July 11, 2005—Today Franks announced he would be co-sponsoring the “Children’s Safety Act of 2005” aimed at protecting children from sex offenders.  The announcement comes in the wake of yesterday’s confirmation that remains found last week in a remote campsite of Montana are those of 9-year-old Dylan Groene.

“The tragic news of the molestation and murder of Dylan Groene and subsequent molestation of Shasta Groene crushes my own heart and that of America and unfortunately demonstrates why the Children’s Safety Act of 2005 is necessary to keep these monsters away from America's children,” said Franks.

Eight-year old Shasta, who disappeared May 16 with her nine-year-old brother Dylan, told police the convicted child molester, Joseph Edward Duncan III, repeatedly molested her and her brother after kidnapping them.

“Clearly if a convicted type III sex offender still has access to innocent children, then our current protections do not suffice,” Franks said.  “It is our historic duty as lawmakers to protect the innocent from harm, and I will do everything in my power to see that we accomplish that.”

The Children’s Safety Act of 2005, H.R. 3132, is a bipartisan, comprehensive bill that improves sex offender registration and notification programs, requires monthly in-person verification of sex offenders, requires states to notify each other when a sex offender moves from one to another, increases criminal penalties against child sexual predators, deters violent crimes against and sexual exploitation of children, and many more protections.

“My deepest sympathy and prayers remain with Dylan, Shasta and the entire Groene family, and all those who have experienced this heartbreak,” said Franks.
 

Trent Franks is the Congressman from the 2nd Congressional District of Arizona.  He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee.