December 5, 2008

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House

	H.R. 237, Consumer Internet Privacy Enhancement Act *Sponsor: Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. Introduced: Jan. 20, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description*: H.R. 237 seeks to protect the personal information Web sites collect about their customers. The bill would give consumers the opportunity to limit the use and disclosure of such information and would require Web sites to define what information is being collected, how it is collected and why it is being used. Web sites also would have to disclose if a consumer's personal information is required for using the site and guarantee that the methods of collecting information are secure. The bill is similar to leading privacy legislation that Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced in the 106th Congress.

	H.R. 726, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Patsy Mink, D-Hawaii Introduced: Feb. 27, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 726 would make it illegal to buy or sell guns over the Internet. Violators could be fined and/or imprisoned up to one year.

	H.R. 1655, Personal Pictures Protection Act *Sponsor: Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis. Introduced: May 1, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 1655 would make it illegal to post sexually explicit photographs of anyone on the Internet without their permission. Violators would face a fine and/or up to two years in jail.

	H.R. 1846, Who Is E-Mailing Our Kids Act *Sponsor: Rep. Felix Grucci, R-N.Y. Introduced: May 15, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description*: H.R. 1846 seeks to prevent organizations from using the Internet and e-mail to recruit children to engage in violent and illegal actions. The bill, prompted by the involvement of underage students in two terrorist incidents in New York, would require schools and libraries that receive e-rate funding to block access to Internet services that enable users to send anonymous e-mail. Bill sponsor Felix Grucci, R-N.Y., said the measure is targeted at "radical" groups like the Environmental Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front whose members use Web sites that allow them to mask their identities when sending e-mail. The measure also would require the Justice Department to create a national program tasked with identifying organizations that recruit children for militant activities, and it would authorize grants to help states combat such activities.

	H.R. 1877, Child Sex Crimes Wiretapping Act *Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn. Introduced: May 16, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Final Action: Passed by the House Description*: H.R. 1877 would allow police to use wiretapping equipment to intercept the communications of people suspected of sexual predators and child pornographers. Bill sponsor Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., said she introduced the measure in part to protect "millions of children" from being targeted by sexual predators via the Internet. She said some men are using the Internet to lure teenage girls into prostitution. The bill would allow police to tap the phone calls of people suspected of such activity. It also would allow wiretaps of U.S. citizens suspected of bringing children from other countries to the United States for sexual exploitation, and of people suspected of using travel agencies to arrange illegal "sex tours" in other countries.

	H.R. 2009, Providing Reliable Officers, Technology, Education, Community Prosecutors, and Training In Our Neighborhoods (PROTECTION) Act *Sponsor: Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y. Introduced: May 24, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2009 would reauthorize for six years a community-policing program created during the first term of the Clinton administration. In addition to paving the way for state and local jurisdictions to hire more police officers and prosecutors, the bill would authorize $350 million for law enforcement technology to enhance crime-fighting efforts. Among other things, the money could be used for communications systems so officers in different jurisdictions can talk to each other, state of the art investigative tools like DNA analysis, and crime-mapping equipment. A House companion bill, S. 924, also was introduced.

	H.R. 2215, 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act *Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: June 19, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Final Action: Signed into law (PL 107-273) Description*: H.R. 2215 would authorize money for the Justice Department in fiscal 2002. The bill includes language that would subject the FBI and its information technology systems to greater scrutiny by requiring the hiring of a deputy inspector general to oversee the crime agency. The House Judiciary Committee also voted for a provision that would require a report on the FBI's e-mail surveillance system formerly known as Carnivore. A separate Senate bill, S. 1065, that would require the hiring of an FBI inspector general also was introduced.

	H.R. 2341, Class-Action Fairness Act *Sponsor: Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. Introduced: June 27, 2000 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2341 would allow large, interstate class-action lawsuits to be tried in federal court, a forum that tort-reform proponents see as less susceptible to "frivolous" suits or awards that do little to benefit consumers. The bill effectively would bar most state class-action suits by enabling either a defendant or plaintiff to show minimal diversity in requesting a forum change. Current law requires there to be "complete diversity" before a state case can be removed to federal court, meaning that all of the plaintiffs must be citizens in different states than all of the defendants.

