U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre and an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives backed legislation that will crack down on online predators, stop the spread of child pornography, and help make the Internet safer for children.

"The Internet is a tremendous resource, but we must be careful to protect our children from those who would do them harm,” said McIntyre. “I was pleased to support legislation that will protect our kids from online predators and help make the information superhighway a safer place for our children."

The bills increase resources to fight Internet crimes against children, authorize a new public awareness campaign to promote Internet safety and provide tough new penalties against those people and companies who produce, view and allow others to purchase child pornography. The legislation also cracks down on sex offenders by allowing judges to require convicted sex offenders to use internet tracking and filtering software that limits offenders’ access to certain material online.

In recent studies conducted by the Department of Justice, 1 in 7 children between the age of 10 and 17 received a sexual solicitation online. And 1 in 25 (or one per classroom) receives an aggressive sexual solicitation when a predator calls them on the phone, sends them gifts or requests a meeting.