PROTECT Our Children Act of 2007

To establish a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, to improve the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, to increase resources for regional computer forensic labs, and to make other improvements to increase the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute child predators.

11/14/2007--Passed House amended. Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2007 or the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2007 - Title I: Special Counsel For Child Exploitation Prevention And Interdiction -
(Sec. 101) Directs the more... Attorney General to appoint a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. Sets forth the duties of the Special Counsel, including:
(1) coordination of the policies and strategies of the Department of Justice (DOJ) related to the prevention and investigation of child exploitation cases;
(2) coordination with other federal agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to combat child exploitation crimes;
(3) coordination and oversight of the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program and the National Internet Crimes Against Children Data Network Center established by this Act;
(4) providing training and technical assistance for law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation crimes; and
(5) developing and overseeing research programs for child exploitation prevention.
(Sec. 102) Establishes with DOJ a National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)Task Force Program consisting of state and local task forces (including at least one ICAC Task Force for each state) to address online enticement of children, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases.
(Sec. 103) Sets forth the purposes of the Program, including:
(1) increasing the investigative capabilities of state and local law enforcement officers in the detection, investigation, and apprehension of child exploitation crimes facilitated by the Internet;
(2) providing training and technical assistance to ICAC task forces and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies;
(3) increasing the number of Internet crimes against children offenses to be investigated and prosecuted;
(4) enhancing nationwide response to Internet crimes against children offenses; and
(5) developing and delivering Internet crimes against children public awareness and prevention programs.
(Sec. 104) Sets forth the duties and functions of state and local ICAC task forces relating to investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions of Internet crimes against children,
(Sec. 105) Directs the Attorney General to establish a National Internet Crimes Against Children Data Network Center to assist the National ICAC Task Force Program and federal, state, local, and tribal agencies investigating and prosecuting child exploitation. Requires the Center to develop and maintain an technology and training program to provide:
(1) a secure system of online communications between ICAC task forces and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding ongoing investigations;
(2) a secure online system for resolving case conflicts;
(3) a secure data storage and analysis system; and
(4) guidelines and technical assistance for the use of the Center by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Directs the Attorney General to establish an ICAC Data Network Center Steering Committee. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016.

(Sec. 106) Authorizes the Office of Justice Programs to award grants to state and local ICAC task forces. Sets forth criteria for the distribution of ICAC grants funds.
Requires state or local ICAC task forces receiving grants to submit annual reports to the Attorney General on the operations of such task forces.
Requires the Attorney General to report to Congress on:
(1) the progress of ICAC task forces; and
(2) the number of federal and state investigations, prosecutions, and convictions in the prior 12-month period related to child exploitation.
(Sec. 107) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016.
Title II: Additional Measures to Combat Child Exploitation -
(Sec. 201) Requires the Attorney General to:
(1) establish additional computer forensic capacity to address the current backlog for computer forensics, including for child exploitation investigations; and
(2) report to Congress annually on the use of funds for such purpose. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016.
(Sec. 202) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016 for the hiring of additional Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and personnel to work solely on child exploitation cases as part of the FBI's Innocent Images National Initiative.
(Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2006 for the hiring of additional full-time personnel in the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Postal Service to work solely on child exploitation and child obscenity cases.
(Sec. 205) Requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Postmaster General, to report annually to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the resources used by federal agencies to investigate and prosecute child exploitation and child obscenity cases.

Sponsor

• Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
• and 38 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Thomas Allen [D, ME-1]
  • Rep. Michael Arcuri [D, NY-24]
  • Rep. Joe Barton [R, TX-6]
  • Rep. Melissa Bean [D, IL-8]
  • Rep. Shelley Berkley [D, NV-1]
  • Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
  • Rep. Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1]
  • Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D, GU-0]
  • Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
  • Rep. John Duncan [R, TN-2]
  • Rep. Thomas Edwards [D, TX-17]
  • Rep. Brad Ellsworth [D, IN-8]
  • Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D, IL-5]
  • Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6]
  • Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D, AZ-8]
  • Rep. Baron Hill [D, IN-9]
  • Rep. Steve Israel [D, NY-2]
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
  • Rep. Steve Kagen [D, WI-8]
  • Rep. Ron Klein [D, FL-22]
  • Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
  • Rep. Jim Matheson [D, UT-2]
  • Rep. Michael McCaul [R, TX-10]
  • Rep. Jerry McNerney [D, CA-11]
  • Rep. Dennis Moore [D, KS-3]
  • Rep. Patrick Murphy [D, PA-8]
  • Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D, NY-8]
  • Rep. James Oberstar [D, MN-8]
  • Rep. Solomon Ortiz [D, TX-27]
  • Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D, ND-0]
  • Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2]
  • Rep. Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
  • Rep. Christopher Shays [R, CT-4]
  • Rep. Heath Shuler [D, NC-11]
  • Rep. Zackary Space [D, OH-18]
  • Rep. Betty Sutton [D, OH-13]
  • Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D, CA-10]
  • Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8]
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Users Tracking [3]

Users who are tracking this bill are also tracking:

• S.1738 [3]
• H.R.3685 [2]
• H.R.1063 [1]
• H.R.1040 [1]
• H.R.1062 [1]
• H.R.101 [1]
• H.R.1008 [1]
• H.R.1076 [1]
• H.R.1022 [1]

Committees

• House Judiciary
• 2 more
  • Senate Judiciary
  • House Judiciary
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.3845

Number	Status	Purpose

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Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
October 16, 2007		November 14, 2007

Related Bills:

• S.1738
• S.2237

Related Issue Areas:

• Trade
• Telecommunication
• Technology
• Recruiting of employees
• 25 more
• Prosecution
• Postal service
• Internet
• Government information
• Government employees
• Federal law enforcement officers
• Federal aid to law enforcement
• Federal advisory bodies
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Executive reorganization
• Executive departments
• Electronic surveillance
• Department of Justice
• Department of Homeland Security
• Customs administration
• Criminal justice information
• Criminal investigation
• Crime prevention
• Computer crimes
• Communications
• Children
• Child sexual abuse
• Child pornography
• Budgets
• Criminal justice

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Blog Coverage

March 25, 2008 Fw: Combating Child Exploitation

1738 (House Bill HR 3845, Protect Our Children Act) will create the largest law enforcement army ever created for the protection of children, rescuing thousands of children from recurring sexual abuse. Officials estimate that in 30% of ...

Source: Dru's Voice
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February 06, 2008 Track Who Loves Children the Most

Because the legislation has been coming at a fast and furious pace and it's not always easy to instantly tell the difference between your S.602 and your HR.3845, the Center for Democracy and Technology and the Progress and Freedom ...

Source: The 463: Inside Tech Policy
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November 14, 2007 Bill Passes 415-2, Kagen Demands Cookie

The PROTECT Act (Providing Resources Officers and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to our children Act), HR 3845, was approved by the House of Representatives 415-2. The bill was co-sponsored by Congressman Steve Kagen. ...

Source: Badger Blog Alliance
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