	H.R. 2512, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas Introduced: July 17, 2001 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 2512 would authorize more funds to help the Customs Service fight the war on drugs along the United States' southwestern border while also easing legal trade across that border. The bill would authorize a total of $885 million -- $467 million in fiscal 2002 and $417 million in fiscal 2003 -- for additional personnel, technology and infrastructure in an effort to prevent the importation of drugs. The money would be used for enhanced surveillance systems and license-plate readers, among other things. A Senate companion bill, S. 1031, also was introduced.

	H.R. 2601, Parental Rights Protection Act *Sponsor: Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla. Introduced: July 24, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2601 would enable federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute adults who lure children to run away or who otherwise interfere with parental authority. The bill stems from a case in Florida, where 15-year-old Lindsay Shamrock was lured to Greece by 35-year-old Konstantin Baehring. Shamrock met Baehring over the Internet, and Baehring is now being held in Greece for charges of sexual assault, child abduction and exposing a minor to improper material. Similar bills, H.R. 2817, S. 1232 and S. 1234, were introduced.

	H.R. 2752, School Safety Enhancement and Web-Site Protection Act *Sponsor: Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-N.J. Introduced: Aug. 2, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2752 would make it illegal to hack into school Web sites in ways that "pose a threat to public health or safety." Violators would be subject to a fine and up to a year in jail. Bill sponsor Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., introduced the measure in part because of several hacking reports in schools districts of his home state. A bill summary from Ferguson's office said the language was crafted narrowly, so as not to impose a federal penalty on minors who hack computers without malicious intent or to impose heavy fines or long sentences. Ferguson intends to add the bill language to a broader cyber-crime measure. A related Senate bill, S. 1252, was introduced.

	H.R. 2817, Cyber-Molesters Enforcement Act *Sponsor: Rep. Rob Simmons, R-Conn. Introduced: Aug. 2, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure Description*: H.R. 2817 seeks to close loopholes in criminal law that allow online sexual predators to escape without punishment. The bill would require a five-year mandatory-minimum sentence for people who use the Internet to meet children and commit illegal sexual acts. It also would allow police to obtain a federal wiretap for people suspected of transmitting computer-generated pornography, enticing a minor to travel for sexual activity or transporting a minor for sexual activity. Finally, the measure would classify child porn as "contraband" and thus allow police to destroy it. A Senate companion bill, S. 1232, and other similar bills, S. 1234 and H.R. 2601, were introduced.

	H.R. 2915, Public Safety and Cyber Security Enhancement Act *Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas Introduced: Sept. 21, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2915 would expand the federal government's authority to tap e-mail communications. Under current law, the content of e-mails or telephone calls currently can be obtained via a wiretap after a judge issues a warrant that police have "probable cause" of a crime. But under the bill, a judge would have to issue a "pen register," a technology that identifies telephone numbers dialed by suspects, after a police officer says it is "relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation." The measure also would allow police to intercept the wire or electronic communications of computer hackers if the person whose computer has been hacked gives permission.

	H.R. 2975, Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act *Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Oct. 2, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Intelligence, International Relations, Resources, Ways and Means Final Action: Passed by the House Description*: H.R. 2975 seeks to combat terrorism by, among other things, expanding the powers of law enforcement to conduct electronic surveillance. The bill preserves the heart of Attorney General John Ashcroft's original proposal: the ability to conduct nationwide searches from one court order, to conduct "roving" wiretaps, and to obtain e-mail header information under a legal standard that does not require judicial review.

	H.R. 2985, American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act *Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill. Introduced: Oct. 2, 2001 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Final Action: Passed by the House Description*: H.R. 2985 would increase the penalties for fraud that exploits a national emergency. Under the bill, violators would be subject to double the time in prison and the fines for such fraud, and the steeper punishments could be imposed up to one year after a federally declared natural disaster or national emergency. The legislation, which also would subject violators to civil fines of up to $22,000 per violation, was introduced after consumers' groups issued warnings of potential Internet fundraising scams tied to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Related measures, H.R. 2986 and S. 1484, also were introduced.

