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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
CONTACT:
March 27, 2003
Kate Dwyer: 202-226-7326

 

Ryan votes for Tougher Penalties, Steps to Prevent Child Abduction

WASHINGTON – First District Congressman Paul Ryan today voted for comprehensive legislation, sponsored by his Wisconsin colleague Congressman Sensenbrenner, to strengthen penalties for kidnapping and help law enforcement prevent and prosecute child abductions.  The U.S. House of Representatives passed this legislation – H.R. 1104, the Child Abduction Prevention Act – by a vote of 410-14.  This bill is nearly identical to legislation that the House passed last October. 

 “This bill goes beyond giving the congressional stamp of approval to programs – like the crucial AMBER alert system – that are already being established nationwide,” Ryan said.  “It will help keep child abductors and sexual predators off the streets and do a better job of protecting our children.  I congratulate Congressman Sensenbrenner as well as Congressman Mark Green, who advanced the ‘two-strikes’ provision in this legislation that requires life-in-prison for twice-convicted child sex offenders.”

·        Provides a judge with the discretion to extend the term for supervision of released sex offenders up to a maximum of life. 

·        Eliminates the statute of limitations for child abductions and sex crimes.

·        Denies pretrial release for child rapists or child abductors.

·        Establishes a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for twice-convicted child sex offenders.

·        Mandates a minimum 20-year prison sentence for the kidnapping of a person under 18 by a non-family member.

·        Punishes individuals who travel to foreign countries to engage in illicit sexual relations with minors and criminalizes the actions of sex tour operators.

·        Reauthorizes and doubles the annual grant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Codifies the AMBER Alert program that is already being implemented by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Transportation.  (Last year, the President directed the Attorney General to name an AMBER Alert Coordinator to work on expanding the AMBER Alert system nationwide.  Assistant Attorney General Daniels was selected as this coordinator, and federal funding has already been set aside for expanding AMBER programs.)

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