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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee

Bill Text
To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children. 6/3/2008--Introduced. Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to increase criminal penalties for offenses relating to the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, transportation of minors for illicit sexual purposes, child sex trafficking and prostitution, and sex crimes against children resulting in death. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security of individuals, including aliens, who are convicted of sex offenses against children. Requires the Secretary of State to deny passports for such individuals and authorizes the Secretary to revoke, restrict, or limit a passport issued to a convicted sex offender if the passport was used to transport a minor for illicit sexual purposes.[...]

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Latest Action: 06/26/2007 - Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 237.

Bill Text
To provide for the investigation of certain unsolved civil rights crimes, and for other purposes. 6/20/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. (Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in a death. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation [...]

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Latest Action: 09/20/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

Bill Text
A bill to prevent and reduce trafficking in persons.

6/27/2007--Introduced.

Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to grant U.S. courts jurisdiction over cases involving peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons in which, not later than ten years after an alleged offense occurs, the alleged offender is brought into, or found in, the United States, even if such offense occurred outside the United States.

Latest Action: 06/25/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
To establish a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery. 5/24/2007--Introduced. Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act - Defines "modern-day slavery." Establishes a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-day Slavery which shall: (1) study matters relating to modern-day slavery; (2) review programs of relevant governmental agencies; (3) examine efforts by foreign countries and multilateral organizations to combat modern-day slavery; and (4) convene additional experts from nongovernmental organizations as part of the Commission's review. States that the Commission shall: (1) advise Congress on how the United States could support efforts to eradicate modern-day slavery; (2) evaluate comparative strategies to prevent modern-day slavery, rescue and rehabilitate its victims, and prosecute traffickers and increase accountability within countries; (3) examine the economic impact on communities [...]

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Latest Action: 06/22/2007 - By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 110-88.

Bill Text
A bill to establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes. 6/20/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. (Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the Department of Justice to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before [...]

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Latest Action: 01/14/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Bill Text
To provide a civil action for a minor injured by exposure to an entertainment product containing material that is harmful to minors, and for other purposes. 10/18/2007--Introduced. Parents' Empowerment Act - Authorizes a minor, through a person acting on his or her behalf under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to bring a civil action in U.S. district court for compensatory and punitive damages for the knowing sale or distribution in interstate or foreign commerce of an entertainment product containing material harmful to minors, if: (1) a reasonable person would expect a substantial number of minors to be exposed to the material; and (2) the minor as a result of such exposure is likely to suffer personal or emotional injury or injury to mental or moral welfare.Makes it an affirmative defense to such an action that: (1) a parent or guardian of the minor owned or possessed the entertainment product containing the material to which the minor was exposed; and (2) an [...]

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Latest Action: 05/13/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4111-4112)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children. 5/13/2008--Introduced. Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to increase criminal penalties for offenses relating to the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, transportation of minors for illicit sexual purposes, child sex trafficking and prostitution, and sex crimes against children resulting in death. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security of individuals, including aliens, who are convicted of sex offenses against children. Requires the Secretary of State to deny passports for such individuals and authorizes the Secretary to revoke, restrict, or limit a passport issued to a convicted sex offender if the passport was used in furtherance of sex crimes involving [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee

Bill Text
To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children. 6/3/2008--Introduced. Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to increase criminal penalties for offenses relating to the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, transportation of minors for illicit sexual purposes, child sex trafficking and prostitution, and sex crimes against children resulting in death. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security of individuals, including aliens, who are convicted of sex offenses against children. Requires the Secretary of State to deny passports for such individuals and authorizes the Secretary to revoke, restrict, or limit a passport issued to a convicted sex offender if the passport was used to transport a minor for illicit sexual purposes.[...]

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Latest Action: 05/13/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4111-4112)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children. 5/13/2008--Introduced. Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to increase criminal penalties for offenses relating to the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, transportation of minors for illicit sexual purposes, child sex trafficking and prostitution, and sex crimes against children resulting in death. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security of individuals, including aliens, who are convicted of sex offenses against children. Requires the Secretary of State to deny passports for such individuals and authorizes the Secretary to revoke, restrict, or limit a passport issued to a convicted sex offender if the passport was used in furtherance of sex crimes involving [...]

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Latest Action: 01/14/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Bill Text
To provide a civil action for a minor injured by exposure to an entertainment product containing material that is harmful to minors, and for other purposes. 10/18/2007--Introduced. Parents' Empowerment Act - Authorizes a minor, through a person acting on his or her behalf under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to bring a civil action in U.S. district court for compensatory and punitive damages for the knowing sale or distribution in interstate or foreign commerce of an entertainment product containing material harmful to minors, if: (1) a reasonable person would expect a substantial number of minors to be exposed to the material; and (2) the minor as a result of such exposure is likely to suffer personal or emotional injury or injury to mental or moral welfare.Makes it an affirmative defense to such an action that: (1) a parent or guardian of the minor owned or possessed the entertainment product containing the material to which the minor was exposed; and (2) an [...]

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Latest Action: 09/20/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

Bill Text
A bill to prevent and reduce trafficking in persons.

6/27/2007--Introduced.

Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to grant U.S. courts jurisdiction over cases involving peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons in which, not later than ten years after an alleged offense occurs, the alleged offender is brought into, or found in, the United States, even if such offense occurred outside the United States.

Latest Action: 06/25/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
To establish a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery. 5/24/2007--Introduced. Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act - Defines "modern-day slavery." Establishes a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-day Slavery which shall: (1) study matters relating to modern-day slavery; (2) review programs of relevant governmental agencies; (3) examine efforts by foreign countries and multilateral organizations to combat modern-day slavery; and (4) convene additional experts from nongovernmental organizations as part of the Commission's review. States that the Commission shall: (1) advise Congress on how the United States could support efforts to eradicate modern-day slavery; (2) evaluate comparative strategies to prevent modern-day slavery, rescue and rehabilitate its victims, and prosecute traffickers and increase accountability within countries; (3) examine the economic impact on communities [...]

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Latest Action: 06/26/2007 - Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 237.

Bill Text
To provide for the investigation of certain unsolved civil rights crimes, and for other purposes. 6/20/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. (Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in a death. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 06/22/2007 - By Senator Leahy from Committee on the Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 110-88.

Bill Text
A bill to establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes. 6/20/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death. (Sec. 4) Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the Department of Justice to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before [...]

show full description