December 5, 2008
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House

H.R. 24, Bullet Tracing Act To Reduce Gun Violence
Sponsor: Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif.
Introduced: Jan. 7, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 24 would require that all firearms be tested before they are shipped to manufacturers and that the results of the tests be compiled in electronic form. The attorney general would compile the information and make it available for federal, state and local criminal investigations. The federal government would have to place upgraded, computerized ballistics equipment at the sites of licensed manufacturers and importers, and provide training for the personnel who would use the database.
H.R. 70, Social Security Online Privacy Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J.
Introduced: Jan. 7, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H.R. 70 would restrict the use of the Social Security numbers on the Web in an effort to prevent their use for fraud. The bill would prohibit the "mining" of personal information from Web sites and of selling that information without prior written consent. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., introduced two other privacy bills the same day, H.R. 70 and H.R. 71.
H.R. 124, Handgun Licensing and Registration Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J.
Introduced: Jan. 7, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 124 would require the attorney general to create a federal system for licensing and registering handguns. The system would have to contain information both on the people who own the handguns and on the weapons themselves, and the data would have to be easily retrievable.
H.R. 346, American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep. Charles Bass, R-N.H.
Introduced: Jan. 27, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H.R. 346 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.
H.R. 362, National AMBER Alert Network Act
Sponsor: Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo.
Introduced: Jan. 27, 2003
Committee: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Description: H.R. 362 seeks to improve the alert system for retrieving missing children. The AMBER Alert System -- short for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response -- is named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl abducted in Arlington, Texas, and later found murdered. It involves bulletins, distributed through radio, television and electronic highway signs, about kidnapped children and their abductors. Under the bill, the program would receive $25 million in fiscal 2004, in part to help expand the AMBER system to the Internet. A similar Senate measure, S. 121, was introduced.
H.R. 537, DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J.
Introduced: Feb. 5, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 537 would authorize more money to help law enforcement officials input DNA samples from convicted rapists into the Combined DNA Index System. The money also would be used to upgrade the database because it is nearing capacity. A Senate companion bill, S. 152, also was introduced.
H.R.581, Child Sex Crimes Wiretapping Act
Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn.
Introduced: Feb. 5, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R.581 would allow police to use wiretapping equipment to intercept the communications of suspected 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. 818, Identity Theft Consumer Notification Act
Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Kleczka, D-Wis.
Introduced: Feb. 13, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.R. 818 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. 858, Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn.
Introduced: Feb. 13, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 858 would make identity theft a separate crime. It also would establish penalties for “aggravated identity theft,” or the stealing of someone else’s identity to commit immigration violations, acts of international or domestic terrorism, or other specific crimes.
H.R. 889, Convicted Child Sex Offender DNA Index System Support Act
Sponsor: Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.
Introduced: Feb. 25, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 889 seeks to eliminate the backlog in performing DNA analyses on samples collected from convicted child sex offenders. The bill would give the FBI 45 days after enactment to develop a plan with state officials for addressing the backlog and enter data into the Combined DNA Index System. The measure would authorize $25 million each year from fiscal 2003 through fiscal 2005.
H.R. 1009, Clear Your Good Name Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Feb. 27, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 1009 would authorize money for federal law enforcement agencies to expunge from their records “voidable” arrests and electronic filings related to those arrests. The bill would apply to arrests that result in no formal charges, that are dismissed without trial or that were made without probable cause.
H.R. 1046, Debbie Smith Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis.
Introduced: March 4, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 1046 would authorize more money to help law enforcement officials input DNA samples from convicted rapists into the Combined DNA Index System (http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/codis/index1.htm). The money also would be used to upgrade the database because it is nearing capacity. The bill is named after rape victim Debbie Smith, whose attacker was captured and convicted six years after the crime because of DNA evidence.
