U.S. State Attorneys General

I urge my colleagues: let's do what's right for the millions of our constituents and their families, set this bill aside, and work together to find bipartisan agreement to strengthen the Affordable Care Act.

Let us return to the bipartisan negotiations led by Senators Alexander and Murray to stabilize the health insurance marketplace.

In the greatest, richest country in the world, compassion for our fellow men and women should not be so elusive or indeed missing.

Health care is a right, not a privilege for those who can afford it.

Health care is a right. It is a right. It is not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it.

Federal prosecutors have the authority right now to criminally prosecute those who violate Section 230.

I think it's just the opposite. If we have a standard in place, then I believe the stakeholders within the Internet community will come forward in ways that we've seen before, but even more vigorously because they'll understand what the…

If Congress wants to say something, it should say so as clearly as possible.

It's always a roll of the dice when you try to rely on report language or legislative history.

I don't remember 1996 ever believing that my vote, my yes vote, meant that I was going to allow 21 years later for kids to be sold out there through the Internet for sex.

If we don't have the tools, the only winners are those who go to the Internet.

In fact, recently, 49 of my colleagues--representing nearly every U.S. state--signed a letter to this Committee urging Congress to act.

I therefore applaud the current efforts to make clear that the Communications Decency Act does not bar states from pursuing these important prosecutions.

It's important to thank the tech industry. As all of you know, many in the tech industry have stepped up to be partners with law enforcement and child advocates to combat human trafficking.

It's the rubber hitting the road, Senator, and we're facing it all the time.

The broad reach of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act even applies to those alleged to support the exploitation of others by human trafficking.

S. 1693 is a serious effort to balance the virtues of a free and open Internet with the bedrock American value that our children are our greatest asset, each one of them, and we must hold those who exploit them accountable.

It's up to us. Because of this interpretation of the law over the last 20 years, only the Congress can fix this injustice.

I think everyone should realize here, at least from the perspective of attorney general or a district attorney, we have to prove criminal intent.

This bill is about protecting our most vulnerable. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue.

I therefore support passage of S. 1693 and its amendments to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

There's too much money. They're not going to stop. There's just too much money.

The fact that instances of human trafficking and sex trafficking are actually increasing in this country in this century is an outrage.

This knowing standard, by the way, in our legislation is a high bar, as the lawyers around this panel know.