King Calls for More Background Checks on Sex Offenders
Encourages Online Dating Sites and Employers to Check Names with Registry

July 25, 2007

For Immediate Release
Contact Carol Danko
202-225-7896

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Pete King (R-Seaford) introduced legislation encouraging employers and online dating sites to use sex offender registries for background checks. By law, sex offenders must register with state and federal registries. Employers, companies, and even the general public can access these sites at no cost and check the names for registered sex offenders.

“It seems almost every day we hear of another account of a sex offender in the news, many of which are repeat offenses that could have been easily prevented,” said King. “I want everyone to know that the tools are out there to keep our children safe, and we must start using them.”

King’s legislation (H.Res.572) does three key things: 1) Encourages online dating sites to check the names of current and potential members with sex offender registries and prohibit access to those listed as registered sex offenders; 2)  Encourages employers to check the names of potential employees with registries when hiring for positions working with children; and 3)  Urges all states to implement the registration guidelines set by the Adam Walsh Act before the 2009 deadline, and to enforce stricter requirements.

“If we are going to stop these criminals from heading back into our communities and harming our children, we must stay one step ahead of them at all times,” said King. “This legislation reminds people that we can – and must – be proactive in order to be preventive.”

Sex offenders are becoming more creative in their tactics to harm children, and now have turned to online dating sites, targeting single mothers and gaining access to their children. As of now, very few online dating sites screen their members – a process as simple as checking a name with the federal sex offender registry.  King is urging these sites to be more active and responsible.

King has a strong record of supporting legislation to protect our children and combat child predators.  He is a member of the bipartisan House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.

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