Pres. Bush signs Adam Walsh Act
July 2006 — In 2006, RAINN helped pass legislation that enhances penalties for child sexual abuse and tightens the registration requirements for sex offenders. The final version of this legislation, now known as the Adam Walsh Child Safety and Protection Act (H.R. 4472), passed both houses of Congress. President George W. Bush signed it into law in July 2006.
RAINN is pleased to have worked with members of both chambers on the development and passage of this legislation. RAINN credits the bill's chief sponsors, House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Bill Frist (R-TN), Joe Biden (D-DE), and Charles Grassley (R-IA), and the bill's other co-sponsors for working together in a bipartisan way to overcome hurdles and enact this legislation.
“There are 500,000 sex offenders who are expected to register. But nearly one out of every five, or 100,000 total, has gone missing.
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Evelyn Fortier, Michael Volkov, & Scott Berkowitz.
The bill is named in honor of the son of John and Reve Walsh, who was murdered 25 years ago.
"Today, there are 500,000 sex offenders who are expected to register. But nearly one out of every five, or 100,000 total, has gone missing," said RAINN president Scott Berkowitz. "The passage of the Adam Walsh Act will give law enforcement the tools to track down missing offenders and keep them in sight, leaving us all safer. This is a landmark bill that's going to make a real difference."