On March 22, the House Judiciary Committee approved bills to protect children from abuse: H.R. 695, the Child Protection Improvement Act, H.R. 883, the Targeting Child Predators Act, and H.R. 1188, the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act.
Child Protection Improvement Act
Sponsored by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the bill, as amended, would make permanent a pilot program that provides background checks for nonprofit organizations that serve children and expands the program to include employees of such organizations.
The committee approved the measure by voice vote.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), would prohibit Internet service providers from disclosing the existence of a subpoena issued during an investigation into child exploitation. The prohibition only would apply in instances where law enforcement officials certify it is necessary to avoid the risk of harm or seriously jeopardizing the investigation.
The committee approved H.R. 883 by voice vote.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), would reauthorize several sex offender programs established in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (P.L. 109-248). The committee approved the bill, as amended, by voice vote; the Senate approved an earlier version of the legislation during the 114th Congress (see The Source, 5/27/16).
