Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act signed by President Obama

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama Tuesday.

The U.S. Senate passed the act on May 7.

Kilah's Act would force the United States Attorney General to investigate state child abuse laws to make sure abusers are punished.

Kilah suffered severe brain damage after police said her stepfather beat the then-3-year-old last year. She died earlier this year.

In North Carolina, Kilah's case has already changed state law.

IMAGES: Kilah Davenport

Last April, Gov. Pat McCrory signed tougher punishments for serious child abuse cases into law. The new law could double the offender's prison time.

Kilah's stepfather Joshua Houser was sentenced in February to seven-and-a-half years in prison.
 
He was not sentenced under the state's version of Kilah's law because it went into effect after his offense.
 
The House passed the bill in December.

It is now going to the White House for approval.

WSOC