WASHINGTON – Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will hold a hearing entitled, “Combating Sexual Exploitation of Children: Strengthening International Law Enforcement Cooperation.” The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 17 at 3:00 p.m. in room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
The hearing will examine current practices for sharing information among law enforcement authorities internationally and what concrete steps can be taken to strengthen that cooperation to more effectively investigate cases of sexual exploitation of children, including child pornography on the Internet.
Despite current efforts, sexual exploitation of children is increasing globally. The use of the Internet has made it easier for pedophiles and sexual predators to have access to child pornography and potential victims. In May, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2008 (S.1738), which will allocate over one billion dollars over the next eight years to provide Federal, state, and local law enforcement with the resources and structure to find, arrest, and prosecute those who prey on our children.
INVITED WITNESSES
Timothy Williams, Deputy Director, Interpol – U.S. National Central Bureau
Shawn Bray, Unit Chief, ICE Cyber Crimes Center, Department of Homeland Security
Tim Cranton, Associate General Counsel, Worldwide Internet Safety Programs, Microsoft Corporation
Ernie Allen, President and CEO, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
