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Cornyn & Abbott Promote Child Protection Act

AUSTIN (AP) - U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott are urging the passage of a new federal law to fight child pornography, sexual predators and human trafficking.

The two Republicans are expected to call for the passage of the new Child Protection Act on Friday. If signed into law, the act would increase the penalties for child pornography, protect child witnesses and give U.S. marshals new authority to obtain time-sensitive documents.

Cornyn is sponsoring the bill in the Senate with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut. U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith and Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz are sponsoring the bill the in the U.S. House.

Abbott runs a Cyber-Crimes Unit in Texas which is a national leader in prosecuting child predators on the Internet.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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