Sam Gibbons: “today I rise to give my strong support to 2423, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, introduced by my…”

“today I rise to give my strong support to 2423, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, introduced by my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley). This bill will help protect our children by requiring sex offenders to register in person twice a year and calling on States to maintain searchable sex offender databases. While the gentleman from Florida's (Mr. Foley) bill will provide a deterrent to the monsters who prey on our children, I hope we can pass provisions similar to those that the Nevada State legislature recently passed. The Nevada bill adds an extra level of protection by requiring sex offenders to renew their driver's licenses every year, a step made necessary by the fact that so many of these predators failed to register at all. I want to close by expressing my sincere thanks to Donna Coleman, president of the Children's Advocacy Alliance. Ms. Coleman and her organization have been outspoken advocates of the most innocent among us, those who cannot speak out for themselves, the children. Their motto is, ``Putting the health and safety of children first''; and they have done that by tirelessly working in Nevada to ensure that laws are passed to support and defend their children. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), Ms. Coleman and the Children's Advocacy Alliance and look forward to working with them to protect our children. ____________________”