Adam Walsh Act Reauthorization Will Help Keep Our Children Safe

Republican Led Senate Has ‘Passed Many Different Measures To Help Victims’

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “The Republican-led Senate believes in the importance of combating sexual assault and providing key protections for the victims of these heinous crimes. ...the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act, will bolster efforts to prevent future sexual assault crimes and help victims receive justice.” (Sen. McConnell, Congressional Record, S.3039, 3/23/16)

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA): “Too many kids are falling prey to sexual predators. ... And too many people have had to cope with the physical and emotional trauma of a sexual assault. I introduced this legislation to help prevent future tragedies and ensure that victims have a good shot at justice. Today’s vote in the Senate reaffirms our commitment to protecting the rights of those who have experienced a sexual assault while helping communities across America work together to guard against future atrocities.” (Sen. Grassley, Press Release, 5/23/16)

Adam Walsh Act Reauthorization Part Of ‘A Strong And Clear Message’ About ‘Congress’ Steadfast Commitment To Keeping Our Children Safe’

“The U.S. Senate voted to reauthorize the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act by an 89-0 vote Monday. It was initially passed in 2006, twenty-five years after the child was kidnapped and murdered.” (“Senate Passes Reauthorization Unanimously,” WTOK, 5/23/16)

S.2613 — Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2016: “This bill amends the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act to reauthorize through FY2018 the Sex Offender Management Assistance program and the Jessica Lunsford Address Verification Grant program. Additionally, it reauthorizes appropriations through FY2018 for the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend sex offenders who violate sex offender registration requirements.”

“Reauthorization means programs from the original bill will continue, like helping states meet national standards for sex offender registries. But there’s also something new. ‘We also, for the first time, added a Survivor’s Bill of Rights, to codify additional rights for victims of sexual assault,’ explained the bill’s author, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).” (“Senate Passes Reauthorization Unanimously,” WTOK, 5/23/16)

A Previous Attempt To Reauthorize The Adam Walsh Act In 2012 Languished

H.R.3796 - Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2012 – passed the House on 8/1/2012, received in the Senate the next day, referred to Committee on Judiciary, no further action.

‘Legislation Is Vital’

NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN: “On behalf of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the families and children we serve, I am writing to express our support for your legislation, the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2016 (S.2613). … We believe the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2016 will allow law enforcement to continue their tireless efforts of monitoring and tracking sex offenders, and improve information sharing among state and local law enforcement.” (National Center For Missing & Exploited Children, Letter To Senators, 3/9/16)

SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL: ‘This legislation is vital’ “This bill reauthorizes critically important provisions of the original Adam Walsh Act regarding the sex offender registry and the activities of the U.S. Marshall’s Service and seeks to improve both as tools to protect the public from sex offenders. Shared Hope has been working since 1998 to prevent sex trafficking of women and children, and to restore and bring justice to the victims. ... We believe the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2016 is essential to the fight against child sex trafficking by allowing law enforcement to continue tracking and monitoring registered sex offenders and improving information sharing. This legislation is vital.” (Shared Hope International, Letter To Senators, 5/20/16)

The Republican Senate Has ‘Passed Many Different Measures To Help Victims And To Help Stop These Crimes’

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “In less than 18 months, we have already passed many different measures to help victims and to help stop these crimes. We passed the Amy and Vicky act, which will help the victims of child pornography to get restitution from those who profit from their pain. … We passed an important measure championed by Senator Toomey, who worked with Senator Alexander to include in the K-12 education reform bill a requirement that States put laws and policies in place to help ensure schools are no longer able to ship child predators to other school districts. We passed a measure from Senator Portman, who worked with Senator McCaskill to hold an infamous child sex-trafficking company in contempt and force it to turn over critical information—information that is needed for their bipartisan human trafficking investigation to continue. And, of course, we passed the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. The victims of modern slavery deserve justice, and they deserve a voice, which is why—after years of previous inaction—the new Republican-led Senate made it a priority to pass this important anti-slavery bill. Of course, it is now law.” (Sen. McConnell, Congressional Record, S.3039, 3/23/16)

###
SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: Law Enforcement, Back to Work

Next Previous