October 5, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact:

Francesca Jensen
Director of Communications
National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families
513/521-6227, ext. 111

Cincinnati – The National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families is greatly disappointed upon hearing the recent news of former Rep. Mark Foley’s inappropriate interactions with teenage congressional pages.

“The National Coalition is appalled that a man of influence as Mark Foley would act in such egregious ways,” said Rick Schatz, president and CEO of the National Coalition. 

“It is also disheartening that some members of the House may have known about Mr. Foley’s sexual communications and failed to report the incident immediately,” added Schatz.  “We ask for a full investigation to be conducted and proper action to be taken against those found to have violated the law.”

If convicted, Mr. Foley, through his service as co-chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, will have deceived many to believe the protection of America’s children from pedophiles and sexual predators was close to his heart.

The National Coalition maintains that any adult found to have sexually exploited a child should receive the gravest punishment made possible by the law.

“We are grateful for the law Foley helped write to toughen the sentences for sexual offenders – the very law that may determine the severity of his conviction.”