H.R. 1104, Child Abduction Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
Introduced: March 5, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary; Transportation and Infrastructure; Education and the Workforce
Description: H.R. 1104 would strengthen the penalties for crimes against children. Among other things, the bill would authorize money to expand the AMBER Alert system that states and localities use to notify the public about missing children, by Internet and other means. The system, short for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, is named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl abducted in Arlington, Texas, and later found murdered. The bill also would: authorize funds for an annual grant to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that runs the system; require a minimum 20-year prison sentence for the kidnapping or abduction of children up to age 17; deny pretrial releases for child rapists or abductors; and eliminate the statute of limitations for child abductions and sex crimes. A more narrow measure, H.R. 1262, focused just on the AMBER Alert system also was introduced.
H.R. 1161, Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas
Introduced: March 6, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 1161 seeks to prevent the circulation of child pornography, particularly on the Internet. The measure would amend the definition of virtual child pornography to encompass computer-generated images that are "indistinguishable" from non-computer images. It also would distinguish between pre-pubescent and post-pubescent children. The sale or distribution of both real and virtual images involving the former would be barred, but sexually explicit images of post-pubescent minors would be barred only if prosecutors could prove that the images are of identifiable children. A competing Senate bill, S. 151, was introduced. Both measures were introduced in response to an April 16, 2002, Supreme Court ruling that the previous ban on "virtual" child pornography was unconstitutional.
H.R. 1171, Iris Scan Security Act
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J.
Introduced: March 11, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 1171 would require law enforcement agencies to use iris-scanning technology for background checks on people wanting to purchase guns. The technology scans the iris, the colored ring that surrounds the pupil in the human eye, which has identifiable components much like a fingerprint. Lancaster County Prison in Pennsylvania first used the process in 1996 because the facility needs to release prisoners on short notice and could not wait for fingerprint tests.
H.R. 1220, Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas
Introduced: March 12, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H.R. 1220 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. 1262, National AMBER Alert Improvement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla.
Introduced: March 13, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R 1262 seeks to improve the AMBER Alert system that states and localities use to notify the public about missing children, by Internet and other means. The system, short for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, is named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl abducted in Arlington, Texas, and later found murdered. The bill would require the attorney general to appoint a coordinator for the system who, among other things, would have to train state and local officials how to use the technology related to the system and make grants designed to implement new technologies.
H.R. 1705, DNA Database Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
Introduced: April 9, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 1705 would require that law enforcement officers be able to compare the DNA samples that they collect with those in a national database.
H.R. 1706, Cyber Molesters Enforcement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rob Simmons, R-Conn.
Introduced: April 9, 2003
Committees: House Judiciary; Transportation and Infrastructure
Description: H.R. 1706 would impose a 5- to 15-year sentence on people convicted of sexual abuse of a child stemming from Internet use. The bill would prevent the use of the Internet for: sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion; the sale of children; the importation of child pornography; and the transportation of children for the purpose of child porn.
H.R. 1731, Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Rep. John Carter, R-Texas
Introduced: April 10, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 1731 would impose a jail sentence of two years on people who knowingly steal someone else’s identity. If the theft were related to terrorism, the penalty would be increased by five years. Sentences would not run concurrently.
H.R. 1931, Personal Information Privacy Act
Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Kleczka, D-Wis.
Introduced: May 1, 2003
Committees: House Ways and Means; Financial Services
Description: H.R. 1931 would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the sale or distribution of someone's Social Security number without the written consent of that person. The bill also would ban businesses from selling consumer information for marketing purposes without written permission of their consumers.
S. 1882, Terrorist Apprehension Act
Sponsor: Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.
Introduced: Nov. 18, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1882 would let certain federal agencies access information logged into the background-check system for gun purchases. Agencies like the FBI or ATF currently are not notified about queries to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System if potential buyers are flagged because of ties to gangs or terrorist organizations. The bill would facilitate information sharing on that topic in an attempt to thwart terrorism.
H.R. 1933, Restrict and Eliminate the Delivery of Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail or Spam (REDUCE Spam) Act
Sponsor: Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.
