Blumenthal, Conn. officials to laud child porn act

MERIDEN, Conn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is joining Connecticut law enforcement officials to laud the recent passage of a bipartisan bill that increases maximum penalties for possessing child pornography.

Blumenthal introduced the bill with Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Republican Sen. John Cornyn (KOHR'-nihn) of Texas. The legislation is awaiting the president's signature.

Blumenthal is scheduled to appear on Monday at the State Police Division of Scientific Services and Meriden to discuss the Child Protection Act. He'll be joined by the division's administrator, as well as local law enforcement computer crimes investigators and representatives from the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services Inc.

The legislation also enhances court authority to issue protective orders and renews funding for training for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces.