 4:59pm (report abuse)As your links demonstrate, Senator Coburn has become known as the "least effective" senator in congress due to his propensity for blocking progress. I'm still supporting S. 1738.
Amanda
September 24, 2008, 1:29am (report abuse)S.1738 must be passed. Who cares if it is attached to other bills. Isn't worth it if we can save young children, toddler and babies from rape ?! Rape and torture on demand is the sick entertainment for these predators. Let the childrens screams of pain be heard. We know where these children are and we can track these predators but we lack funding. The abuse is physically and mentally scarring no matter how one tries to sugar coat the act.
STOP the BILL
September 24, 2008, 10:52am (report abuse)Sure protect the children, no problem but does it have to attached to so many other stupid money wasting laws. Read what other bills are attached and how much it will cost YOU- the taxpayer.
Wouldn't it be cheaper and nicer IF YOU WERE A BETTER PARENT and protected your own children.
Unless of course you are under the mistaken belief, that the abuse is all strangers. This bill just creates more government bloat. There are plenty of agencies already out there that can catch these people since the law enforcment knows where they are. Fund those better-stop creating new sex offender laws and agencies that provide a false sense of security.
Do a little research on your own and stop listening to the "almighty" Oprah and false information the policians throw at you.
If passed, you'll also pay for a greenhouse in Maryland,along with other worthless projects-that's really protecting the children!
Pass the Bill!
September 24, 2008, 2:47pm (report abuse)in response to "stop the bill" - as JF has expressed already, family members seem reluctant to alert authorities when children are being abused, so it is up to the rest of us to protect them. As far as being a better parent, I hope you never have to eat those words. Educate yourself. How dare you blame the victim. This bill is about addressing the overwhelming problem of child pornography and the market that the internet has created. Your own post demonstrates your ignorance. Learn a little about the way government works and you'll find that combining bills has become necessary due to ridiculous amounts delays some senators use to stop bills they don't like. Get over the greenhouse issue and realize that this bill is good for our country. And again, I hope your bravado with regard to "if you were a better parent" doesn't come back to haunt you.
STOP the BILL
September 25, 2008, 7:53pm (report abuse)To Pass the Bill- Guess you're buying the junk the policians throw at you. This bill is not necessary We have plenty of other agncies who can do the job. Give them the money.
Who's blaming the victim? Can you not read. I was a victim and this bloated bill would not have helped me or the over 95% who are abused by family members.Not strangers. Thank you, I have educated myself that's why this bill is not going to help anyone but give more money for more false senses of security.
I'm an excellant parent-I don't relay on "for the children" bills to protect my children. I DO!!
I appauld the Senator for delaying this bill and I would hope that, just the overhyped Adam Walsh Act (remember that one-there's NO money to fund it) it goes nowhere.
Unless of course, you want to pay for it out of your pocket.
STOP the BILL
September 25, 2008, 8:09pm (report abuse)BTW- In regards to education, why doesn't everyone who support this bloated bill, check out how many other BILLS that are now laws to protect the children and stop the child pornographers that already exist but lack funding.
Angi
September 26, 2008, 3:37pm (report abuse)Jennifer Ferreira- The monsters that are looking at the images and videos are just as much to blame as the producers. If there was no one interested in it, then why would these monsters feel so compelled to produce more and more?Supply = Demand. You should be ashamed of yourself for wanting to protect those monsters. I say, punish them ALL. If you are making it, if you are looking at it, if you are passing it around. You should be punished. End of story!
michele
October 23, 2008, 7:05am (report abuse)i wouldn't mine paying any amount of money to get this bill passed!! please pass this bill!
Consider All Sides -
November 17, 2008, 9:35am (report abuse)Two years ago, my son was arrested for internet solicitation - it was a police net - and in Texas crossing a property line set by police will get you an 8-years.
My son was fortunate and was offered 8 years of deferred adjudication. He was wrong, he knows what he did was wrong, but the only victim in his case was the highly trained 50 year old male detective who spends his life posing as a teen-age girl (15 to 16) who is only interested in meeting men in the 20's.
Without defending his crime - his life is forever wrecked because he has 8 years of probation and 10 years as a registered sex offender. Under Texas law, he would have easier treatmet if he had committed murder.
My point is this: There is no scale whatsoever - had my son had an actual victim (he did NOT and passed the polygraph that proves it).
I now spend over $1,000 a month supporting him because he is loathed by all. No one will hire him, our family is being destroyed, the whole family is shamed.
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