Introduced: May 1, 2003
Committees: House Judiciary; Energy and Commerce
Description: H.R. 1933 would require that bulk, unsolicited e-mail include in the subject line the tag “ADV” to signal that the messages are advertisements. The measure also would establish a bounty for the first person to track a spammer who violates the labeling requirement or another rule that consumers be given a mechanism to opt out of future spam e-mails. “The problem is not just the volume of spam; it’s tracking down the bad actors," bill sponsor Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. said in a press release. "Often, spammers use multiple e-mail addresses or disguise the routing information so that they can’t be identified.”
H.R. 2003, Health Care Practitioner Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark.
Introduced: May 7, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Judiciary
Description: H.R. 2003 seeks to legally protect people who unintentionally reveal private health information. The bill states that if someone reveals such data without knowing that they are breaking federal law, criminal penalties would not be imposed.
H.R. 2035, Identity Theft and Financial Privacy Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.
Introduced: May 8, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.R. 2035 seeks to protect consumers from identity theft. In order to curtail fraud, the legislation would require credit-card providers and similar organizations to notify customers of attempted changes to their accounts (such as changes of address). It also would require that only the last four digits of credit- or debit-card numbers be displayed on statements, receipts or order confirmations.
H.R. 2110, Emergency DNA Backlog Elimination and Self Defense from Serial Killers Act
Sponsor: Rep. David Vitter, R-La.
Introduced: May 14, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 2110 would authorize funding to eliminate the backlog in processing more than 500,000 DNA evidence kits across the country. The information compiled from the kits eventually becomes part of the federal Combined DNA Index System (). Priority funding under the bill would go to states and municipalities that are seeking serial killers. The bill also would authorize funds for self-defense classes and would require the collection of DNA from convicted violent felons.
H.R. 2143, Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act
Sponsor: Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala.
Introduced: May 19, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.R. 2143 is designed to stop Internet gamblers from using bank instruments such as credit cards and wire transfers as forms of payment. The bill would require payment systems to develop their own policies to enforce these rules. The measure sparked a fierce lobbying battle over state-authorized gaming outlets, such as casinos on American Indian reservations. The House passed the bill on a 319-104 vote on June 10, 2003.
H.R. 2436, Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas
Introduced: June 11, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 2436 would authorize a study of ballistic-imaging technology to determine its effectiveness as a law enforcement tool. The technology uses hardware and software to determine the handguns or rifles that fired specific bullets recovered in criminal investigations. The study would cover both the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network and ballistic-imaging systems in the states, as well as the ability to share information among networks. The National Research Council would conduct the study and submit it to the attorney general, who in turn would send the report to Congress and make the results publicly available.
H.R. 2517, Piracy Deterrence and Education Act
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas
Introduced: June 19, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary Committee
Description: H.R. 2517 seeks to bolster the FBI's power to combat illegal file sharing of copyrighted material over peer-to-peer computer networks. The measure, supported by the Recording Industry Association of America, would instruct the FBI to develop a public-awareness campaign aimed at deterring consumers from making illegal copies of protected works, such as movies or songs, and sharing those materials online. It also would allow for the prosecution of intellectual property violations, even if the works are not registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
H.R. 2617, Consumer Identity and Information Security Act
Sponsor: INSERT SPONSOR
Introduced: June 26, 2003
Committees: House Financial Services; Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce
Description: H.R. 2617 seeks to protect personal data by limiting its use for other than the intended purposes. The bill would prohibit companies and agencies from displaying or using Social Security numbers for the delivery of services. It would require electronically printed credit-card receipts to contain only the last five digits of account numbers and not to display expiration dates.
H.R. 2622, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
Sponsor: Rep. Spencer Bachus, R- Ala.
Introduced: June 26, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.R. 2622 would specify procedures for credit-card issuers and credit-reporting agencies that handle consumer requests for additional credit cards, address changes and fraud alerts. The companies would have to flag suspicious activity in consumer accounts, improve data accuracy, and notify people of adverse information resulting from identity theft and remove that data from credit reports. The measure would entitle consumers to one free credit report a year and would mandate that electronically printed credit- and debit-card receipts contain only the last four digits of account numbers and no expiration dates in order to deter prevent identity theft.
