Lamar Smith: “Internet child pornography may be the fastest-growing crime in America, increasing by an average of 150 percent per…”

“Internet child pornography may be the fastest-growing crime in America, increasing by an average of 150 percent per year. Every day, online criminals prey on America's children with virtual anonymity, and according to recent estimates there are as many as 100,000 fugitive sex offenders in the U.S. Congress has taken important steps to combat child exploitation, including the passage of the Adam Walsh Act in 2006 and the PROTECT Our Children Act in 2008. But our work is not yet done. That is why Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz and I introduced H.R. 6063, the Child Protection Act of 2012, that provides law enforcement officials with important tools and additional resources to combat the growing threat of child pornography and exploitation. This bipartisan legislation increases penalties for child pornography offenses that involve young children and strengthens protections for child witnesses and victims. {time} 2000 The bill allows a Federal court to issue a protective order if it determines that a child victim or witness is being harassed or intimidated and imposes criminal penalties for a violation of that protective order. The Child Protection Act ensures that paperwork does not stand in the way of the apprehension of dangerous criminals. This bill gives the U.S. marshals limited subpoena authority to locate and apprehend fugitive sex offenders.…”