{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://pittenger.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-unanimously-approves-kilahs-act-video-available", "House unanimously approves Kilah's Act (video available)", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Robert Pittenger", "P000606", "pittenger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nDecember 9, 2013\n\u00a0\nVIDEO LINKS PROVIDED BELOW\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n KILAH DAVENPORT CHILD PROTECTION ACT UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON \u2013 The Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act of 2013 was officially approved by the United States House of Representatives on Monday, passing unanimously with full bipartisan support.\n\u00a0\n\u201cSweet Kilah should never have become the face of child abuse legislation,\u201d said Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09), \u201cbut I admire her family for working tirelessly to bring much good out of great evil, using Kilah\u2019s horrific abuse as a rallying cry to strengthen child abuse penalties across America.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThe Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act (H.R. 3627) directs the Attorney General to issue a report within six months detailing the penalties for child abuse in each state, the District of Columbia, and all United States territories, including whether or not the laws provide enhanced penalties in cases of severe child abuse. \u00a0A follow-up report will be issued within three years.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThis report will show which states take child abuse seriously, and which states would give child abusers a slap on the wrist,\u201d said Leslie Davenport, Kilah\u2019s grandmother. \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cOur hope is that states with lenient penalties will be embarrassed into action by this legislation.\u201d\n\u00a0\nKilah Davenport was just three years old when she was severely beaten by her caregiver, leaving her with serious and permanent mental and physical disabilities. If convicted, Kilah\u2019s alleged abuser will spend only four to six years in prison. \u00a0The Kilah Davenport tragedy highlighted North Carolina\u2019s inadequate child abuse laws, which were significantly strengthened earlier this year.\n\u00a0\nEarlier Monday, Senator Richard Burr (NC) introduced Senate legislation which mirrors H.R. 3627. \u00a0Following Senate approval (schedule TBD), the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act will be sent to the White House for President Obama\u2019s signature.\n\u00a0\nThe Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act (H.R. 3627) is the first legislation written, sponsored, and passed by Congressman Robert Pittenger.\n\u00a0\n###\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nVIDEO:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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": ["http://pittenger.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-unanimously-approves-kilahs-act-video-available"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7600560784339905, "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"}