	H.R. 2986, American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act *Sponsor: Rep. Charles Bass, R-N.H. Introduced: Oct. 2, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2986 would increase the penalties for fraud that exploits a national emergency. Under the bill, violators would be subject to double the time in prison and the fines for such fraud, and the steeper punishments could be imposed up to one year after a federally declared natural disaster or national emergency. The legislation was introduced after consumers' groups issued warnings of potential Internet fundraising scams tied to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Related measures, H.R. 2986 and S. 1484, also were introduced.

	H.R. 3004, Financial Anti-Terrorism Act *Sponsor: Rep. Michael Oxley, R-Ohio Introduced: Oct. 3, 2001 Committees: House Financial Services, Judiciary, Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 3004 would crack down on money-laundering in an effort to cripple the financial networks of terrorists. The bill had included the language of a separate bill, H.R. 556, that would have cut off the funding mechanisms for illegal Internet gambling. That bill would allow federal and state law enforcement officials to target "any person" suspected of trying to facilitate online gambling. The language also would encourage foreign governments to help the United States identify whether offshore gambling sites are used for money-laundering or other crimes. Lawmakers removed the Internet gambling language during debate on H.R. 3004.

	H.R. 3053, Identity Theft Prevention Act *Sponsor: Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore. Introduced: Oct. 5, 2001 Committee: House Financial Services Description*: H.R. 3053 seeks to prevent identity theft by imposing new rules on the issuance and use of credit cards. Among other things, the bill would make it illegal for businesses or organizations that accept credit payments to include more than the last five digits of credit cards on customer receipts. The rule would take effect Jan. 1, 2003, for new machines that print receipts, and machines manufactured before then would have to be upgraded to comply by Jan. 1, 2006.

	H.R. 3108, Uniting and Strengthening America (USA) Act *Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Oct. 12, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Intelligence, International Relations, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Education and the Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure Description*: H.R. 3108 seeks to combat terrorism by expanding the investigatory powers of federal law enforcers. Among other things, the bill would broaden the authority for wiretapping but limit the authority to five years. Congress ultimately cleared a compromise anti-terrorism measure, H.R. 3162, and President Bush signed it into law.

	H.R. 3162, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act *Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Oct. 23, 2001 Committees: House Judiciary, Intelligence, Financial Services, International Relations, Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services Final Action: Signed into law (PL 107-56) Description*: H.R. 3162 encompasses the House-Senate compromise on new anti-terrorism powers for police, including broader authority for electronic and other surveillance activities without judicial review. President Bush signed the legislation into law Oct. 26, 2001, three days after it was introduced. Although the law contains a "sunset" clause that ends the new surveillance powers at the end of 2005, several of the most important new powers are indefinite. Those include the ability to monitor e-mail addresses, to share secret grand-jury information with law enforcement agencies, and to conduct "secret searches" in which police delay giving notice to the suspect. The House passed the bill on a 357-66 vote Oct. 24, and the Senate cleared it on a 98-1 vote the next day.

	H.R. 3209, Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act *Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas Introduced: Nov. 1, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Final Action: Passed by the House Description*: H.R.3209 would make it illegal to issue false warnings of chemical, biological or nuclear threats. The bill would cover false electronic communications.

	H.R. 3231, Immigration Reform and Accountability Act *Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: Nov. 6, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 3231 would overhaul the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service by splitting it into two separate agencies, one for providing immigration services and the other, the Immigration Affairs Bureau, for preventing illegal border crossings and prosecuting violators. The bill also would create an Office of Shared Services to oversee facilities, information resources, and records needed by both components.

	H.R. 3491, Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act *Sponsor: Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Pa. Introduced: Dec. 13, 2001 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 3491 would authorize a study on the effectiveness of ballistic imaging technology and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network as law enforcement tools. Ballistic imaging analyzes bullets and cartridges to determine what gun was used to fire the bullets. The study would assess the technology and compare the cost and merits of maintaining the national network versus retaining and sharing information collected by various state-mandated systems.

	H.R. 3716, Online Criminal Liability Standardization Act *Sponsor: Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. Introduced: Feb. 12, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 3716 seeks to protect Internet service providers (ISPs) from legal liability for content that third-party users of the ISPs' services post online. Bill sponsor Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said the current "varied approaches" to such liability within competing laws leaves ISPs at risk. His bill generally would exempt the Internet companies from the activities of third-party users in order to "focus on those who engage in unlawful activity." Goodlatte argued that the legal protection would be narrow -- applying only to corporations and not individuals, for instance -- so as not to create loopholes for online criminals to exploit.