H.R. 2633, Identity Theft Protection and Information Blackout Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.
Introduced: June 26, 2003
Committee: House Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; Judiciary; Financial Services
Description: H.R. 2633 would require tighter control of consumers' personal data, including health information, to prevent breeches of privacy and identity theft. The measure would establish national standards for the use of Social Security Numbers by government and private organizations, and forbid certain financial institutions from indiscriminately sharing consumers' health information.
H.R. 2942, Environmental Terrorism Reduction Act
Sponsor: Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.
Introduced: July 25, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 2942 would direct the attorney general to establish and maintain a national clearinghouse for information on incidents of crime and terrorism against any commercial activities or individuals because of the perceived effect on the environment. Housing developments, automobile dealers and other sites have been targets for vandalism by activists critical of the impact on the environment. The bill calls for a registry and law enforcement response to identify such crimes and allocate federal money for areas at greater risk.
H.R. 2971, Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep. E. Clay Shaw, R-Fla.
Introduced: July 25, 2003
Committee: House Ways and Means; Financial Services; Energy and Commerce
Description: H.R. 2971 seeks to improve the protection of Social Security information. The bill would prohibit the use of Social Security numbers as personal identification on checks, employee records, driver’s licenses and other documents. Purchase or sale of the numbers also would be illegal and punishable under federal law.
H.R. 3036, Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act
Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
Introduced: Sept. 9, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 3036 would authorize spending for the Justice Department from fiscal 2004 through fiscal 2006. Among other provisions, the bill would establish an Office of Applied Technology within the department. The office would provide leadership and focus to grants that the department gives in order to improve law enforcement computers.
H.R. 3143, International Consumer Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla.
Introduced: Sept. 23, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H.R. 3143 seeks to enhance the FTC’s ability to enforce laws on cross-border fraud and deception. That would entail actions that could cause foreseeable injury within the United States. The FTC could gather information and evidence on particular cases and share that information with international bodies if necessary. The bill would authorize up to $100,000 per year to help support entities like the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, which targets issues such as fraud and deception on the Internet, and the International Competition Network, which focuses on antitrust issues.
H.R. 3214, Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act
Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, Jr, R-Wis.
Introduced: Oct. 1, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary; Armed Services
Description: H.R. 3214 seeks to improve the current system for DNA testing. The measure would work to improve the technology used to compile DNA samples, reduce DNA backlogs and improve training for the handling of DNA, among other things. A Senate companion bill, S. 1700, was introduced.
H.R. 3233, Identity Theft Notification and Credit Restoration Act
Sponsor: Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.
Introduced: Oct. 2, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.R. 3233 would require financial institutions to notify consumers, credit-reporting agencies and law enforcement when security information systems are breached in a manner that compromises personal financial information. The bill also would require credit-reporting agencies to place fraud alerts in victims’ credit files when such breaches occur to prevent the issuance of new credit in those names. Victims of identify theft would be entitled to four credit reports in the year following a theft. In addition, all consumers would be entitled to one free credit report and their credit scores annually.
H.R. 3237, NICS Improvement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Oct. 2, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 3237 would enhance the rules governing updates to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NICS was established as part of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to provide a means of determining whether people may buy firearms under federal or state laws. Among other things, the bill would require the Homeland Security Department to submit quarterly reports to the attorney general, who also would have to work with states toward developing computer systems for submitting information electronically. A Senate companion bill, S. 1706, was introduced.
H.R. 3254, Consumer Credit and Identity Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J.
Introduced: Oct. 7, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.R. 3254 would allow only the display of the last four digits of bank-account numbers on forms for electronic fund transfers. The bill also requests that the board of governors for the Federal Reserve System study the feasibility of permitting only electronic terminals for any transactions involving credit or debit cards, requiring the use of identification other than signatures to use such cards, and requiring the truncation of account numbers on any receipts involving the cards; and the likelihood of such steps to reduce identity theft and fraud.
