Bill Authorizing National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign and TCC Signed Into Law

I am pleased to announce that H.R. 4472, the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act of 2006, was signed into law at the end of July 2006, by President George W. Bush. The legislation contains language authorizing the National Citizens’ Crime Prevention Campaign (the Campaign) and its major initiatives, including Teens, Crime, and the Community (TCC) and McGruff programs, through FY10. Recommended funding levels increased from $7 million in FY2007 up to $10 million in FY10. It must be noted that this authorization is an important milestone for crime prevention; however, the annual congressional appropriation process will still need to be negotiated to get the actual funding for our critical work.  The passage of this legislation is the result of extensive discussion with and support from the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, especially the offices of Chairman Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Representative F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI).

Other hallmark provisions of H.R. 4472 strengthen procedures to register and track sex offenders, increase penalties for crime against children, and expand online safety programs aimed at protecting children from predators. The day the bill was singed into law marked the 25th anniversary of the abduction of Adam Walsh, the son of child safety advocate and television host John Walsh.

We hope that NCPC’s new status as one of a select few authorized national programs will strengthen the case for increased FY07 appropriations to support the Campaign, TCC, and other major initiatives. House and Senate conferees will meet in the fall to reconcile differences in their recommended marks for related to FY07 appropriations for Department of Justice-related initiatives.