	H.R. 4513, Social Security Number Protection Act *Sponsor: Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. Introduced: April 18, 2002 Committee: House Energy and Commerce, House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 4513 aims to restrict fraud and identify theft by establishing federal criminal penalties to prevent the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers. States also could sue violators, subject to review by the FTC. Sales of the numbers for law enforcement, national security, public health or research purposes would be allowed. Related bills also were introduced, and they include H.R. 2036, S. 324, S. 848, S. 1014.

	H.R. 4623, Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act *Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas Introduced: April 30, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 4623 would ban computer-generated images of child pornography. The measure was introduced in response to an April 16, 2002, Supreme Court ruling that the previous ban on "virtual" child pornography was unconstitutional. The bill would bar "a computer image or computer-generated image that is, or appears virtually indistinguishable from, that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct." That language differs only slightly from the overturned phrasing. The law had barred any visual depiction that "is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct." The new legislation also would distinguish between pre-pubescent and post-pubescent children. It would bar the sale or distribution of both virtual and actual child pornography involving the former, and porn of post-pubescent minors still would be barred so long as prosecutors could prove that images are of identifiable children. The House passed the bill on a 413-8 vote June 25, 2002.

	H.R. 4757, Our Lady of Peace Act *Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y. Introduced: May 16, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Final Action: Passed by the House Description*: H.R. 4757 would strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in an attempt to prevent criminals from purchasing guns. It would require federal agencies and states to submit information to the Justice Department on people who are ineligible to purchase guns. Mental health information is specifically listed as part of the requirement, and the bill is named for a church where a mentally disturbed gunman killed two parishioners. Under the legislation, those states that do not comply with the condition would lose some federal crime-prevention funding. The bill would authorize up to $250 million in grants for states to update their criminal databases. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill in July 2002.

	H.R. 4881, Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act *Sponsor: Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas Introduced: June 6, 2002 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description*: H.R. 4881 would direct the FTC to issue rules prohibiting all types of pyramid schemes. The bill was introduced in response to the increased opportunity the Internet has presented to promote pyramid schemes and chain letters requiring financial contributions. Under the legislation, anyone who attempts to convince someone to participate in a pyramid scheme could be prosecuted.

	H.R. 5013, Untitled *Sponsor: George Gekas, R-Pa. Introduced: June 25, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. aims to improve homeland security by restricting the immigration of terrorists and their supporters, drug traffickers, illegal aliens, human rights abusers or people who have engaged in identity fraud. The measure seeks to make forms of identification, including birth certificates, driver's licenses and Social Security cards, more secure by requiring immigrants who use the visa-waiver program to obtain passports with biometric identifiers.

	H.R. 5057, Intellectual Property Protection Act *Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas Introduced: June 27, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 5057 would extend criminal penalties to the counterfeiting or trading of "certificates of authentication," the labels that software manufacturers frequently attach to their packages. Unlike those situations where consumers willingly purchase pirated goods, false certificates of authentication allow pirates to identify products as legitimate and sell them at prices much closer to that of the genuine article. A Senate companion bill, S. 2395, also was introduced.

	H.R. 5118, Corporate Fraud Accountability Act *Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Introduced: July 15, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary, Finance Final Action: Passed by the House Description*: H.R. 5118 would provide for enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties at publicly traded companies, and for other purposes.

	H.R. 5211, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. Introduced: July 25, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 5211 would exempt copyright holders from anti-hacking laws when they use technologies designed to halt the illegal distribution of their copyrighted works on peer-to-peer (P2P) computer networks. The bill would limit copyright holders' criminal and civil liability when they disable, block or interfere with the distribution of recordings, movies and digital books that are transmitted on P2P systems. Current anti-hacking laws would not be changed, but copyright holders would be provided with a "safe harbor" to protect themselves from infringement, provided their actions do not cause more than $50 damage to a P2P user's computer.

