[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 771 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 771

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that individuals 
  who commit acts of sexual violence against minor children should be 
              prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 6, 2006

 Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. King of Iowa, and Mr. 
 Pitts) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that individuals 
  who commit acts of sexual violence against minor children should be 
              prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Whereas Congress has repeatedly passed laws to protect the safety of children in 
        the United States and abroad;
Whereas the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria 
        Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-25) prohibits funds under such Act from 
        being used ``to promote or advocate the legalization or practice of 
        prostitution or sex trafficking'';
Whereas Congress finds that it is socially unacceptable for an adult to have a 
        sexual relationship with an unmarried minor, and that such relationships 
        can cause great psychological, emotional, and physical harm;
Whereas according to a study by the Department of Education in 2004, nearly 10 
        percent of public school students in the United States have received 
        unwanted sexual attention by school employees;
Whereas some judges are not imposing the fullest penalties available against 
        adults that commit acts of sexual violence against minor children;
Whereas all recipients of funds under Title X of the Public Health Services Act 
        of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 300 et seq.), should comply with State laws and 
        regulations regarding the reporting of statutory rape; and
Whereas according to a report by the United States Sentencing Commission in 
        March of 2006, in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in United 
        States v. Booker (2005), the percentage of criminal sexual abuse and 
        sexual exploitation offenders who have received a sentence that is less 
        than the sentence range recommended by the Sentencing Comission has 
        increased: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) an unmarried minor should be unable to legally consent 
        to a sexual relationship with an adult, and all such 
        relationships should be prosecuted as statutory rape;
            (2) acts of sexual violence against children must be fully 
        prosecuted under applicable Federal and State laws;
            (3) individuals who travel within the United States or 
        abroad to engage in sex trafficking or sexual relationships 
        with minors should be fully prosecuted under applicable 
        Federal, State, and international laws;
            (4) all Federal agencies should comply with funding 
        prohibitions regarding the practice of prostitution and sex 
        trafficking;
            (5) acts of sexual violence against male and female minors 
        should not receive disparate treatment with respect to plea 
        bargains made and sentences imposed;
            (6) each State should make every effort to pass a law 
        similar to the Jessica Lunsford Act, passed by the State of 
        Florida in 2005, to demonstrate a strong commitment to fully 
        protecting our Nation's children; and
            (7) mandatory minimum sentences should be established for 
        Federal and State criminal sexual abuse and sexual exploitation 
        offenses.
                                 <all>