{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-cornyn-introduce-bill-to-help-law-enforcement-better-prosecute-child-abusers", "Booker, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Help Law Enforcement Better Prosecute Child Abusers", "2024-07-12", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced their Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act, which would close loopholes in existing criminal child sexual abuse statues to help law enforcement better prosecute offenders and protect victims:\n\n\u201cI am proud to join Senator Cornyn in introducing this critical piece of legislation that will close loopholes in current law to ensure that those who exploit and abuse children are held accountable,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThis bipartisan effort reflects our shared commitment to protecting our nation\u2019s most vulnerable\u2014our children. By incorporating the Department of Justice\u2019s recommendations, we can better protect children from exploitation and sexual abuse and provide justice for victims.\u201d\n\n\u201cAny person evil enough to abuse a child should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,\u201d said Senator Cornyn. \u201cOur bill ensures existing law is ironclad so that no predator can get away with these heinous crimes based on technicalities.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04) and Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) will introduce companion legislation in the House.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, which made a series of recommendations for Congress to strengthen federal enforcement of child exploitation laws. The Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act aims to incorporate those recommendations and define the DOJ\u2019s authority to prosecute perpetrators by:\n\nClosing the kidnapping loophole by clarifying that kidnapping of a child can occur by deceiving a third party and the circumstances where consent can be used as a defense;\n\nClosing the international travel loopholes by clarifying that traveling to sexually abuse a child includes crossing international lines and that committing a sexual abuse felony against a child while abroad is a crime;\n\nClosing the sexual contact loophole by clarifying that causing a child to commit a sexual act themselves is also a crime;\n\nAnd closing the attempt loophole by clarifying that attempting to commit the sexual contact offenses is also a crime.\n\nThe Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act is endorsed by the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, Major County Sherriff\u2019s of America, Rights4Girls, Hope for Justice, Street Grace, 3Strands Global Foundation, Fraternal Order of Police, the National Children\u2019s Alliance (NCA), and the National District Attorney\u2019s Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-cornyn-introduce-bill-to-help-law-enforcement-better-prosecute-child-abusers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.272131921723485, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}