A Nebraskan's View by Senator Ben Nelson

Monday, October 26, 2009 A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A NEBRASKA LEGEND J. James Exon served the people of Nebraska with great distinction for more than a quarter of a century. The legendary “Big Jim,” as so many people called him, was a very popular public figure during his two terms as Governor from 1971 to 1979 and his three terms as United States Senator from 1980 until his retirement in 1997. He endeared himself to Nebraskans for his outstanding leadership and for his larger than life public persona right up until the time he passed away in 2005. Last year, a bipartisan bill I introduced passed Congress and was signed into law to name the new regional FBI Headquarters Building in Omaha near 120th and I Streets after Jim Exon. Laws to Crack Down on Child Porn on the Internet The J. James Exon FBI building, which was dedicated this month, was named in his honor not just because of who he was but for what he did to help the FBI carry out its mission. Senator Exon identified a problem long before anyone knew it would become a problem: child pornography and exploitation on the internet. Back when Jim Exon addressed this problem the Internet was just emerging. As a senator and former governor with an interest in law enforcement, Exon knew that the FBI needed the legal authority to protect children from the abuses that were sure to come as a result of the World Wide Web. He introduced the Communications Decency Act of 1995 which passed with overwhelming support and was quickly signed into law by President Clinton. That bill was aimed at catching clever pedophiles and child pornographers who operate in the shadows as they use the Internet to prey on young people. They’re difficult to catch. They hide in the anonymity of cyberspace while committing their disturbing crimes against children. A First for Congress Exon’s landmark legislation was the first attempt by Congress to police the Internet against abuses that involve children. Despite huge public support, it was later ruled unconstitutional in a split decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. However, that ruling affirmed the principle that Jim Exon wanted to address. That principle was that government does have a legitimate, important interest in protecting children from pornography and predators on the internet. Thanks to Exon’s Vision the Internet is Safer for Children It was Jim Exon’s pioneering legislation that paved the way for laws that were passed after he retired from the Senate in 1997. Today, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to stop Internet crimes against children while protecting 1st Amendment rights. Thanks to Jim Exon our children who use the Internet are much safer than they otherwise would have been. This building is a fitting tribute to Jim Exon’s contributions to law enforcement and public safety, his pioneering legislation, and his service to the people of Nebraska.