Political Quotes

“I want to thank the House Judiciary Committee, the chairman and ranking member, for unanimously advancing the Combat Online Predators Act for full consideration of the House today. I am also very appreciative of the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy) for her tireless, bipartisan leadership in protecting our Nation's children. This bipartisan legislation was inspired by the story of the Zezzo family of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, whose teenage daughter, Madison, was cyber stalked by a friend's father on social media. Despite the stalking being sexual in nature, the then-51-year-old stalker pleaded guilty only to a misdemeanor stalking charge and was sentenced to probation and counseling. Three years later, in 2016, the very same stalker began making contact again. This time he was arrested in a sting operation by local police and sentenced to between 18 months and 7 years in State prison. Mr. Speaker, the Zezzo family is here with us today. Their story is the reason that this legislation was written and the reason it will get a full floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today. When I first met the Zezzo family in my office, their sense of fear and anxiety was evident. After hearing of the disturbing story of cyber stalking endured by this young girl and her family for years, it was clear that something needed to be done. As legislators and as citizens, we have no higher calling and no higher responsibility than to protect our children.…”