Bob Goodlatte: “Mr. Speaker, recently we were all shocked to learn that over 20,000 registered sex offenders were on commercial social…”

“Mr. Speaker, recently we were all shocked to learn that over 20,000 registered sex offenders were on commercial social networking sites. In response to press attention, the social networking sites removed the sex offenders from these sites. H.R. 719, as introduced, included an important provision requiring that sex offenders update their registration information to include their electronic mail addresses, instant messaging addresses, and other similar Internet identifiers used by the sex offender. In addition, H.R. 719 included a mechanism to permit social networking sites to check sex offender registries to prevent sex offenders from accessing the social networking site. Finally, H.R. 719 included on introduction a new criminal prohibition on misrepresentation of age by a person designed to lure children into sexual activity. Unfortunately, H.R. 719 has been stripped of all of these important provisions. It's my hope that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will work with us to address these important provisions in the future. The gap in our laws must be filled so that children on social networking sites do not have to fear sex predators joining their circle of so-called friends. I wish to commend my colleagues for including in this legislation a critical provision to prohibit the financial facilitation of child pornography.”