[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5450-S5451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL INTERNET SAFETY MONTH
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
proceed to consideration of S. Res. 147 which was submitted earlier
today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 147) designating June 2005 as
National Internet Safety Month.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise in support of the resolution
designating June 2005 as National Internet Safety Month. I am pleased
to have Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Craig, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Lincoln,
Mr. Allen, and Mrs. Feinstein join me in submitting this resolution.
The Internet has become one of the most significant advances in the
twentieth century and, as a result, it affects people's lives in a
positive manner each day. However, this technology presents dangers
that need to be brought to the attention of all Americans.
Never before has the problem of online predatory behavior been more
of a concern. Consider the pervasiveness of Internet access by children
and the rapid increase in Internet crime and predatory behavior. Never
before have powerful educational solutions--like
[[Page S5451]]
Internet safety curricula for grades kindergarten through 12, youth
empowerment Internet safety campaigns and community-based Internet
safety awareness presentations with the formation of community action
teams--been more critical and readily at hand. It is imperative that
every community in every State be made aware of the increase in
Internet-based criminal activity so that all Americans may learn about
the Internet safety strategies which will help them to keep their
children safe from victimization.
Consider the facts: In the United States, more than 90 percent of
children in grades 5 through 12 now use computers and have Internet
access. Twenty-six percent of children in that age group are online for
more than 5 hours a week and 12 percent spend more time online than
they do with their friends.
An alarming statistic is that 39 percent of youths in grades 5
through 12 in the United States admit giving out their personal
information, such as their name, age and gender over the Internet.
Furthermore, 12 percent of students in the same age group have been
asked by a stranger on the Internet to meet face to face.
Unfortunately, 11.5 percent of students in this age group have actually
met face to face with a stranger they met on the Internet.
Most disturbing are the patterns of Internet crimes against children.
In 1996, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was involved in 113 cases
involving Internet crimes against children. In 2001, the FBI opened
1,541 cases against people suspected of using the Internet to commit
crimes involving child pornography or abuse. The U.S. Customs Service
now places the number of Web sites offering child pornography at more
than 100,000. Moreover, there was a 345 percent increase in the
production of these sites just between February 2001 and July 2001,
according to a recent study.
Now is the time for America to focus its attention on supporting
Internet safety, especially bearing in mind that children will soon be
on summer vacation and will subsequently spend more time online. Recent
Internet crime trends indicate a call to action as it pertains to
national Internet safety awareness at all levels.
Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the
preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the
table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 147) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 147
Whereas in the United States, more than 90 percent of
children in grades 5-12 now use computers;
Whereas 26 percent of children in grades 5-12 in the United
States are online for more than 5 hours a week, and 12
percent of such children spend more time online than they do
with their friends;
Whereas 53 percent of children and teens in the United
States like to be alone when ``surfing'' the Internet, and 29
percent of such children believe their parents would either
express concern, restrict their Internet use, or take away
their computer if their parents knew where they were surfing
on the Internet;
Whereas 32 percent of the Nation's students in grades 5-12
feel they have the skills to get past filtering software, and
31 percent of youths in the United States have visited an
inappropriate place on the Internet, 18 percent of them more
than once;
Whereas 51 percent of the Nation's students in grades 5-12
trust the people they chat with on the Internet;
Whereas 12 percent of the Nation's students in grades 5-12
have been asked by someone they chatted with on the Internet
to meet face to face, and 11.5 percent of such students have
actually met face to face with a stranger they chatted with
on the Internet; and
Whereas 39 percent of youths in grades 5-12 in the United
States admit to giving out their personal information, such
as name, age, and gender over the Internet, and 14 percent of
such youths have received mean or threatening email while on
the Internet: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates June 2005 as ``National Internet Safety
Month'';
(2) recognizes that National Internet Safety Month provides
an opportunity to educate the people of the United States on
the dangers of the Internet and the importance of being safe
and responsible online;
(3) commends and recognizes national and community
organizations for their work in promoting awareness of the
dangers of the Internet and for providing information and
training that develops the critical thinking and decision
making skills needed to be safe online; and
(4) calls on Internet safety organizations, law
enforcement, educators, community leaders, parents, and
volunteers to increase their efforts to raise the level of
awareness in the United States regarding the need for online
safety.
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