WASHINGTON?The House passed legislation Thursday mandating automatic life sentences for two-time federal child sex offenders.

The vote on the “two strikes” bill was 382-34.

Life sentences would be mandatory for any federal child sex offense if the defendant was previously convicted of a federal or state sex crime involving children. Among the criteria for a federal sex crime are crossing state lines or committing the act on federal land.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark Green, R-Wisconsin, was inspired by the kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas by a repeat sex offender. As a state representative in Wisconsin, he worked with the child’s father on a similar bill that was enacted in 1998.

The House passed “two strikes” legislation in 1999 and again in 2000, when it was too late in the session for the Senate to consider it. No senator has introduced a companion bill this year.