Members of Congress Declare War on Child Predators

Incumbents, Challengers Pledge Unprecedented Increases in Child Safety

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Just one week after federal agents announced a nationwide child pornography sweep that uncovered a six-month old baby being bound and raped, 22 House and Senate members and 40 candidates have signed a pledge to build the largest law enforcement army ever created to protect children.

The National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT) today released a list of 62 elected officials and candidates for public office who have signed a pledge declaring a national “War on Child Predators.” The pledge calls for 3,000 new agents to combat Internet predators and child pornography, as well as 279 new federal prosecutors and 20 forensic crime labs throughout the nation.

“Child pornography has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry,” says Grier Weeks executive director of PROTECT. “And millions of American children are in danger every time they go online. Yet Congress has refused to give law enforcement the resources to fight back. That’s why this pledge is so important.”

Earlier this year, Congress heard testimony that law enforcement has identified over a million computers worldwide trafficking in images of very young children being raped and tortured. Agents say they are overwhelmed and under-funded, and they cannot investigate most cases that come to them. Since 2001, Congress has held at least 27 hearings on child pornography and Internet child safety.

“The tracks are there and these criminals are traceable,” said actor and PROTECT advisory board member David Keith, at an Oct. 5 Washington news conference announcing the pledge. “We don’t have the people to go get them.” Keith has been active lobbying Congress on behalf of children.

Child safety activist Erin Runnion, whose daughter was abducted and murdered by a sexual predator four years ago, is also an active campaigner for the War on Child Predators pledge. “The only known deterrent to a child sex offender is the risk of getting caught. If we do not give our law enforcement the resources that they need to catch these guys, what message are we sending to predators? What message are we sending to our children?”

Signers of the War on Child Predators pledge to date include incumbents and challengers from both major parties. Seventeen candidates in 14 of Hotline’s Top 30 House races have endorsed the pledge, as have two top Senate challengers. PROTECT will continue to gather endorsements.

“Enough talk. America is going to finally put its money where its mouth is when it comes to protecting our children,” said Alison Arngrim, a spokesperson for PROTECT.

Signers include:

Members of Congress: Joe Baca (D-CA), Melissa Bean (D-IL), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Bob Filner (D-CA), Jim Gerlach (R- PA), Gene Greene (D-TX), Steve Israel (D-NY), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Tom Lantos (D-CA), Dennis Moore (D-KS), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Sylvestre Reyes (D-TX), Christopher Shays (R- CT), Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Don Young (R-AK).

Members of the U.S. Senate: Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jim Talent (R-MO).

Candidates for U.S. Senate: Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), Mike McGavick (R-WA), John Tester (D-MT).

Candidates for U.S. House: Steven Acuff (R-NC), James Andion (R-CA), Tom Barlow (D-KY), Diane Benson (D-AK), Steve Beren (R-WA), Bruce Braley (D-IA), Charlie Brown (D-CA), Francine Busby (D-CA), Steve Cofchin (R-WA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jeeni Criscenzo (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dianne Farrell (D-CT), Judy Feder (D-VA), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Mary Beth Harrell (D-TX), Karen Hartley-Nagle (I-DE), Andy Hedden-Nicely (U-ID), Baron Hill (D-IN), Larry Ishmael (R-WA), Steve Kagan (D-WI), Phil Kellam (D-VA), Patricia Madrid (D-NM), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Dave Mejias (D-NY), Michael Messmore (R-WA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Doug Roulstone (R-WA), Heath Shuler (D-NC), Joseph Sestak (D-PA), Zack Space (D-OH), Dennis Spivak (D-DE), Chris Wakim (R-WV), Craig Weber (D-NC), Italo Zanzi (R- NY).

For more information, visit http://www.protect.org .