Senate passes bill increasing penalties for child porn

The Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent Monday night that increases the penalties for child pornography.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) introduced the Child Protection Act, H.R. 6063, which imposes a prison term of up to 20 years for transporting, receiving, distributing, selling or possessing pornographic images of a child under the age of 12.

The bill passed in the House this summer and now heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

The bill also creates an additional penalty for sex trafficking of children and other child abuse crimes, among other things.

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