H.R. 3296, Prevent Identity Theft From Affecting Lives and Livelihoods (PITFALL) Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa.
Introduced: Oct. 15, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.R. 3296 would assist victims of identity theft. Under the legislation, those victims would be issued "no fault" letters exempting them from liability for any credit damage from ID theft. Law enforcement officials would have to investigate cases before issuing the letters, but approved letters would go to consumer credit agencies. A Senate companion measure, S 1749, also was introduced.
H.R. 3449, Providing Reliable Officers, Technology, Education, Community Prosecutors and Training In Our Neighborhoods (PROTECTION) Act
Sponsor: Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.
Introduced: Nov. 5, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 3449 would authorize federal grants to communities to hire more officers, buy technology and increase education, among other things. Law enforcement could use the money to improve wireless communications, databases, software, crime-solving technologies and DNA analysis, or to invest in emerging technologies.
H.R. 3632, Anti-Counterfeiting Amendments
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas
Introduced: Nov. 21, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 3632 would prohibit the production of counterfeit documents or packaging that are affixed to products such as copied computer programs or movies to make them appear as though they are the genuine product. Penalties for knowingly distributing counterfeit products would include fines and up to five years in prison.
H.R. 3693, Identity Theft Investigation and Prosecution Act
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va.
Introduced: Dec. 8, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H.R. 3693 would authorize up to $100 million to provide additional resources to the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute identity theft and other fraud. Reports of ID theft and other types of fraud have increased as a result of the Internet.
H. Res. 454, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C.
Introduced: Nov. 19, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H. Res. 454 would encourage the Justice Department official who coordinates the AMBER Alert program on missing to establish minimum requirements for issuing alerts over communications networks in certain cases. The resolution would recommend that the alerts be issued after a child has been missing for six or more hours if an abduction is suspected.
H. Con. Res. 219, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas
Introduced: June 12, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H. Con. Res. 219 would express Congress' opinion on the need to raise awareness and public education of safety on the Internet. The resolution also would endorse the idea of National Internet Safety Month in June.

Senate

S. 151, Prosecutorial Remedies and Tools Against the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act
Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
Introduced: Jan. 13, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 151 seeks to combat child pornography by making it a crime to sexually exploit children and distribute pornographic pictures of them. Developed in response to a Supreme Court Decision in May 2002 that overturned major portions of the existing law to curb child pornography. The bill would increase sentences for some offenses, and it would provide a new "victim shield" that conceals the names of children involved. It also would clarify that digital pictures would be covered by the bill, a step that lawmakers called important because of the use of digital cameras and camcorders. The Senate passed the bill on an 84-0 vote Feb. 24, 2003, and the Bush administration endorsed the measure in a statement issued the same day.
S. 152, DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.
Introduced: Jan. 14, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 152 would authorize more money to help law enforcement officials input DNA samples from convicted rapists into the Combined DNA Index System. The money also would be used to upgrade the database because it is nearing capacity.
S. 153, Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
Introduced: Jan. 14, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description:S. 153 would create a separate crime of “aggravated identity theft” for any person who uses the identity of another person to commit certain serious, federal crimes. The bill also would strengthen the ability of law enforcement to pursue ID thieves. And the legislation would clarify that the current 25-year maximum sentence for ID theft to facilitate international terrorism also applies in cases of domestic terrorism.
S. 223, Identity Theft Prevention Act
Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
Introduced: Jan. 28, 2003
Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Description: S. 223 would increase the penalties for identity theft. It would designate a separate crime of "aggravated identity theft" for individuals who use stolen identities for terrorism, including bombings, hostage taking and the destruction of airplanes.
S. 274, Class-Action Fairness Act
Sponsor: Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa
Introduced: Feb. 4, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 274 seeks to combat what critics have called "forum shopping" by lawyers in search of the friendliest venues for class-action lawsuits. The bill would revise the standards for bringing large, interstate class-action suits in order to have more of them assigned to federal courts. Cases could be moved from state to federal courts if the total damages would exceed $2 million and at least 100 plaintiffs are involved. The measure also would require that all notices for class-action suits be written in easily understood terms and that the amount and source of legal fees be noted. Courts would have to review non-cash settlements, and state attorneys general would have to be notified of suits that would affect their states' residents.
