Arlen Specter: “I support the pending legislation to pass the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. This legislation is…”

“I support the pending legislation to pass the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. This legislation is named for Adam Walsh, a child who was abducted and murdered. Adam's father, John Walsh, has diligently pursued efforts to save other children from the fate which befell Adam by working to enact Federal legislation which will establish a national registry for sex offenders. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that there are at least 100,000 sex offenders who are not accounted for by law enforcement. John Walsh estimates the figure to be higher, approximating 150,000. Statistics show that sex offenders prey most often on juveniles; that two-thirds of the sex offenders currently in State prisons are there because they have victimized a child. Compared with other criminals, sex offenders are four times more likely to be rearrested for a sex crime. It is estimated that some 500,000 children are sexually abused each year. According to Department of Justice statistics, child molesters have been known to re-offend as late as 20 years after their release from prisons. There are currently State laws which require registration of sex offenders, but unfortunately they have proved to be relatively ineffective, which requires the Federal Government to act on the national level.…”