WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statements after their Project Safe Childhood Act, which would make improvements to the investigation and prosecution of online child exploitation, was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act:

“It is our duty to protect the most innocent among us: our nation’s children,” said Senator Blackburn. “Kids need more protections in this rapidly increasing digital age, and the Project Safe Childhood Act will modernize how we investigate and prosecute online child predators by giving state and local law enforcement the federal support and training they need.”

“No child should be exposed to vicious threats from online predators,” said Senator Cornyn. “This law will make key strategic improvements to give law enforcement officers and federal prosecutors the tools to go after online child predators and ensure more children are shielded from this horrific crime.”

“We must do everything we can to protect our children from online exploitation and abuse,” said Senator Klobuchar. “By modernizing the Project Safe Childhood program, our bipartisan legislation will ensure that law enforcement has the tools and resources it needs to rescue victims and prosecute those who commit these terrible crimes.”

“Too many young lives have been lost or destroyed by online sexual abuse,” said Senator Grassley. “By empowering local law enforcement and federal prosecutors to take down online predators, we can protect vulnerable kids and bring criminals to justice.”

“The Project Safe Childhood Act takes a major step forward in the fight to protect children from the horrendous crime of online sexual exploitation,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “Safeguarding our nation’s children from such abhorrent abuse is urgent and imperative, and this critical legislation empowers law enforcement to combat these serious dangers and hold predators accountable. I’ve long championed efforts to better protect children in an increasingly online society, and I look forward to swift action from the President.”   

Background:

• Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The Project Safe Childhood Act would modernize the investigation and prosecution of online child exploitation crimes and would make improvements to how federal prosecutors and law enforcement work together and use new technology to go after predators. This bill would require federal prosecutors and the DOJ to coordinate with law enforcement and experts to develop training materials and strategies to identify and rescue child victims while quickly arresting offenders.
• The legislation is endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Fraternal Order of Police, Rights 4 Girls, National Children’s Alliance, and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

• Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) cosponsored this legislation.