S. 469, Ballistics, Law Assistance and Safety Technology (BLAST) Act
Sponsor: Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis.
Introduced: Feb. 27, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 469 would require ballistic "fingerprinting" of guns. Each gun leaves unique markings on discharged bullets and shell casings, allowing for the comparison of "gun prints" with bullets found at crime scenes. The bill would keep a computerized image of each new gun's fingerprint so police could compare the microscopic differences to images in crime databases until they find a match.
S. 644, Comprehensive Child Protection Act
Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
Introduced: March 18, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 644 is designed to combat child crimes by addressing such issues as child pornography and child kidnapping. The bill would make "virtual" child pornography admissible as evidence and increase the categories of offenses that are included in the Combined DNA Index System to include all federal felonies. The federal wiretapping statute would be extended to cover suspicions of sex trafficking, sexual abuse, exploitation and other sex-related offenses, thus enabling investigators to obtain court authorization to monitor Internet communications. Other provisions would: extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting child sexual-abuse cases from 25 years to 35; allow prior offense of child molestation to be admitted as evidence; and prohibit common-law spouses from claiming spousal privilege when it comes to testifying.
S. 679, Providing Reliable Officers, Technology, Education, Community Prosecutors and Training In Our Neighborhoods (PROTECTION) Act
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Biden, D-N.J
Introduced: March 20, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 679 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 such things as communications systems so officers in different jurisdictions could talk to each other, investigative tools like DNA analysis equipment or crime-mapping equipment, among other things.
S. 731, Secure Authentication Feature and Enhanced Identification Defense (SAFE ID) Act
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.
Introduced: March 27, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 731 would make it illegal to possess, distribute or use false or misleading authentication features for government identification tags. Authentication features include symbols such as holograms and watermarks -- features that bill sponsor Joseph Biden, D-Del., said can be purchased via the Internet.
S. 769, Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act
Sponsor: Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
Introduced: April 2, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 769 would create a process for checking the backgrounds of applicants for jobs as private security officers. Under the bill, the applicants would grant their permission to use fingerprints or other identifiers for the background checks. The data would be checked against the electronic records of the FBI’s division on criminal-justice information services.
S. 798, Sex Offender Apprehension Act
Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
Introduced: April 7, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 798 would require that a convicted sex offender register his or her name with state or local police agencies. Those who fail to do so would be subject to criminal prosecution.
S. 800, Truth in Domain Names Act
Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
Introduced: April 7, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 800 would impose fines and prison sentences of no more than four years for people who knowingly use misleading Internet addresses in order to expose minors to inappropriate material. Those who use such domains to lure adults to sites with obscene material also would face fines, but jail time would be dropped to no more than two years. Web sites with words such as "sex" or "porn" to indicate sexual content would not be considered misleading. Related language was included in a broader anti-crime bill, S. 151, that became law.
S. 810, Protecting Children against Crime Act
Sponsor: Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio
Introduced: April 8, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 810 would amend existing laws on crimes against children to include penalties for people who produce or distribute child pornography. The bill also would charge the National Research Council with researching whether Internet service providers could effectively monitor Internet traffic in order to find child porn sites, determine how often credit cards are used online to purchase porn, and research which credit-card issuers monitor such purchases and how such violations could most easily be reported to police. The measure also seeks to enhance the system for locating missing or abducted children. The AMBER Alert system -- short for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response -- is named after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted in Arlington, Texas, and later murdered.
S.885, Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act
Sponsor: Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
Introduced: April 10, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 885 looks to protect children from crime and exploitation. Among other things, the bill would create penalties for people who use misleading domain names to lure children to sites featuring pornographic or obscene material. Child pornographers also would have to be listed in a national sex-offender registry available on the Internet. A related measure, S. 151, was signed into law.
