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Brown-Waite
Contact: Charlie Keller 202-225-1002


A DEATH SENTENCE FOR JOHN COUEY

Washington, D.C., Mar 16 -

A little over two years ago,
our community was rocked by the tragic abduction and death of 9-year-old
Jessica Lunsford.  I am sure you all
remember the sweet photograph in the newspapers of this young, vibrant girl
with a pink fuzzy hat and a toothy grin. 
After years of waiting and agony for her family, previously convicted
sex offender John Couey was found guilty on March 7, 2007, of kidnapping,
raping and then burying Jessica alive. 
Despite a flimsy attempt by Mr. Couey to escape harsher punishment with
an insanity plea, the jury decided to recommend the death sentence on March 14,
2007.  Finally, this trial is over and we
can all breathe easier that a predator is off the streets and away from our
children.

I also wanted to share with
you some of the things I have been doing in Washington to cement Jessica’s legacy and
protect our children from sexual offenders and predators who would harm
them.  Just this past July, President
Bush signed the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act into law.  A conglomeration of several different bills,
the legislation also included provisions from a bill I introduced, H.R. 1505,
the Jessica Lunsford Act.  This
comprehensive legislation keeps better track of sex offenders by requiring them
to register with law enforcement and complete frequent in-person checks.  It also creates tough punishments when
offenders fail to register or keep their address current with law
enforcement.  I am haunted by the thought
that if we had known John Couey was living across the street from Jessica, law
enforcement could have immediately interviewed him and perhaps found him
sooner. 

However, this law is only a
great idea until Congress provides the funding states need to put these new
mandates into place.  When I realized
Congress was passing a temporary spending bill for FY 07 instead of going
through the normal appropriations process, I was concerned that we would not
provide enough money to states to implement the Adam Walsh Act.  As such, I supported the House’s version of
this bill with an increase in grants to help states implement these new
requirements, and wrote to Florida’s
Senators and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations
Committee asking them to do the same.  I
also wrote a letter this week asking the Chairman and Ranking Member of the
House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations to fully
fund all programs in the Adam Walsh Act in their FY 2008 spending bill.  I continue to work closely with my colleagues
to make sure Congress provides the funding needed to make this new law a
reality.

Please know that I will do
everything in my power to make little Jessica Lunsford’s legacy of protecting America’s
children a reality.  They deserve nothing
less.