I’ve heard from concerned parents all across Eastern Washington who worry daily about who their kids are talking to online and how predators are using social media to exploit children. As a mom, I share these concerns. The simple thought of someone targeting kids online is enough to keep any parent up at night, which is why we must do more to protect them from these predators. 

This week, Congress passed legislation to try and give parents some peace of mind. It’s called the PROTECT Our Children Act and it reauthorizes the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, which is dedicated to investigating, prosecuting, and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children. The ICAC has done incredible work to combat child exploitation nationwide over the years, and I’m proud to help that work continue.

By sending this bipartisan legislation to President Biden’s desk to become law, we are sending a clear message to those who want to exploit our children online: We will stop at nothing to find you, catch you, and prosecute you for your heinous crimes. To the parents in Eastern Washington who share my fears, I hope this legislation helps you sleep a little better at night.