Orrin Hatch on Families & Children

Republican Sr Senator (UT)

Filth should not be banned; only youth exposure should be

[We can] stem the influence of cultural violence by doing more to limit the exposure of children to violence. The entertainment industry [should] enforce pre-existing ratings systems. Let me be clear. I am not arguing that this filth should be banned or regulated by the government. But we should limit our young people’s exposure to it. It is one thing to prohibit producing this material. It’s another thing to condone the entertainment industry’s embracing of this garbage and its sale to children. Source: (Xref from Civil Rights) senate.gov/~hatch/ “Juvenile” , May 11, 1999

4-point Youth Violence Plan to combat juvenile crime

We must do more-and expect more-from our schools, the entertainment industry, & our juvenile justice systems. Accordingly, I have developed a response to the problem of violent juvenile crime.

Prevention & Enforcement Assistance to State & Local Government;
Parental Empowerment & Stemming the Influence of Cultural Violence;
Getting Tough of Violent Juveniles & Those Who Commit Violent Crimes with a Firearm;
Providing for Safe & Secure Schools.

Source: senate.gov/~hatch/ “Juvenile Offender Act” , May 11, 1999

Prohibit marketing & renting violent music & games to kids

Limiting access of ultra-violent music and video games to children does not raise the same constitutional concerns that a general prohibition on such material would entail. For example, no one can reasonably argue that the Constitution prohibits restricting X-rated material to children. Consequently, I [recommend investigating] the marketing of violent music and video games to children. In addition, I am considering an enforcement mechanism for the current ratings system. Source: (Xref from Juvenile Crime) senate.gov/~hatch “Marketing” , May 4, 1999

Hollywood should do more to change culture for good

There is a sense among many Americans that we are powerless to change our culture. I believe we can change our culture if only we are willing to lead. The time has come for us as a nation to demand more accountability from everyone involved-including the entertainment industry. Why can’t this industry, which is a source for so much good, do more to discourage the production & marketing of filth to children? Why shouldn’t the industry help fight the marketing of violence to young people? Source: (X-ref from Civil Rights) senate.gov/~hatch “Mkt’g Violence” , May 4, 1999

Prohibit marketing & renting violent music & games to kids

Limiting access of ultra-violent music and video games to children does not raise the same constitutional concerns that a general prohibition on such material would entail. For example, no one can reasonably argue that the Constitution prohibits restricting X-rated material to children. Consequently, I [recommend investigating] the marketing of violent music and video games to children. In addition, I am considering an enforcement mechanism for the current ratings system. Source: senate.gov/~hatch/ “Marketing Violence to Our Children” , May 4, 1999

More funding to help missing, lost, & runaway children

The Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Orrin Hatch aimed at helping missing, exploited, homeless, or runaway children. “While missing, lost, on the run, or abducted, each of these children is at high risk of falling into the despair of drug abuse, abuse and exploitation, injury, or worse,” said Hatch. The bill enhances federal funding for training [police about] missing and exploited children, for a national 24 hour hotline, and for a national resource center. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Press Release” , Apr 19, 1999

Block grants and tax credits for stay-at-home parents

I am introducing the “Caring for Children Act,” which doubles the Child Care and Development Block Grant, to expand services to low-income parents. The bill would also increase the Dependent Care Tax Credit for all low and middle income families with children. One of the aspects of the Act that I am proudest of is that - at long last - we recognize that a parent who foregoes a second income to stay at home with children is paying for child care. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Press Release” , Mar 11, 1999

Prohibit alcohol sales to minors via phone & Internet

Problems associated with interstate shipments of alcohol are growing. While I certainly believe that interstate commerce should be encouraged, the States need to ensure that minors are not provided with unfettered access to alcohol. Today, a winery can accept orders over the internet; a large retailer can accept orders over the phone. [States cannot restrict such sales due to 21st Amendment limitations, so I propose an enforcement] mechanism permitting federal court to stop those illegal shipments. Source: (Xref from Technology) Statement before Judiciary Cmte , Mar 9, 1999

