Wicker Endorses Tough Anti-Crime Package

Press Release

WICKER ENDORSES TOUGH ANTI-CRIME PACKAGE

Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a package of 15 bills aimed at fighting crime and making the streets of America safer.

Enacting anti-crime measures to protect our families and communities should be a bipartisan effort. At a news conference announcing this initiative, House Minority Leader John Boehner urged Members of Congress in both parties to unite this fall in support of these measures.

WIDE-RANGING ISSUES ADDRESSED

The bills are designed to provide the law enforcement community with additional resources and authority to combat violent criminal activity, drug trafficking, on-line child predators and pornographers, and domestic terrorist threats. The legislation also targets criminal aliens and human smuggling enterprises along our borders.

The wide-ranging issues addressed in the package include:

1. · Protecting children. The legislation would increase penalties for possession of child pornography and strengthen requirements for Internet service providers to report this illegal activity. Another measure would impose mandatory penalties for registered sex offenders who access websites to communicate with minors.
2. · Fighting violent crime. Provisions would boost penalties for gun crimes, add the killing or attempted killing of law enforcement officers as an aggravating factor in death penalty proceedings, and fund enhanced forensic laboratory services. Two more measures focus on methods to prevent gang violence.
3. · Addressing the Meth problem. An initiative would fund methamphetamine task forces comprised of local, state, and federal agencies and increase jail time for drug kingpin offenses related to meth trafficking.
4. · Targeting criminal aliens. The legislation would double penalties for criminal aliens who re-enter the U.S. and commit more crimes. Another provision would require mandatory prison time for smugglers caught bringing illegals across the border.
5. · More anti-terrorism steps. The plan provides additional anti-terror protections by boosting already-successful efforts in conjunction with financial institutions to cut off terrorist funding sources. Penalties would also be increased for individuals convicted of providing material support to terrorists.

Bipartisan action to enact this package of tough anti-crime measures would be a statement of support for the men and women of law enforcement patrolling the streets every day to keep our neighborhoods safe. It would also signal to criminals and terrorists that Congress is committed to taking the actions necessary to protect the American people.

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