Reps. Walker, Accavitti, Angerer, Booher, Casperson, Caul, Clack, Clemente, Emmons, Gleason, Gonzales, Gosselin, Hansen, Huizenga, Jones, Kahn, Kooiman, Lemmons, Jr., Meyer, Miller, Mortimer, Murphy, Newell, Nofs, Pearce, Proos, Sak, Sheen, Sheltrown, Spade, Taub, Vander Veen, Waters and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 30.

            A resolution to memorialize Congress to enact legislation allowing the Department of Commerce (DOC) to help shield children by establishing and requiring the .xxx domain name for adult-only web sites.

            Whereas, From 1983 to 1998, the federal government managed the Internet, including the Domain Name System (DNS), a central coordinating body that assigns unique e-mail and web site addresses so that the network runs smoothly.  As the Internet evolved from a small-scale system of links among American academic institutions into a mainstream international communications, educational, and electronic commerce medium, the federal government concluded that it should no longer manage its development.  In 1998, the United States Department of Commerce (DOC), in an effort to establish global standards and consensus-based policies, agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California-based private sector, nonprofit corporation called the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).  In part, the MOU calls for the joint development of the DNS in order to facilitate its future transfer to the private sector; and

            Whereas, While the DOC continues to serve as the steward of the DNS during its transition to private sector management, it does not regulate ICANN, play a vital role in ICANN's internal governance or day-to-day operations, or intervene in ICANN activities unless the corporation's actions are inconsistent with the MOU.  The only way that the department can influence ICANN decisions is either to not renew the MOU, which expires September 30, 2006, or through informal discussion with corporation officials; and

            Whereas, In 2001, ICANN approved seven new top-level domain names, but refused to approve the .xxx domain name, which would have provided a cyber sanctuary to protect children from the corrupting influences of on-line pornography.  To protect children, Congress has the authority to direct the DOC to establish and operate the second-level .xxx domain name within the United States.  The .xxx domain name will safeguard children by allowing parents and libraries to employ filtering or blocking software technologies; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize Congress to enact legislation allowing the Department of Commerce (DOC) to help shield children by establishing and requiring the .xxx domain name for adult-only web sites; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Department of Commerce, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.