Rep. Royce Receives "Children's Champion" Award
Web Wise Kids recognizes Royce's efforts to protect our nation's children
Washington,
Apr 7, 2009 -
Today, Web Wise Kids recognized the efforts of Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) to protect our nation's children and presented to him the "Children's Champion" Award. Web Wise Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering today's youth to make wise choices online through easy-to-use, school-approved internet safety education programs for young people.
"Thank you for this award. For years, I have been working to protect our children. When I was in the state senate, I supported the first laws in the country to deal directly with cyber bullying. I also supported Megan's law, which required sex offender registration and community notification and I was the author of the first anti-stalking law in the country," Royce said.
"I would like to thank Web Wise Kids for dedicating itself to protecting children from online dangers by showing them how to make wise choices online."
Web Wise Kid's programs have reached over six million American children and thousands of parents nationwide. There is such a demand now to educate children about the dangers that exist online.
Royce submitted a request on behalf of the Orange County Department of Education to provide funding for an Internet Youth Safety Program. Federal legislation signed into law requires all schools receiving E-Rate funding to implement Internet safety programs. The E-Rate program provides discounts for telecommunications including internet access. Yet no funding has been provided to achieve this mandate.
"With increasing numbers of children using the Internet, it is imperative that they have the tools to use technology safely and act responsibly. An Internet Youth Safety program is critical to providing educators the tools to prevent online child victimization for today’s children, who are literally growing up online," Royce said.
"Considering the pervasiveness of Internet access by children and the rapid increase in Internet crime and predatory behavior, never before have powerful educational solutions, like the programs offered by Web Wise Kids, been more necessary."
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