Monday, July 5, 2010

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.)
When I spoke to the Representatives of Congressman Chris Smith's office, I was assured that the bill was changed to go after the worst of the worst based on risk based evaluations performed by ICE. If that were true this bill would not constantly say just "sex offender" instead of saying "high risk sex offender as identified by ICE through risk based evaluation testing."

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.

Please write your Senator(s) and the Congressional Appropriations Committee

Appropriations Committee Members

Democratic Members

Senator Portrait DANIEL K. INOUYE
Hawaii, Chairman

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Senator Portrait PATRICK J. LEAHY
Vermont

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Senator Portrait TOM HARKIN
Iowa

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Senator Portrait BARBARA A. MIKULSKI
Maryland

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Senator Portrait HERB KOHL
Wisconsin

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Senator Portrait PATTY MURRAY
Washington

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Senator Portrait BYRON DORGAN
North Dakota

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Senator Portrait DIANNE FEINSTEIN
California

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Senator Portrait RICHARD J. DURBIN
Illinois

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Senator Portrait TIM JOHNSON
South Dakota

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Senator Portrait MARY L. LANDRIEU
Louisiana

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Senator Portrait JACK REED
Rhode Island

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Senator Portrait FRANK R. LAUTENBERG
New Jersey

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Senator Portrait BEN NELSON
Nebraska

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Senator Portrait MARK PRYOR
Arkansas

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Senator Portrait JON TESTER
Montana

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Specter Thumbnail ARLEN SPECTER
Pennsylvania

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Republican Members

Senator Portrait THAD COCHRAN
Mississippi, Vice Chairman

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Senator Portrait CHRISTOPHER S. BOND
Missouri

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Senator Portrait MITCH MCCONNELL
Kentucky

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Senator Portrait RICHARD C. SHELBY
Alabama

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Senator Portrait JUDD GREGG
New Hampshire

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Senator Portrait ROBERT F. BENNETT
Utah

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Senator Portrait KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
Texas

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Senator Portrait SAM BROWNBACK
Kansas

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Senator Portrait LAMAR ALEXANDER
Tennessee

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Senator Portrait SUSAN COLLINS
Maine

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Senator Portrait GEORGE VOINOVICH
Ohio

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Senator Portrait LISA MURKOWSKI
Alaska

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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