S. 980, Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla.
Introduced: May 1, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 980 calls for a study on the effectiveness of ballistic-imaging technology. In addition, the bill would require an evaluation of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network as a tool in investigating crimes committed with handguns and rifles. To conduct the studies, researchers at the National Academy of Sciences would work with various federal, state and local experts on ballistic imaging.
S. 1052, Ban on Deceptive Unsolicited Bulk Electronic Mail Act
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
Introduced: May 13, 2003
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Description: S. 1052 seeks to battle unsolicited commercial e-mail, or spam, by giving people the right to opt out of receiving such e-mails through a system similar to the "do not call" list for telemarketing implemented in 2003. The measure also would make the sending spam subject to penalties under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a step that would let prosecutors seize the assets of anyone convicted of such a crime.
S. 1088, Enhanced Penalties for Enabling Terrorists Act
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
Introduced: May 20, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1088 would increase penalties for people who use fake identification to commit terrorism. The measure would require prison time for anyone who produces, transfers, possesses or uses fake IDs in such cases. It also would close a loophole in a law that enhanced fake-ID penalties for international terrorism but not domestic terrorism. Violators would be subject to the same penalties regardless of where the terrorism occurs.
S. 1102, Prevention and Recovery of Missing Children Act
Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.
Introduced: May 21, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1102 looks to aid in the search and recovery of missing or abducted children. The legislation would require that all reports on missing children be put into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database within two hours of their receipt. The bill also would require that fingerprints, photographs and DNA samples of convicted sex offenders be registered before their release from prison. The sex-offender registry would have to be updated regularly and available to state and local officials. Convicts who do not register and update their information would face a felony charge.
S. 1123, Violence Against Children Act
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
Introduced: May 22, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1123 would enhance federal penalties aimed at preventing and prosecuting crimes against children. The legislation would authorize grants to states, localities and American Indian tribal government for several types of projects, including the expansion of databases and communications systems that help officials track arrests, prosecutions and convictions. The bill also would require states to enact certain laws in order to receive grants. One type of statute would let parents leave newborns at hospitals without facing prosecution, and officials would have to search state and federal missing-person databases to ensure that children left under such circumstances have not been reported missing. States also would have to implement AMBER Alert communications systems for finding missing and abducted children. The system is named for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted in Arlington, Texas, and later murdered.
S. 1234, Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Introduced: June 11, 2003
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Description: S. 1234 would reauthorize the FTC from fiscal 2004 to fiscal 2006 and expand the office's power to combat global fraud. The measure also seeks to improve the agency’s communication with international police agencies to thwart U.S.-based fraud directed at foreign consumers.
S. 1286, Seniors Safety Act
Sponsor: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
Introduced: June 18, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1286 seeks to curb nursing-home abuse and increase protections for victims of telemarketing schemes, among other purposes. The measure would provide victims of such fraud restitution for their losses and require consideration of the victims’ ages when sentencing scam artists. In addition, the bill would address health fraud conducted via computer systems.
S. 1322, Sexual Offender Parental Notification Act
Sponsor: Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
Introduced: June 24, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1322 would expand a law on notifying communities of sex offenders in their midst to require states to post information about sex offenders on the Internet. States would be required to post the names, addresses, photos and crimes of convicted sex offenders after they are released, as well as the ages and gender of their victims. The bill would broaden Megan’s Law, which was named after 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was abducted, raped and murdered in 1994 by a neighbor convicted of sex offenses.
S. 1350, Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act
Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif
Introduced: June 26, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1350 would require public- and private-sector agencies to notify people whose unencrypted personal information stored in databases may have been compromised. The measure is modeled in part after a California law that took effect July 1, 2003. The bill would define "personal data" Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, state identification numbers, bank-account numbers and credit-card numbers. The measure would set the fines for violators as high as $25,000 per day of violation.
S. 1441, Protection Against Terrorist Hoaxes Act
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.
Introduced: July 22, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1441 would impose penalties for perpetrating terrorism-related hoaxes by telephone or other means. The bill would authorize criminal fines, jail time up to five years, and civil fines of $10,000 or the amount the government spends investigating the hoax, whichever is greater.
