Don't forget: Help pass the PROTECT Our Children Act - 1738

We only have a day or two left to appeal to our senators to pass this act. I emailed my two senators and already received confirmation that one would definitely vote to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act.

Here's a quick reminder of why this act is important:
In essence,

• It would authorize $1.06 billion over the next eight years to increase funding for the Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Grant Program.
• The additional funding would ensure that local law enforcement agencies have the necessary resources to investigate potential cases of online enticement of children, child exploitation, child obscenity, and pornography.
• The legislation also authorizes over $40 million to hire 250 new federal agents in the FBI, the Immigrations and Custom Enforcement Agency, and the U.S. Postal service assigned to investigate child exploitation cases.

Please email your senator today. Here's how:

Visit http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm and use the drop-down menu to look up your senator(s). Each senator should have a e-form you can use to send them an email. Copy and paste this sample letter below - or write your own.

Dear Senator:

I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.

Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.

As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.

Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.

(Your name here)

Please protect your children and mine. This isn't about taking sides -- in fact, both Democrats and Republicans have shown strong support. Instead, this is about giving law enforcement the resources to protect our kids.

Please, request your senator's support today. Thank you for considering.

Jess