	H.R. 5262, Save Our Children: Stop the Violent Predators Against Children DNA Act *Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas Introduced: July 26, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 5262 would require the attorney general to create a separate database with DNA information on violent predators of children. Under the bill, federal, state and local officials could submit information for the database and access it to compare information. The measure would cover criminals found guilty of violence, including sex crimes, against people younger than 18. The legislation was introduced after the high-profile abduction, sexual assault and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion in July 2001.

	H.R. 5307, Law Enforcement Partnership to Combat Terrorism Act *Sponsor: Rep. Jim Saxton, D-N.J. Introduced: July 26, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 5307 would give state and local intelligence officers access to federal funds offered through the Community Oriented Policing Services (http://www.usdoj.gov/cops/home.htm) (COPS) program. The bill would increase the number of law enforcement officers combating terrorism, and existing officers would be redeployed for the same task. Special training would be provided for at least one officer and analyst for each COPS grant recipient, and coordination among federal, state and local officials would be increased to ensure a concentrated, connected nationwide effort to combat terrorism.

	H.R. 5387, Federal Bureau of Investigation Reform Act *Sponsor: Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. Introduced: Sept. 17, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary, Government Reform Description*: H.R. 5387 would overhaul the FBI, which plays a key anti-terrorism role. The bill would require the hiring of a security director at the agency, as well as other security jobs overseeing issues such as information systems security and counter-surveillance measures. The Justice Department's inspector general also would have to audit the FBI's technology and computer-security systems. And the measure would authorize $22.5 million over three years to help the department's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review enhance security at computer and telecommunications facilities and meet other anti-terrorism demands.

	H.R. 5424, Identity Theft Victims Assistance Act *Sponsor: Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. Introduced: Sept. 19, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary, Financial Services Description*: H.R. 5424 seeks to prevent identity theft and limit the harm it does to consumers. Among other things, the bill would establish a nationwide process to help victims of ID theft obtain business records related to the crime.

	H.R. 5474, Identity Theft Consumer Notification Act *Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Kleczka, D-Wis. Introduced: Sept. 26, 2002 Committee: House Financial Services Description*: H.R. 5474 is designed to help consumers who become victims of identity theft. The legislation would require banks to notify customers immediately if someone tampers with their personal financial information. Banks would have to reimburse any losses and would face penalties if they do not act soon enough. The penalties could include the loss of status as a federally insured deposit institution, as well as civil fines. Law enforcement officials could request temporary waivers of the disclosure rules to further investigations.

	H.R. 5588, Identity Theft Penalty Enforcement Act *Sponsor: Rep. George Gekas, R-Pa. Introduced: Oct. 9, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 5588 would make "aggravated identity theft" a separate crime, adding two years to the jail sentences for anyone who uses someone else's identity to commit a crime such as illegally obtaining a passport or committing wire, bank or mail fraud. Those who use the stolen identities for terrorism, such as hijackings or bombings, would face an additional five-year penalty. The bill also would allow law enforcement officers to target people who possess fraudulent identification with the intent to commit a crime. At present, it is not a crime to simply possess the documents.

	H.R. 5663, Ballistics, Law Assistance and Safety Technology (BLAST) Act *Sponsor: Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. Introduced: Oct. 16, 2002 Committee: House Judiciary Description*: H.R. 5663 would allow ballistics testing of all new firearms, require ballistics testing of all weapons currently in the custody of federal agencies, and add ballistics testing to current firearms enforcement programs in order to identify guns used in crimes. The bill was introduced in response to the high-profile sniper shootings in the Washington area in October 2002.

	H. Res. 12 *Sponsor: Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif. Introduced: Jan. 3, 2001 Committee: House International Relations, Judiciary Description*: H. Res. 12 would express the House's opposition to imposing criminal liability on Internet service providers (ISPs), including Web-site hosts, portal operators and search engines, for any content their clients post to the Web. The nonbinding resolution would put the House on record as opposing attempts by foreign governments to hold U.S.-based ISPs accountable for the content decisions of third parties. Specifically, it would express concern about language in a pending cyber-crime treaty that could expose U.S.-based ISPs to such liability.

	H. Res. 443, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill. Introduced: June 13, 2002 Committee: House Energy and Commerce Description*: H. Res. 443 would express House support for programs and educational activities to protect senior citizens from fraud. The legislation notes that consumer awareness is the best way to prevent seniors from falling victim to Internet, mail and telephone fraud.