S. 1533, Identity Theft Victims Assistance Act
Sponsor: Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
Introduced: July 31, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S.1533 would create a national mechanism to help individuals confirm when they are victims of identity theft and to restore accurate information. An estimated 7 million cases of identity fraud were reported in 2003, a 79 percent increase over the previous year. Instead of relying on individuals or companies to revise records after the theft of personal data, the national center called for in the bill would ensure access to business records of credit charges incurred and allow states to pursue civil penalties against thieves.
S. 1633, Identity Theft Notification and Credit Restoration Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Corzine, D-N.J.
Introduced: Sept. 17, 2003
Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Description: S. 1633 would require financial institutions to inform victims of identity theft of theft of personal data in a timely manner. Those people affected would have “fraud alerts” inserted into their credit reports to inform creditors, and those consumers would need to pre-authorize any additional lines of credit. Financial institutions also would have to develop an information security plan for addressing ID crimes. In addition, victims of identity theft would be granted several free credit reports in the year after the crime, and non-affected consumers also would have access to one free credit report each year.
S. 1700, Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act
Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
Introduced: Oct. 1, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1700 seeks to improve the current system for DNA testing. The measure would work to improve the technology used to compile DNA samples, reduce DNA backlogs and improve training for the handling of DNA, among other things. A House companion bill, H.R. 3214, was introduced.
S. 1706, NICS Improvement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Oct. 2, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1706 would enhance the rules governing updates to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NICS was established as part of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to provide a means of determining whether people may buy firearms under federal or state laws. Among other things, the bill would require the Homeland Security Department to submit quarterly reports to the attorney general, who also would have to work with states toward developing computer systems for submitting information electronically. A House companion bill, H.R. 3237, was introduced.
S. 1749, Prevent Identity Theft From Affecting Lives and Livelihoods (PITFALL) Act
Sponsor: Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn.
Introduced: Oct. 16, 2003
Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Description: S. 1749 would assist victims of identity theft. Under the legislation, those victims would be issued "no fault" letters exempting them from liability for any credit damage from ID theft. Law enforcement officials would have to investigate cases before issuing the letters, but approved letters would go to consumer credit agencies. A House companion bill, H.R. 3296, also was introduced.
S. 1753, National Consumer Credit-Reporting System Improvement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Introduced: Oct. 17, 2003
Committee: Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Description: S.1753 would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to give consumers greater control over their own credit reports. The bill seeks to prevent identity theft by allowing consumers to submit fraud alerts that remain on their credit records for up to seven years. The measure also would give consumers greater access to their consumer reports, requiring agencies to provide free access to consumer reports once a year, and it would limit the sharing of certain consumer information.
S. 1825, Safe Intersections Act
Sponsor: Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio
Introduced: Nov. 5, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1825 would make it illegal to sell or use devices that can change traffic signals as drivers approach in their cars. Violators would face fines up to $10,000 or one year in jail.
S. 1828, Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act
Sponsor: Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.
Introduced: Nov. 5, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1828 would provide more resources for the nation’s DNA labs to help them eliminate the DNA backlog. The bill also would authorize funding for increased research and development on DNA and training programs on correct handling of the technology.
S. 1932, Artists' Rights and Theft Prevention (ART) Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas
Introduced: Nov. 22, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. 1932 would it a federal crime to use camcorders to tape movies in theaters. The maximum penalty would be three years in jail. The bill also would impose criminal and civil penalties, including fines of up to $2,500 per infringement, for unauthorized distribution of "pre-release" movies. The act seeks to combat the widespread Internet distribution of movies.
S. 1958, Mutual Fund Investor Protection Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Introduced: Nov. 25, 2003
Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Description: S. 1958 would prevent mutual funds from engaging in "late trading," or the purchasing of stock shares at the previous day’s closing prices. The bill, introduced in the wake of a scandal involving mutual funds, also would establish a board to oversee the industry. Violators of the rules could be prosecuted under federal racketeering law.

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