"Kids should be able to surf the Web without fear of what lurks just beneath the surface," Dingell said. "Dot Kids, if properly structured to not infringe on other users’ rights and spaces, will offer parents and kids a safe harbor where children can explore."

In recent years, there were several unsuccessful attempts to create a kid-friendly top level domain, or "TLD." These attempts were rebuffed by ICANN, the international group responsible for assigning new TLDs. Dot Kids, sponsored by Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and John Shimkus, R-Ill., takes an innovative approach to dealing with ICANN’s recalcitrance, and its ongoing refusal to respond to the concerns of the international Internet community. It simply sidesteps the ICANN process by creating a second level TLD under the "dot US" country code which will be entirely under the United States’ control.

"ICANN’s inaction in this and other areas may be a blessing in disguise," said Dingell. "By placing Dot Kids under the purview of the U.S. country code, it will be overseen by the Department of Commerce and will be subject to all U.S. laws. I hope and expect that this effort will become a model for rapidly expanding the number of useful domain names."

Two previous attempts to legislate content restrictions on the Web were met with successful constitutional challenges. Dingell vowed to work with Committee members to ensure that the Committee produces a bill that can "withstand constitutional scrutiny."