From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

Jul 27 , 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson Bill Targets Internet Porn Peddlers

Washington DC-Cong. Jim Matheson joined Senate colleagues today to unveil legislation aimed at making the Internet a safer place for America's children. Legislation to be introduced by Matheson in the House and Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln in the Senate follows the release of some alarming findings in a new report by Third Way, a centrist think tank and advocacy group.

Matheson said the report reveals the startling fact that children age 12-17 are the largest group of consumers of Internet pornography. The report also finds that the average age at which children are first exposed to pornography on the Internet today is 11 years old. According to the report, even the industry admits that between 20 - 30% of its traffic comes from youth under the age of 18.

"I am proud to introduce this critically important legislation. The porn industry has infiltrated our homes and it compromises what can be an excellent learning tool for our children. It is inexcusable for Congress not to act. We must stop the industry from exploiting the internet to expose our children to smut. Families should not have to do battle against this industry by themselves. They need a weapon that hurts and this bill is that weapon," said Matheson.

Matheson said the legislation has two main features. First, it requires that pornographic websites use the latest age verification software technology. Second, it establishes a child protection trust fund financed by an excise tax of 25% on internet pornography transactions. Third Way has estimated that this "sin tax" would generate $3 billion in annual revenue to help pay for tougher law enforcement, better blocking and filtering technologies and great education efforts to keep children safe online.

Even though software now exists that gives Web site operators the ability to require the same proof of age that brick-and-mortar vendors require before selling pornography, only 3% of pornographic websites require age verification that goes beyond the "honor system."

"I stand with parents when it comes to holding the pornography industry accountable." said Matheson. "Who better to pay the costs of protecting our children from Internet pornography than the industry that has made billions of dollars offering it?"

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Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)