International Megan’s Law Must be Killed in Congress
See related posts:
The International Megan’s Law of 2010
HR1623 International Megan’s Law
International Megans Law Moves Forward in US House
Sex Offender Law Could Go Global
The proposed International Megan’s Law must be defeated in Congress.
It has undergone several revisions and it’s bill number has changed. But this International Megan’s Law bill (if passed) would virtually ban any registered sex offender from traveling outside the United States. You need to read and learn about this bill and fight vigilantly to kill it.
Bill Summary:
“H.R. 5138 would protect children from sexual exploitation by mandating reporting requirements for convicted sex traffickers and other registered sex offenders against minors intending to engage in international travel, providing advance notice of intended travel by high interest registered sex offenders outside the United States to the government of the country of destination, requesting foreign governments to notify the United States when a known child sex offender is seeking to enter the United States.”
We at ConstitutionalFights.org abhor sexual exploitation and abuse of any kind. But we similarly abhor laws such as this, which singles out one group of offenders for extreme punishments and restrictions which amount to constitutional infringements upon their liberty in this great country. Former offenders have the same dreams and desires others have of traveling to other parts of the world. What would you think if the government told YOU that you could never travel outside the US without restrictions, and government monitoring?
From Terry at JusticeinJersey.org:
When I met with Rep. Chris Smith’s office (they had 2 attorneys) I was handed a new copy of bill H.R. 5138 and told that they had revised it. We talked about the revisions and since then I have been reading it line by line for intent and objections. I have sent them three pages so far and am 1/2 way through the bill. I just came across another hidden point which is disturbing and I believe we all should be writing to our Senators and all of the representatives on The Congressional Appropriations Committee.
- A Fee, not to exceed the amount of $25 will be charged by ICE to all sex offenders as a processing fee. However, this fee can be increased thereafter, not earlier than 30 days after consultation with the appropriate congressional committees.
- This is an unlimited pool of money from hardworking sex offenders to pay for the additional resources and to other counties. They are also asking for 250,000 (a quarter mil) as start up money from the our taxpayers in addition to providing resources, money, and technology to other countries.
- While they also state that this fee shall be waved if the sex offender demonstrates to the satisfaction of ICE, pursuant to a fee waiver process established by ICE, that the payment of such fee would impose and undue financial hardship on the sex offender. (how could one prove hardship when planing to travel internationally? Most SOs fall just above the income line to be able to qualify.)
Of course, this bill applies to all registered sex offenders (as written) whose offense involved a minor. And this fee is just one objectionable point in this legislation. The restriction and monitoring of any ex offender who desires to travel internationally is the main point of objection.
Appropriations Committee Members
Democratic Members
DANIEL K. INOUYE Hawaii, Chairman Defense (Chairman), Commerce, Justice, Science, Homeland Security, Labor, HHS, and Education, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, State, Foreign Operations |
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PATRICK J. LEAHY Vermont State, Foreign Operations (Chairman), Commerce, Justice, Science, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Transportation/HUD |
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TOM HARKIN Iowa Labor, HHS, Education (Chairman), Agriculture, Rural Development, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, Transportation/HUD |
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BARBARA A. MIKULSKI Maryland Commerce, Justice, Science (Chairman), Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, State, Foreign Operations, Transportation/HUD |
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HERB KOHL Wisconsin Agriculture, Rural Development (Chairman), Commerce, Justice, Science, Defense, Interior, Labor, HHS and Education, Transportation /HUD |
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PATTY MURRAY Washington Transportation/HUD (Chairman), Defense, Energy and Water Development, Homeland Security, Labor, HHS and Education, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs |
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BYRON DORGAN North Dakota Energy and Water Development (Chairman), Agriculture, Rural Development, Commerce, Justice, Science, Defense, Interior, Transportation/HUD |
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DIANNE FEINSTEIN California Interior (Chairman), Agriculture and Rural Development, Commerce, Justice, Science, Defense, Energy and Water Development, Transportation/HUD |
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RICHARD J. DURBIN Illinois Financial Services and General Government (Chairman), Agriculture and Rural Development, Defense, Labor, HHS and Education, State, Foreign Operations, Transportation/HUD |
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TIM JOHNSON South Dakota Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (Chairman), Agriculture, Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Interior, State, Foreign Operations, Transportation/HUD |
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MARY L. LANDRIEU Louisiana Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, HHS and Education, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, State, Foreign Operations |
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JACK REED Rhode Island Agriculture and Rural Development, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Interior, Labor, HHS, Education, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs |
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FRANK R. LAUTENBERG New Jersey Homeland Security (Interim Chairman),Commerce, Justice, Science, Transportation/HUD, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Labor, HHS and Education, State, Foreign Operations |
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BEN NELSON Nebraska Legislative Branch (Chairman), Agriculture and Rural Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Commerce, Justice, Science |
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MARK PRYOR Arkansas Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Science, Labor, HHS and Education, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs |
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JON TESTER Montana Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Legislative Branch |
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ARLEN SPECTER Pennsylvania Labor, HHS and Education, Agriculture and Rural Development, Defense, Homeland Security, State, Foreign Operations, Transportation/HUD |
Republican Members
THAD COCHRAN Mississippi, Vice Chairman Defense (Ranking), Homeland Security, Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Interior, Labor, HHS and Education |
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CHRISTOPHER S. BOND Missouri Transportation/HUD (Ranking), Agriculture and Rural Development, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government |
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MITCH MCCONNELL Kentucky Agriculture and Rural Development, State, Foreign Operations, Commerce, Justice, Science, Defense, Energy and Water Development, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs |
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RICHARD C. SHELBY Alabama Commerce, Justice, Science (Ranking), Energy and Water Development, Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, HHS, Education, Transportation/ HUD |
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JUDD GREGG New Hampshire State, Foreign Operations (Ranking), Commerce, Justice, Science, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, HHS and Education |
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ROBERT F. BENNETT Utah Energy and Water Development (Ranking), Agriculture and Rural Development, Defense, Interior, State, Foreign Operations, Transportation/HUD |
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KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON Texas Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (Ranking), Commerce, Justice, Science, Defense, Energy and Water Development, Labor, HHS and Education, Transportation/HUD |
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SAM BROWNBACK Kansas Agriculture and Rural Development (Ranking), Homeland Security, State, Foreign Operations, Commerce, Justice, Science, Transportation/HUD, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs |
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LAMAR ALEXANDER Tennessee Interior (Ranking), Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Labor, HHS, and Education, Financial Services and General Government, Transportation/HUD |
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SUSAN COLLINS Maine Financial Services and General Government (Ranking), Agriculture, Interior, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Transportation/HUD |
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GEORGE VOINOVICH Ohio Homeland Security (Ranking), Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, State, Foreign Operations, Transportation/HUD |
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LISA MURKOWSKI Alaska Legislative Branch (Ranking), Commerce, Justice, Science, Homeland Security, Interior, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs |
Please let us know once you have called, emailed or written to the committee and your senator. You should also write to Representative Chris Smith, 2375 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515.
Thank you so much for your time and attention to this important matter.
Terry
www.JusticeInJersey.org
RSOL State Coordinator
NowJustice4All@gmail.com