Senate

	S. 924, Providing Reliable Officers, Technology, Education, Community Prosecutors, and Training In Our Neighborhoods (PROTECTION) Act *Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Biden, D-N.J. Introduced: May 22, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 924 would reauthorize for six years a community-policing program created during the first term of the Clinton administration. In addition to paving the way for state and local jurisdictions to hire more police officers and prosecutors, the bill would authorize $350 million for law enforcement technology to enhance crime-fighting efforts. Among other things, the money could be used for communications systems so officers in different jurisdictions can talk to each other, state of the art investigative tools like DNA analysis, and crime-mapping equipment. A House companion bill, H.R. 2009, also was introduced.

	S. 1031 *Sponsor: Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas Introduced: June 13, 2001 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 1031 would authorize more funds to help the Customs Service fight the war on drugs along the United States' southwestern border while also easing legal trade across that border. The bill would authorize a total of $885 million -- $467 million in fiscal 2002 and $417 million in fiscal 2003 -- for additional personnel, technology and infrastructure in an effort to prevent the importation of drugs. The money would be used for enhanced surveillance systems and license-plate readers, among other things. A House companion bill, H.R. 2512, also was introduced.

	S. 1065, Inspector General for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Act *Sponsor: Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. Introduced: June 20, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1065 would require the hiring of an inspector general for the FBI. Similar language was added to a broader House bill, H.R. 2215, that would authorize money for the Justice Department and its various agencies, which include the FBI. A related measure, S. 1074, that would establish a commission to review FBI practices and recommend improvements also was introduced.

	S. 1074, FBI Reform Commission Act *Sponsor: Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Introduced: June 20, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1074 would establish a commission of non-governmental specialists to review the FBI and make recommendations for improvements. The bill was sparked in part by concerns about the agency's information technology and computer security. A related measure, S. 1065, that would require the hiring of an FBI inspector general, was introduced.

	S. 1232, Cyber-Molesters Enforcement Act *Sponsor: Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Introduced: July 24, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1232 seeks to close loopholes in criminal law that allow online sexual predators to escape without punishment. The bill would require a five-year mandatory-minimum sentence for people who use the Internet to meet children and commit illegal sexual acts. It also would allow police to obtain a federal wiretap for people suspected of transmitting computer-generated pornography, enticing a minor to travel for sexual activity or transporting a minor for sexual activity. Finally, the measure would classify child porn as "contraband" and thus allow police to destroy it. A House companion bill, H.R. 2817, and similar bills, S. 1234 and H.R. 2601, were introduced.

	S. 1234, Anti-Sexual Predator Act *Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah Introduced: July 25, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1234 would allow police to obtain a federal wiretap for people suspected of transmitting computer-generated pornography, enticing a minor to travel for sexual activity or transporting a minor for sexual activity. Similar bills, S. 1232, H.R. 2601 and H.R. 2817, were introduced.

	S. 1252, School Website Protection Act *Sponsor: Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J. Introduced: July 26, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1252 would make it a federal crime to hack into school Web sites and computers. Under current law, more than $5,000 in damages must be incurred as the result of such hacking for it to be deemed a federal offense. The bill would close that loophole by subjecting any hackers of school Web sites to a year in jail and a fine. Bill sponsor Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., introduced the legislation after a hacker posted a threat to a school Web site in Lumberton, N.J. The threat prompted many parents to keep their children home from school, but no charges could be filed under current law. A related House bill, H.R. 2752, was introduced.

	S. 1319, 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act *Sponsor: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Introduced: Aug. 2, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1319 would authorize Justice Department spending in fiscal 2002. The bill, which would separately authorize the department's programs for the first time since 1981, is based on companion bill, H.R. 2215, already passed by the House and largely mirrors President Bush's spending request for Justice. One key tech-related provision in the legislation would require the attorney general and the FBI director to file annual reports on the use of the Internet surveillance system formerly known as Carnivore and on any related technology. The measure also would authorize $10 million for investigating and prosecuting intellectual property crimes, including software piracy. Bush had not requested that money.

