Happening in Congress: HR 2847 Appropriations

6-20-2009 Washington DC:

The U.S. House approved an appropriations bill (HR 2847) Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. Within the appropriations bill are several different amounts each for different purposes outlined in the Adam Walsh Act.

However, in the House Report 111-149 is the following notable comment:

Sex offender apprehension.--The Committee appreciates that the Marshals Service has annualized $15,812,000 of prior year supplemental funds into its fiscal year 2010 budget request for enforcement of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. However, the budget request does not provide any additional funds to expand this program beyond the current level of effort. If the Marshals are going to make a significant impact on the estimated caseload of 100,000 non-compliant sex offenders, a concerted, multi-year effort to dedicate additional resources to the program is necessary. Consequently, the Committee's recommendation includes $20,000,000 to expand Adam Walsh Act enforcement activities in districts across the country.

What makes this notable is, the monies are appropriated to pursue a MYTH, that there are 100,000 sex offenders in communities who are not registered and in violation of law.

While there is no doubt that there are some offenders who have not registered and are in violation of law, the reality is, the "missing 100,000" is a long standing MYTH on which lawmakers have passed law after law, tricking the public through fear-mongering.

Now the truth behind the mythical 100,000 number. Notice every news report from 2003 (documenting how the number came to be) has been preserved for verification if one wishes to do same.

The bill now goes to the Senate for its approval. It is unlikely that the Senate will do anything but rubber stamp the bill.

eAdvocate

PS: Interesting is, the House vote: The Yeas and Nays: 259 - 157 (Roll no. 408). I find it very interesting that the Republicans created this Adam Walsh fiasco and now they DO NOT want to fund it. Hummm, sounds like their real purpose in enacting it, was -drum roll- to keep them in office...but in fairness this bill is about far more than the Adam Walsh Act.