Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006

DELETING ONLINE PREDATORS ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - July 26, 2006)

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Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume; and I rise in support of this legislation. I do so simply to move this process along and to indicate to families across the country that protecting children from online exploitation and from child predators is a serious issue that warrants attention.

This is an issue upon which Democrats and Republicans agree, because these issues affect families regardless of party affiliation. I do not, however, believe that this legislation will actually adequately address these issues, nor do I support the way in which this bill was brought to the floor today.

The hearing that we had on this bill highlighted several serious deficiencies and won't be effective in combating online predators. The Attorney General from Texas, for example, testified that just going after schools and libraries wouldn't achieve a whole lot. The initial bill would have had the Federal Government create a blacklist of forbidden Web sites. A law enforcement official and an Internet security expert testified that the bill would do little to protect children.

So how did the majority react to problems highlighted in the hearing? They decided to skip a subcommittee and a full committee markup. They opted to rewrite this bill without public input or consultation with the Democratic side, and they decided to rush it to the floor today.

Not surprisingly, the bill continues to have several flaws. It remains overbroad and ambiguous. I continue to have reservations about utilizing the e-rate funding mechanism as the legislative hook for Federal involvement in this area. That is because the e-rate program was not designed to be a cop on the beat in the front lines battling child predators. Rather, it was designed to enhance Internet access and bridge the digital divide.

As a result, it is a program which may not help us assist all K-12 schools at any time or individual schools in every funding cycle. In other words, if the goal is protecting children and combating child exploitation, why should these requirements only apply in schools receiving e-rate funding?

And this bill does nothing for families when the kids online are at home. If the goal is to address the issue of online predators, this bill proposes an ineffectual remedy.

Moreover, the whole process by which this bill was brought to the floor today puts in jeopardy the prospects of legislating successfully on a serious issue.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that parents need and deserve better education and tools to protect their children, and the Democrats stand ready to work with our colleagues when they feel they are ready to truly address this issue with proposals that are meaningful and enforceable.

In that spirit, I intend to vote for this bill in order to move the process forward, but ultimately, I think that

we will need to explore other additional solutions and further revisions.

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