Hayworth-Backed Child Abuse Prevention Bill Signed Into Law

President Bush signs Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act WASHINGTON Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) joined the founders of Scottsdale-based child abuse prevention group Childhelp and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers at the White House on July 28, 2006 to watch as President Bush sign the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act into law. The new law, which includes Rep. Hayworth's provision for a centralized database designed to share critical collected information on child abusers, will strengthen sex offender registry programs and enhance Internet safeguards that protect children from exploitation and child pornography. "This historic day has been a long time in coming," said Rep. Hayworth. "This new law creates a centralized information database that allows information about child abusers to be accessed by law enforcement anywhere in the United States. Since child predators tend to be repeat offenders, this registry is crucial. It lets abusers know that no matter where they live, they are being tracked." Hayworth was joined at the White House by Mrs. Sarah O'Meara and Mrs. Yvonne Fedderson of Scottsdale-based Childhelp, a leading national non-profit focused on the prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse in America. Congressman Hayworth has worked for a number of years with the advocacy group to support tougher restrictions for child abusers. "We are so grateful for the determination and longtime leadership of Rep. Hayworth, along with many others, who teamed up to spearhead this legislation," said Mrs. O'Meara and Mrs. Fedderson. "This milestone victory comes at a critical time, when millions of children are victims of abuse and neglect each year, and four of them die from it every daya staggering figure. Hopefully this law will help change some of those statistics."