Block Grants keep decision-making in local communities

The “Caring for Children Act” uses the existing infrastructure of Block Grants. It does not create new programs requiring new formulas or new regulations. It does not impose new set-asides or mandates. We cannot hope to address the child care needs of families successfully at the federal level. Governors, state and local officials, nonprofit and community organizations-these are the entities that know the needs of families best. These are the people that should be making the decisions. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Press Release” , Feb 23, 1998

More funding for Boys and Girls Clubs

[I am introducing today] a measure to support the expansion of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, one of the best examples of proven youth crime prevention. Our legislation ensures that the Boys and Girls Clubs are able to serve an additional 1 million young people through at least 2,500 clubs by the year 2000. Last year, Congress authorized $100 million to expand Boys and Girls Clubs in public housing and distressed area. Today’s bill streamlines the application process for these funds. Source: Senate Statement , Mar 19, 1997

Media supports moral poverty; Boys & Girls Clubs fight it

Every day, our young people are being bombarded with cultural messages in music, movies, and television that undermine the development of core values of citizenship. Popular culture and the media glorify drug use, meaningless violence, and sex without commitment. The importance of Boys and Girls Clubs in fighting drug abuse, gang recruitment, and moral poverty cannot be overstated. The Clubs across the country are a bulwark for our young people and deserve all the support we can give. Source: Senate Statement , Mar 19, 1997

Media supports moral poverty; Boys & Girls Clubs fight it

Voted YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors.

Vote to kill an amendment that would prohibit the distribution of violent video programming to the public during hours when children are reasonably likely to comprise a substantial portion of the audience. Voting YES would kill the amendment proposing the new restrictions. Voting NO would suport the amendment proposing the new restrictions. Reference: Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-114 on May 13, 1999

Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record.

Hatch scores 100% by the Christian Coalition on family issues

The Christian Coalition was founded in 1989 by Dr. Pat Robertson to give Christians a voice in government. We represent millions of people of faith and enable them to have a strong, unified voice in the conversation we call democracy.

Represent the pro-family point of view before local councils, school boards, state legislatures, and Congress
Speak out in the public arena and in the media
Train leaders for effective social and political action
Inform pro-family voters about timely issues and legislation
Protest anti-Christian bigotry and defend the rights of people of faith.

Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position. Source: CC website 03n-CC on Dec 31, 2003

Permanent crime database for volunteers with kids.

Hatch co-sponsored creating permanent crime database for volunteers with kids

A bill to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a permanent background check system. Congress finds the following:

In 2006, a total of 16,500,000 adults volunteered their service to education or youth programs.
An estimated 6.6% of individuals in the United States will serve time in prison for a crime during their lifetime. The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System of the FBI maintains fingerprints and criminal histories on more than 47,000,000 individuals, many of whom have been arrested or convicted multiple times.
Of individuals released from prison, an estimated 67.5% were rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within 3 years.
Given the large number of individuals with criminal records and the vulnerability of the population they work with, human service organizations that work with children need an effective and reliable means of obtaining a complete criminal history in order to determine the suitability of a potential volunteer or employee.
The large majority of Americans (88%) favor granting youth-serving organizations access to conviction records for screening volunteers and 59% favored allowing youth-serving organizations to consider arrest records when screening volunteers.
Even when accessible, the cost of a criminal background check can be prohibitively expensive, between $21 and $99 for each volunteer or employee.

The Child Safety Pilot Program demonstrates that timely and affordable background checks are possible, as background checks under that program are completed within 3 to 5 business days at a cost of $18. Source: Child Protection Improvements Act (S.2756/H.R.5606) 08-S2756 on Jul 28, 2008

Fund 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs in underserved areas.

Hatch introduced a Bill to open 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs

Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to make grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to establish and extend club facilities where needed, with particular emphasis on establishing clubs in and extending services to public housing projects and distressed areas. Redefines the term "distressed area" to include an Indian reservation with a population of high risk youth of sufficient size to warrant the establishment of a BGCA. Earmarks specified funds to provide a grant to BGCA for administrative, travel, and other costs associated with a national role-model speaking tour program.

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1753. Became Public Law No: 105-133.

Source: Bill sponsored by 10 Senators and 24 Reps 97-S476 on Mar 19, 1997

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