	S. 1399, Identity Theft Prevention Act *Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: Sept. 4, 2001 Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Description*: S. 1399 would impose new rules on credit-card companies and credit bureaus in an effort to curtail identity theft. The legislation would require all new credit-card machines to print only the last five digits of a consumer's card number on receipts. Existing machines also would have to be reprogrammed by 2006. The bill would require credit bureaus to alert credit issuers when someone applies for a new credit card under an address that is different from the one in the bureau's file, and it would codify the industry practice of placing fraud alerts on consumers' files.

	S. 1484, Crimes Against Charitable Americans Act *Sponsor: Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Introduced: Oct. 2, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1484 would make it illegal to fraudulently solicit charitable contributions tied to a natural disaster or national emergency. The bill, which would require violators to spend up to five years in jail and to pay restitution to their victims, was introduced after consumers' groups issued warnings of potential Internet fundraising scams tied to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Related measures, H.R. 2985 and H.R. 2986, also were introduced.

	S. 1712, Class Action Fairness Act *Sponsor: Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa Introduced: Nov. 15, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1712 seeks to curtail the alleged abuse of the system for class-action lawsuits. The bill would allow suits with national ramifications to be heard in federal court, which is considered a more business-friendly venue than state courts where many cases now are decided. A related House measure, H.R. 2341, also was introduced.

	S. 1763, Rural Safety Act *Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Daschle, D-S.D. Introduced: Dec. 4, 2001 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 1763 seeks to improve law enforcement in rural communities. The comprehensive legislation touches on everything from gun safety to the illegal trafficking of methamphetamine. It includes language that would authorize $40 million a year over five years in grants to local police agencies, and they could use the money to improve their wireless communications capacity, and to buy computers, software, video cameras and other technology. The bill also would authorize grants to help rural communities improve their emergency 911 services, and it would authorize funds for a Rural Policing Institute to train local police on computer crimes and other topics. Bill sponsor and Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., introduced a similar measure, S. 1787, later the same week.

	S. 1787, Rural Safety Act *Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Daschle, D-S.D. Introduced: Dec. 7, 2001 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1787 seeks to improve law enforcement in rural communities. The comprehensive legislation touches on everything from gun safety to the illegal trafficking of methamphetamine. It includes language that would authorize $40 million a year over five years in grants to local police agencies, and they could use the money to improve their wireless communications capacity, and to buy computers, software, video cameras and other technology. The bill also would authorize grants to help rural communities improve their emergency 911 services, and it would authorize funds for a Rural Policing Institute to train local police on computer crimes and other topics. Bill sponsor and Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., introduced a similar measure, S. 1763, earlier the same week.

	S. 1900, Cyber Terrorism Preparedness Act *Sponsor: Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. Introduced: Jan. 28, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description*: S. 1900 seeks to protect the nation from cyber terrorism and cyber crime by identifying "best practices" that the government and private sector could implement to address such threats. The bill would create a consortium of academic and private-sector experts to identify those best practices, to conduct cyber-security research, and to study whether and how to condition federal technology contracts on the contractors' implementation of cyber-security protections. The legislation also would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to implement the best practices within government. The bill is one of two cyber-security measures that Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., introduced the same day. The other measure is S. 1901.

	S. 1974, Federal Bureau of Investigation Reform Act *Sponsor: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Introduced: Feb. 28, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1974 would overhaul the FBI's operations. Among other things, the legislation would require a report on the status of the FBI's information technology, and the report would have to recommend improvements. It also would authorize $22.5 million over three years to bolster the anti-terrorism efforts of the Justice Department's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, and to help the office enhance computer security and telecommunications. And the measure would mandate that the FBI fill security-related jobs in areas such as information assurance. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill April 25, 2002.

	S. 1981, Enhanced Penalties for Enabling Terrorists Act *Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. Introduced: March 1, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1981 would increase the penalties for identification fraud connected to terrorism and bolster the training of airport personnel. The bill would require up to 25 years in jail for anyone who produces, transfers, possesses or uses a fake ID in connection with terrorism. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote April 18, 2002.

	S. 2137, Family Privacy and Security Act *Sponsor: Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. Introduced: April 16, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description*: S. 2137 would make it a federal crime to videotape someone engaged in sexual activity without the person's consent. Violators would face three years in jail if the victim were an adult and 10 if it were a minor. The bill also would create an Internet domain name for material that might be harmful to minors and require site operators to use that domain name. Finally, it would require e-mails to minors that include sexual content to be labeled as such.

