On Tuesday, Senator Barbara Boxer will testify on the need for tougher federal and state laws to protect children from abuse at a Senate hearing entitled, “Breaking the Silence on Child Abuse: Protection, Prevention, Intervention and Deterrence.”

Boxer has introduced two bills to strengthen federal and state reporting requirements to help ensure that abuses against children are reported to local law enforcement or a child protective agency.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking news alerts delivered right to your inbox

The Federal Child Protection Act would require that anyone on federal property who witnesses or suspects child abuse must report it to local authorities. Under the State Child Protection Act, states that fail to require all persons to report child abuse would lose a portion of their federal justice assistance grants. Currently, 18 states have laws requiring all persons to report child abuse to authorities.

Boxer is also the author of the Violence Against Children Act, which would enable states to get immediate federal help in preventing and solving crimes against children.

The hearing will be held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families. The full witness list includes Sheldon Kennedy, Former NHL player and Co-Founder, Respect Group Inc., Alberta, Canada; Michelle K. Collins, Vice President, Exploited Children Division & Assistant to the President, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Alexandria, VA; Frank P. Cervone, Executive Director, Support Center for Child Advocates, Philadelphia, PA;  Erin Sullivan Sutton, Assistant Commissioner for Children & Family Services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, St. Paul, MN; Dr. Robert Block, President, American Academy of Pediatrics, Tulsa, OK; Teresa Huizar, Executive Director, National Children’s Alliance, Washington, DC