Orrin Hatch: “I am delighted that we are considering S. 151, the PROTECT Act of 2003. Senator Leahy and I introduced this bill last…”

“I am delighted that we are considering S. 151, the PROTECT Act of 2003. Senator Leahy and I introduced this bill last May following the Supreme Court's decision in Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, a ruling that made child pornography prosecutions immeasurably more difficult. This problem is intolerable and demands our immediate attention. Because we could not get this bill to the President's desk last year, it has been my top priority this year. I want to begin by thanking Senator Leahy and his staff for working so diligently with me in writing the PROTECT Act during the past ten months. While we have not seen eye to eye on every provision, we have agreed about most of them. We still have some honestly held disagreements, but that is hardly unusual when people talk about the First Amendment. Senator Leahy's valuable input and insights helped to make this a better bill. I very much hope that he is as proud of the final result as I am. Mr. President, Congress has long recognized that child pornography produces three distinct and lasting harms to our children. First, child pornography whets the appetites of pedophiles and prompts them to act out their perverse sexual fantasies on real children. Second, child pornography is a tool used by pedophiles to break down the inhibitions of children. Third, child pornography creates an immeasurable and indelible harm on the children who are abused to manufacture it.”