PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Laid on the table. See S. 151 for further action.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 5, 2003
Child Abduction Prevention Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) make the authorized term of supervised release after imprisonment any term of years or life, and to require a term of supervised release of at least five years, for kidnaping and for other sexual crimes against or involving minors; (2) include aggravated child abuse and child torture murders within the scope of the definition of first degree murder; and (3) increase penalties for sexual exploitation and other abuse of children, for transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes, and for kidnaping children.Prohibits: (1) and increases the maximum sentence for traveling in or into the United States to engage in an illicit sexual act with another person (currently, with a juvenile); (2) traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in such sexual conduct; or (3) arranging or facilitating such travel. Establishes as a defense that the defendant reasonably believed the victim had attained age 18.Provides for mandatory life imprisonment of a person convicted of a Federal sex offense against a minor if the person has a prior sex conviction in which a minor was the victim, unless a death sentence is imposed.Establishes criminal liability for attempting to remove a child from the United States with intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights.Authorizes the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications in the investigation of kidnaping, sex trafficking, specified sex offenses against children, or transportation for illegal sexual activity.Eliminates statutes of limitations for child abduction and for felony offenses of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and other abuse of children, transportation for illegal sexual activity, or sex trafficking of children or by force. Bars pretrial release for persons charged with such offenses.Requires Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to report each case of a missing child under age 21 (currently, 18) reported to them to the National Crime Information Center.Directs the Attorney General to assign a national AMBER Alert Coordinator who shall establish minimum standards for the issuance of alerts and the extent of alert dissemination.Provides for grants to States for the development or enhancement of: (1) notification or communications systems along highways for alerts for the recovery of abducted children; and (2) programs and activities for the support of AMBER Alert communications plans.Increases authorized appropriations for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.Authorizes the use of COPS (Cops on the Beat, community policing) grants to assist a State in enforcing a convicted sex offender registration law.
People & committees
Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · R–WI
Legislative record
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Laid on the table. See S. 151 for further action.
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1104.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 410 - 14 (Roll no. 89).
House roll call 89 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 410 - 14 (Roll no. 89).
House roll call 89 · Individual votesThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (consideration: CR H2437-2438; text: CR H2416-2418)
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1104.
PROCEEDINGS RESUMED - The Chair announced that the Committee of the Whole would now resume proceedings on the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Smith (TX) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Smith (TX) demanded a recorded vote and further proceedings on the adoption of the amendment were postponed until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Smith (TX) amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Acevedo-Vila amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lampson amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Carter amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foley amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pomeroy amendment.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Feeney amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Feeney demanded a recorded vote and further proceedings on the adoption of the amendment were postponed until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Feeney amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 160, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pence amendment.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1104.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Fred Upton to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 160 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1104 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. After pasage of H.R. 1104, it shall be in order to consider in the House S. 151. All points of order against the Senate bill and against its consideration are waived. It shall be in order to move to strike all after the enacting clause of the Senate bill and to insert in lieu thereof the provisions of H.R. 1104 as passed by the House. If the motion is adopted and the Senate bill, as amended, is passed, then
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 160. (consideration: CR H2405-2443)
Rule H. Res. 160 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 160 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1104 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. After pasage of H.R. 1104, it shall be in order to consider in the House S. 151. All points of order against the Senate bill and against its consideration are waived. It shall be in order to move to strike all after the enacting clause of the Senate bill and to insert in lieu thereof the provisions of H.R. 1104 as passed by the House. If the motion is adopted and the Senate bill, as amended, is passed, then
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 29.
Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged.
Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged.
Committee on Transportation discharged.
Committee on Transportation discharged.
House Committee on Education and the Workforce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than March 24, 2003.
House Committee on Transportation Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than March 24, 2003.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-47, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-47, Part I.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 2.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jul 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.1104 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.1104 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
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