Senate Passes Anti Child Porn Bills

WASHINGTON — Long-delayed legislation that would make it easier to prosecute people engaged in child pornography passed in the Senate on Tuesday by voice vote.

The measure combines two bills passed by the House last year. One closes a loophole that resulted from a federal court ruling that images obtained on the Internet were not necessarily submitted across state lines and thus subject to federal authority over interstate commerce.

The other allows prosecutors to include money laundering as a tool in child pornography cases and makes it easier to prosecute those who repeatedly view child pornography. This bill now must go back to the House for another vote.

“It is essential that we remain vigilant in the fight against child pornography. Therefore, it is important that we close legal loopholes in order to protect children and convict offenders,” ASACP CEO Joan Irvine told XBIZ. “Since 90 percent of commercial CP is distributed from organized crime from Eastern bloc countries and 5 percent comes from Japan, the most effective tool we have is to stop the flow of money to child pornographers. ASACP participates in the Financial Coalition Against Child Pornography for this exact purpose.”

The two bills were part of a package of 35 bills that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., put together from largely non-controversial measures that Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and other Republicans had stopped from moving forward, either because they wanted debate time or objected to the costs. Reid tried to pass all 35 in one package several times recently, but Coburn has stood in the way.

Only four of the 35 bills, the two mentioned plus two more involving information for parents of children with Down's Syndrome and a nationwide registry for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, passed.

Reid said he would continue to try next year to pass the bills, which include measures focused on specific illnesses, child protection and preservation of the environment.

Congress is expected to adjourn this week for the upcoming November elections.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Nebraska Legislature Passes Republican's Age Verification Bill With No Votes Against It

Nebraska’s unicameral legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still have antitrust claims that they may pursue in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have filed a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit asking to stay its recent upholding the law because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Chaturbate, xHamster Over Controversial Age Verification Law

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits on Tuesday against the parent companies of Chaturbate and xHamster, claiming that the sites are not complying with the state’s controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

GirlsDoPorn's Michael Pratt Extradited From Spain, Pleads 'Not Guilty'

Former GirlsDoPorn owner Michael Pratt made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday following his extradition from Spain Monday night, according to a statement released by the Department of Justice.

Missouri Republican Behind FOSTA-SESTA Renews Attack on OnlyFans

Rep. Ann Wagner, the Missouri Republican legislator who was the original architect of FOSTA-SESTA, has renewed her call for federal action against OnlyFans.

Idaho Legislature Passes Republican Age Verification Bill With Full Democratic Support

The Idaho legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Show More