The Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2008 is coming to a vote in the senate. This bill needs to be approved. Law enforcement agencies are valiantly struggling against the tide of online criminal activities with antiquated laws and severe underfunding. The goal of this bill is to begin correct those deficits by applying stronger financial support for increased manpower and training, as well as laws that cover crimes enabled by emerging technology.

This bill will:

• Establish a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General

• Improve the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

• Increase resources for regional computer forensic labs to track internet criminals

• Criminalize making alterations to a minor’s photo so that it depicts child pornography

• Strengthen laws against child exploitation to increase the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute child sexual predators

• Enable ISP’s and similar services to legally report child pornography violations directly to a foreign law enforcement agency to combat international criminals

The estimated cost to consumers for increasing law enforcements capabilities to fight Internet child exploitation is estimated at $3 per American – that is $.75 cents a year - over the 2009-2013 budgeted period.

This is a very, very small price to pay to increase significantly the protection of children online.

Act now:

Contact your senate representatives by phone, email or written letter to let them know you care about the speedy passing of this bill.

Linda