Legislation to expand federal penalties for people convicted of crimes against children is being introduced today by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa. Grassley says: "This legislation builds on a 2005 bill that I got through Congress. The president signed it. The bill created a mandatory minimum prison sentence for criminals who committed murder, kidnapping or serious bodily harm against children."
The original legislation was named for Jetseta Gage, the ten-year-old Cedar Rapids girl who was kidnapped and murdered by a man who was a convicted sex offender. Grassley says: "My new proposal would send a message that predatory crimes against children will result in serious consequences. Of course, it’ll be referred to the Judiciary Committee and from my position on that committee, I’m going to start working on passage for this legislation."
He says his earlier bill brought good progress but he believes more can and should be done to those who commit "despicable" crimes against children.