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Press Releases |
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Inouye and Stevens Introduce Bill to Promote Internet Safety, Protect Children from Online Predators
Measure Aides Parents in Shielding Kids from Adult Content, Strengthens Child Pornography Laws |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) joined Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) late last night to introduce a bill to promote Internet Safety and to protect children from cybercrimes, including crimes committed by online predators. The Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, S. 1965, also enhances efforts to identify and eliminate child pornography, and helps parents prevent the exposure of inappropriate material to their children. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas).
“The Internet is a powerful medium. But that power must not be used to prey on our nation’s children,” said Senator Inouye. “This bill takes important steps to promote online safety and aid parents in their efforts to protect their children from harm on the Internet. It educates parents and children on safe Internet use, strengthens laws to identify and prosecute crimes involving child pornography, and supports industry efforts to create better parental control technologies to block and filter inappropriate content. Combined, these efforts will help reduce the risk of children becoming victims to online crime.”
Specifically, the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act would:
- Direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to carry out a nationwide public awareness campaign regarding strategies to promote safe use of the Internet by children and to serve as a clearinghouse for information about Internet safety that can be accessed by state and local governments, schools, and other appropriate entities. The bill would authorize $5 million in 2008 and 2009 for such purposes and would require the FTC to submit an annual report to Congress regarding its activities to promote Internet safety.
- Direct the Department of Commerce to establish an Online Safety and Technology Working Group that would bring together representatives from industry, public interest groups, and other appropriate groups and federal agencies to: (1) review and evaluate industry efforts to promote parental control technologies including blocking and filtering technologies and age-appropriate labeling; (2) report evidence of apparent child pornography as required under 42 U.S.C. 13032; (3) detail industry practices with respect to the retention of data that may be used to identify and prosecute crimes against children; and (4) support the development of new technologies that will aid parents in shielding their children from inappropriate material. The Working Group would report its findings and recommendations associated with its work within 1 year.
- Amend existing E-rate requirements to ensure that schools, as part of their Internet safety policy, educate minors about appropriate online behavior, including education about “cyberbullying” and appropriate interactions on social networking websites and in chat rooms.
- Strengthen child pornography enforcement by: (1) tripling existing fines against providers of electronic communications services or remote computing services that fail to report evidence of child pornography under 42 U.S.C. 13023; (2) enhancing the ability of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to share relevant information with international law enforcement officials; (3) specifying the content required in reports to NCMEC; and (4) allowing NCMEC to share images and technical information used to assist providers of electronic communications services or remote computing services in identifying and eliminating images of child pornography.
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31st - |
Senate Commerce Committee to Examine NFL Retirement System
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a full Committee hearing on the Oversight of the NFL Retirement System.
The hearing will examine the current compensation system for National Football League (NFL) retirees with claims of advanced injuries that became symptomatic after retiring from the NFL.
Oversight of the NFL Retirement Sys...
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10th - |
Inouye Commends DHS Secure Flight and APIS Rulemakings, Encourages Swifter Administration Action
- HONOLULU, HI – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced yesterday two initiatives to strengthen aviation security: an Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Pre-Departure Final Rule, and a Secure Flight Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM).
The APIS Final Rule enables the DHS to collect manifest information for flights to and from the United States and for vessels ...
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9th - |
Innovation and Competitiveness Bill Signed into Law
- HONOLULU, HI – President George W. Bush signed into law today the America COMPETES Act, which expands education, and research and development, in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The America COMPETES Act embodies bipartisan, bicameral multi-committee efforts in responding to the nation’s defining economic challenge of how to remain strong and c...
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9th - |
President Bush Signs America Competes Act into Law
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush today signed the “America COMPETES Act” (Conference Report on S.761 and H.R. 2272) into law. This bill increases American investment in basic research and improves the teaching of math, science and engineering. The “America COMPETES Act” (S.761) was originally cosponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), along with Major...
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3rd - |
current Press Release |
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3rd - |
Congress Approves America COMPETES Act Conference Report
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate and House of Representatives approved the America COMPETES Act conference report late last night. The Act expands education, and research and development, in the areas of science, technology, mathematics and education.
Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), an original cosponsor of the measure, issued the following statement ...
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3rd - |
Senator Stevens Introduces Resolution to Protect Arctic Fisheries
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today introduced a resolution directing the United States to initiate efforts with other nations to negotiate international agreements to better manage migratory and transboundary fish stocks in the Arctic Ocean. Cosponsors of the resolution include Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)...
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3rd - |
Stevens Introduces Legislation to Protect Children Online
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee along with Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), yesterday introduced the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act (S.1965). The bill is cosponsored by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.). This measure wou...
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3rd - |
Congress Approves Bill To Encourage Competitiveness
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Congress late yesterday approved legislation (Conference Report on S.761 and H.R. 2272) to increase American investment in basic research and improve the teaching of math, science and engineering. The America Competes Act (S.761) was originally cosponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), along with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Republican Leade...
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2nd - |
Commerce Committee Passes Bill to Extend Do-Not-Call Registry
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today unanimously reported out legislation cosponsored by Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to extend the Do-Not-Call Registry administered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007 (S. 781) was originally introduced by Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.). Since 2003, the...
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2nd - |
Senate Commerce Committee Reports Coast Guard Authorization Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously reported S. 1892, the Coast Guard Authorization Act, today. The bill, which authorizes approximately $8.2 billion for fiscal year 2008, would create new programs and grant additional authorities that increase the Coast Guard’s ability to protect homeland security, marine safety, fisheries, and...
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2nd - |
Stevens Statement on Coast Guard Authorization Passing Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (S.1892). Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is a cosponsor of the bill which now awaits action by the full Senate. This measure would authorize $8.7 billion for the United States Coast Guard in Fiscal Year 2008. This includes a s...
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1st - |
Statement of Chairman Daniel K. Inouye on the U.S. Department of Commerce Oversight Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on the Oversight of the U.S. Department of Commerce:
“President Calvin Coolidge once said, ‘the business of America is business.’ And on the surface, the business of the Commerce Department is ...
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1st - |
Stevens Questions Commerce Secretary on Alaska Aquaculture Exemption and IUU Fishing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) yesterday questioned Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez on an Alaska exemption for the Department of Commerce’s aquaculture legislation as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing on the high seas. Secretary Gutierrez vowed to address both issues raised b...
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