(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District -- Kansas) announced Friday that he would introduce legislation in the House next week to clarify current sex offender registration laws and close a technical loophole that allows certain convicted sex offenders to avoid registering with state and local authorities.

“I was a District Attorney for twelve years and I know firsthand the devastating consequences of sexual violence, assault, rape and child abuse and incest,” Moore said. “Congress enacted the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act to protect the public from sex offenders and offenders against children by creating a comprehensive national system for the registration of those offenders.”

A federal judge in Kansas City recently ordered the release of a 59-year-old man convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse, molestation and kidnapping of children and young women. The man failed to notify local officials of his move from Iowa to the Kansas City metropolitan area, but the judge ruled in his favor based on the loophole in a federal law.

Moore’s bill, the Sex Offender Mandatory Registration Act, would make a technical change to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, making it clear that Congress intended to require all convicted sex offenders to register with the appropriate local and/or state authorities.

“It’s unfortunate that this technical deficiency exists,” Moore said. “Congress never intended to exclude any sex offenders from the registration requirements. I am confident that Congress will make the necessary change to ensure that all sex offenders comply with the law.”

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, as many as 80,000 sex offenders are currently not complying with existing registration laws.