	S. 2395, Anti-Counterfeiting Amendments *Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del. Introduced: April 30, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 2395 would extend current counterfeiting laws in an effort to curtail piracy. Under the bill, it would be illegal to counterfeit authentication labels, such as holograms on compact discs, software and movies. Currently, buying and selling fake computer software is illegal, but individuals cannot face prosecution for making fake labels. The bill also would allow counterfeiting victims to sue counterfeiters in federal courts.

	S.2511, Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act *Sponsor: Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo. Introduced: May 14, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 2511 aims to ban "virtual" child pornography. Introduced in response to an April 16, 2002, Supreme Court ruling that overturned a previous law on the subject, the bill would prohibit the creation of computer-generated images that are "virtually indistinguishable from an image of" a minor engaging in sexual conduct. Showing a minor child pornography or obscene material also would be illegal. The Justice Department would have to create a computer database that would link child pornography to actual children from whom it may have been produced and the creator of the pornography. The House passed its companion bill, H.R. 4623, on June 25, 2002.

	S. 2541, Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act *Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: May 22, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 2541 would increase penalties for identity theft. People who commit such theft to break other federal laws, such as those on immigration or restricting gun purchases, would face two years in jail in addition to the penalty for the underlying federal offense. ID theft for the purpose of terrorism would carry an additional five years in jail. The legislation also would make it illegal to possess false identity papers with the intent to commit a crime. And prosecutors would only have to prove criminal intent for the underlying offense to win a case on ID theft.

	S. 2661, Video Voyeurism Act *Sponsor: Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio Introduced: June 20, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 2661 would criminalize unauthorized "video voyeurism" of nude or scantily clad people residing in U.S. maritime and territorial jurisdictions. The law would cover any electronics that enable such voyeurism.

	S. 2826, Our Lady of Peace Act *Sponsor: Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Introduced: July 30, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 2826 seeks to improve communication between authorities about the information on potential gun buyers stored in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Under the bill, state officials would have to contact the FBI if a gun buyer: has been indicted or convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in jail; is a fugitive from justice or known drug addict; has been committed to a mental institution; or is under a restraining order because of domestic violence. The bill would provide $375 million per year for three years to help states update and automate their systems so information can be shared as quickly as possible. In addition, federal agencies would have to share records they keep with NICS.

	S. 2917, Comprehensive Child Protection Act *Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah Introduced: Sept. 10, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S.2917 aims to protect children from violent criminals. Among other things, it would require the Justice Department to create an Internet site that links all state sites on registered sex offenders.

	S. 2946, Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization Act *Sponsor: Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. Introduced: Sept. 17, 2002 Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Description*: S.2946 would reauthorize FTC programs from fiscal 2003 through fiscal 2005 and allow the agency to regulate and investigate consumer practices in the telecommunications industry. Until now, the FTC has not been allowed to regulate consumer activities for telecom carriers. The FCC regulates all telecom practices, including advertising and consumer protection. But with the explosive growth in the industry, the FTC asked Congress for some authority. The Senate Commerce Committee approved the bill by voice vote Sept. 19, 2002.

	S. 3100, Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act *Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Introduced: Oct. 10, 2002 Committee: Not referred to committee Description*: S. 3100 seeks to limit the misuse of Social Security numbers. The bill would make it illegal to display the numbers on the Internet or by other means without direct consent from the people identified by the numbers, and it would limit the right of companies to request Social Security numbers as a means of identification. The same standard would apply to selling or purchasing the numbers. Exemptions to the rules would cover such purposes as health care, national security, law enforcement and fraud prevention. Social Security numbers also would have to be removed from some public records posted to the Internet.

	S. 3140, Prevention and Recovery of Missing Children Act *Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. Introduced: Oct. 17, 2002 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 3140 would clarify the standards for state sex-offender registration programs. The bill would require that people who must register as sex offenders be told of that responsibility and how to fulfill it. The information they provide would have to be verified within 90 days, and the sex offenders would have to notify officials of any changes in their personal information within 10 days. The measure also would require that missing-person entries in state police networks and the National Crime Information Center be maintained regardless of age.

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