REP. SWEENEY FIGHTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL PREDATORS

Rep. John E. Sweeney, R-N.Y. (20th CD), issued the following press release:

Rep. John E. Sweeney (R-NY) voted last night for H.R. 4472, the Child Protection and Safety Act which will help protect children from sexual predators.

"As a father, my greatest fear is having a child become the victim of a sexual predator or violent criminal. This legislation will go a long way to avoid that by adopting tough mandatory minimum sentences for kidnapping or sexually assaulting a child, strengthening sex offender registries and public notification requirements, and increasing law enforcement's ability to combat child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children over the internet," said Sweeney.

IF ENACTED, H.R. 4472, THE CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY ACT WILL:

* Require states to notify each other when sex offenders move from one state to another;

* Create the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website to search for sex offender information in each community;

* Improve the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Program to ensure that sex offenders register- and keep current- where they reside, work, and attend school;

* Increase penalties for using the internet for the sexual exploitation of children; and

* Increase law enforcement's ability to combat child pornography.

Congressman Sweeney has been active on child safety issues in Upstate New York, recently hosting a Child Safety Summit where local law enforcement and public safety officials spoke to parents about ways to protect their children from sexual predators.