Student Internet Safety Act of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 780) to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to promote the safe use of the Internet by students, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 780 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Student Internet Safety Act of 2009. In a world where we rely on the Internet for a variety of purposes, including education, we need to ensure that today's youth are taught how to safely navigate the World Wide Web.

Recent research shows that 93 percent of all children between the ages of 12 and 17 are online. Additionally, the average child between the ages of 2 and 11 years old views more online video than his or her parents. Clearly, it is time that we ensure children are taught healthy, safe and smart ways to utilize their time online.

Too often our news is filled with stories of students falling victim to cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and other forms of online harassment. With students' use of online social networking sites growing at a very rapid pace and an abundance of material inappropriate for children on the Internet, these threats show no sign of decreasing. We must begin taking steps to provide our children with guidance and instructions on how to be safe in an increasingly digital world. By promoting programs that educate children on Internet safety and increased parental involvement, the Student Internet Safety Act will help us begin to stem the tide of these alarming threats to today's youth.

When navigated safely and correctly, the Internet can provide students with a remarkable resource to get help with homework, do research for school projects, virtually tour historical sites, explore special interests, and share information with peers around the world. Mr. Speaker, it is our responsibility to make sure children are protected from and educated about the numerous online threats in order to maximize the priceless opportunities to advance learning that the digital world provides.

According to a Microsoft survey of parents, at least 56 percent of children access the Internet from school for a variety of purposes. This number will increase as we move forward. This legislation is a vital step towards promoting the safe use of the Internet by students.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Putnam of Florida for introducing this legislation, and I once again express my support for this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the gentlewoman from Washington, I recognize her very fine eloquent statements about the Student Internet Safety Act of 2009. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this act.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, after making three hundred thirty nine

straight recorded votes, I missed my first vote on the floor of the House of Representatives today as I attended the high school graduation of my daughter, Caitlin Rose Connolly.

While I take my responsibilities as a member of Congress seriously and make an effort to ensure my constituents are represented on every vote, nothing would have kept me from witnessing my daughter's graduation.

I would like to take this time to congratulate my daughter, Caitlin Rose Connolly, all of the graduating seniors at W.T. Woodson High School, and all other graduates in the class of 2009. Completing high school is a tremendous achievement. I am certain that the parents, family, friends and teachers of all of the graduates are as proud of their students as I am of Caitlin.

I would also like to take this moment to indicate how I would have voted on those votes that I missed.

On H.R. 2470, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19190 Cochran Boulevard FRNT in Port Charlotte, Florida, as the ``Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Boehm Post Office Building,'' I would have voted, ``aye.''

On H.R. 780, the Student Internet Safety Act of 2009, I would have voted, ``aye.''

On the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I would have voted, ``aye.''

On H.R. 2247, the Congressional Review Improvement Act, I would have voted, ``aye.''

On H.R. 403, the Homes for Heroes Act of 2009, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the ``Student Internet Safety Act of 2009'' (H.R. 780), which the House of Representatives passed on June 16, 2009. H.R. 780 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow local educational agencies that receive Title II (teacher grants) funds and Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds, to develop and implement programs promoting safe Internet use by students (i.e. how to prevent online stalking and promoting parental involvement).

My colleague from Florida, Representative Adam Putnam is the author of H.R. 780. I commend Representative Putnam in crafting thoughtful and much needed legislation to provide schools with the ability to teach children about the potential dangers associated with the Internet. Congressman Putnam said that ``We teach our children how to look both ways before crossing the street; we also need to teach them the safety rules for the `information superhighway.' '' I could not agree more and that is why I was pleased that the House Leadership scheduled a vote on