How to submit your concerns about S-431's e-mail and other Internet Ids bill.

6-30-2008
Regarding the FAST TRACKING of Sen. McCain and Sen. Schumer’s S-431 “The Kid’s Act of 2008” which generally wants ALL registered sex offenders, nationwide, to submit their e-mail addresses and all other Internet identifiers.

It took me longer to put together everything folks need to know than I expected, but here it is now. S-431 was amended by the Senate, passed and sent to the House where it was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The first problem we encountered is, they have five subcommittees and we are not absolutely positive which one will handle it, see below “Contacting Committee Members” to see how we resolved that issue.

The Senate Amended S-431, which you can access on Thomas (See “Bill Information” below), was amended and now includes provisions addressing Adam Walsh Child Pornography laws, which is going to make it harder than ever to get it killed completely, so it is now CRITICAL for folks to respond so that changes in the portion of the bill addressing RSOs e-mail addresses can be made.

CRITICAL meaning IMPORTANT, so RSOs get every family member you can to also respond, get your friends, get your loved ones and if I have missed anyone else, get them too. There are major problems with this bill that will affect all 600,000 plus RSOs and their families too.

TIMELINE: Congress is on July 4th break right now, so that gives us a small window to get concerns FAXED in to them. Yes, I said FAX, below you will find a way to FAX using your computer for FREE. While I have not been able to test this system, due to its limitations on where FAXES can be sent, but Congress is one area that is available for FREE. If this works it will be a boon to RSOs and their families to have their voices heard on any new bill presented in Congress.

Now, S-431 is in Committee and that committee is scheduled to return on July 7, 2008. When they get in they will empty their FAX machines, get any e-mails from the House Committee e-mail system, and e-mails sent to Committee members and I guess assimilate all that and decide whether the bill is to be voted OUT OF COMMITTEE and go to the House floor, or killed, or again amended in committee before going to the House floor.

This is why it is CRITICAL to get your concerns in ASAP, I know it’s a holiday, but these changes are for a lifetime of registration, and for some that is the rest of their lives. Everyone MUST GET INVOLVED.

CONCERNS: Please remember, committee members are ASKING for input, and only they can make changes to the bill as it stands. So, whatever you write please make it such a logical convincing argument that they are going to want to make changes: LOGICAL CONVINCING and CONCISE, key words. It is their ball game, talk to them they way they like to be talked to. OK, so I don’t like to praise politicians, you’ve read my commentaries, BUT, I will do it if it will help ALL RSOs and their families, that’s my advocacy. Follow suit and together we may effect changes. Do nothing, well, read the amended bill text, that’s what will happen, guaranteed.

What are my concerns, you ask? I focused on five major topics, which if they get changed will kill a ton of minor issues. You are welcomed to read mine, eAdvocate’s reasons why S-431 should not become law as written, but they may not be ones that you would chose which is fine, write about what concerns you or your family: LOGICAL CONVINCING and CONCISE, key words.

I think that about covers it, but if I’ve missed something just send me a e-mail.

eAdvocate

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BILL INFORMATION:

S.431 Title: A bill to require convicted sex offenders to register online identifiers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] (introduced 1/30/2007) Cosponsors (20)

Latest Major Action: 5/21/2008 Held at the desk.

Senate Reports: 110-332 -------All Bill Information ------- Text of S-431 Legislation


CONTACTING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

NOTE: Remember, you can always use the House Judiciary e-mail system , if you do you MUST put in the first line of the "e-mail body" S-431 Concerns for Rep. Conyers or Rep. Scott. Without that it may not get to them in time to be considered.

If you don't do the above then follow this: Who should you contact? Given we are not ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE which subcommittee will handle S-431, here are our thoughts: All subcommittees are shown below in the order of MOST LIKELY to handle S-431. Two Members (Rep. John Conyers and Rep. Robert C. Scott) sit on all committees, and both are most favorable to our advocacy. One helped us last year to present issues to the Internet Sex Crimes hearing held in Congress.

Accordingly, first FAX your concerns to them, their FAX numbers are shown. If for whatever reason you cannot FAX them, then there are links to their House websites, as well as all other committee member websites. Most of them have ways to e-mail them, but some require you be their constituent (you won't be able to e-mail them unless you are their constituent).

However, every member -on their House website- has phone numbers (FAX and Land Lines) where they can be contacted, you can call them and ask how to submit your concerns about S-431 for their consideration, -OR- use the FREE INTERNET FAX SERVICE.

NOTE: If you use the internet FAX Service, in the body of their formatted screen, you MUST FIRST put S-431 Concerns for Rep. Conyers or Rep.Scott, FOLLOWED by your Name, Full Address, Phone Number and e-mail address. Following that type your concerns before sending the Internet FAX. The service will confirm -to your e-mail address- that the FAX has been sent.

Congress has never been generous with ways to contact them, they are still in the DARK AGES resorting to SNAIL MAIL and FAXES in a technology age where e-mails and instant messages are common place. I guess thats why they get away with passing laws under suspension of the rules saying, "there is no public controversy," which is how the Adam Walsh Act was passed.

Good Luck. eAdvocate

House Judiciary SubCommittees:

Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security:
Robert C. Scott, Virginia (FAX: 202-225-8354 OFF: 202-225-8351)
Maxine Waters, California
Bill Delahunt, Massachusetts
Jerrold Nadler, New York
Hank Johnson, Georgia
Anthony D. Weiner, New York
Sheila Jackson-Lee, Texas
Artur Davis, Alabama
Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin[1]

Randy Forbes, Virginia
Louie Gohmert, Texas
Jim Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin
Howard Coble, North Carolina
Steve Chabot, Ohio
Dan Lungren, California

Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property:
Howard L. Berman, California
John Conyers, Michigan (FAX: 202-225-7680 OFF: 202-225-5126)
Rick Boucher, Virginia
Robert Wexler, Florida
Mel Watt, North Carolina
Sheila Jackson-Lee, Texas
Steve Cohen, Tennessee
Hank Johnson, Georgia
Brad Sherman, California
Anthony D. Weiner, New York
Adam B. Schiff, California

Howard Coble, North Carolina
Tom Feeney, Florida
Jim Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin
Elton Gallegly, California
Bob Goodlatte, Virginia
Steve Chabot, Ohio
Chris Cannon, Utah
Darrell Issa, California
Mike Pence, Indiana

The Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties:
Jerrold Nadler, New York
Artur Davis, Alabama
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida
Keith Ellison, Minnesota
John Conyers, Michigan
Robert C. Scott, Virginia
Mel Watt, North Carolina
Steve Cohen, Tennessee

Trent Franks, Arizona
Mike Pence, Indiana
Darrell Issa, California
Jim Jordan, Ohio

Other House Subcommittees Which We Do Not Think Will Be Involved:
Commercial and Administrative Law:
Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law:

FYI: A Complete Phone List for Everyone in Congress (including committees)