[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 97 (Monday, July 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H5341-H5342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENSE OF CONGRESS REJECTING NOTION THAT SEX BETWEEN ADULTS AND CHILDREN
IS POSITIVE
Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 107) expressing the sense of
Congress rejecting the conclusions of a recent article published by the
American Psychological Association that suggests that sexual
relationships between adults and children might be positive for
children, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 107
Whereas no segment of our society is more critical to the
future of human survival than our children;
Whereas children are a precious gift and responsibility
given to parents by God;
Whereas the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of
children are parents' sacred duty;
Whereas parents have the right to expect government to
refrain from interfering with them in fulfilling their sacred
duty and to render necessary assistance;
Whereas the Supreme Court has held that parents ``who have
this primary responsibility for children's well-being are
entitled to the support of laws designed to aid discharge of
that responsibility'' (Ginsberg v. New York, 390 U.S. 629,
639 (1968));
Whereas it is the obligation of all public policymakers not
only to support, but also to defend, the health and rights of
parents, families, and children;
Whereas information endangering children is being made
public and, in some instances, may be given unwarranted or
unintended credibility through release under professional
titles or through professional organizations;
Whereas elected officials have a duty to inform and counter
actions they consider damaging to children, parents,
families, and society;
Whereas Congress has made sexual molestation and
exploitation of children a felony;
Whereas all credible studies in this area, including those
published by the American Psychological Association, condemn
child sexual abuse as criminal and harmful to children;
Whereas, once published and allowed to stand, scientific
literature may become a source for additional research;
Whereas the Psychological Bulletin has recently published a
severely flawed study, entitled ``A Meta-Analytic Examination
of Assumed Properties of Child Sexual Abuse Using College
Samples'', which suggests that sexual relationships between
adults and children are less harmful than believed and might
be positive for ``willing'' children (Psychological Bulletin,
vol. 124, No. 1, July 1998);
Whereas, in order to clarify any inconsistencies between
the two conclusions the authors of the study suggest and the
position of the American Psychological Association that
sexual relations between children and adults are abusive,
exploitive, and reprehensible, and should never be considered
or labeled as harmless or acceptable, the American
Psychological Association has issued a public ``Resolution
Opposing Child Sexual Abuse'';
Whereas the American Psychological Association should be
congratulated for publicly clarifying its opposition to any
adult-child sexual relations, which will help to deny
pedophiles from citing ``A Meta-Analytic Examination of
Assumed Properties of Child Sexual Abuse Using College
Samples'' in a legal defense, and for resolving to evaluate
the scientific articles it publishes in light of their
potential social, legal, and political implications;
Whereas the Supreme Court has recognized that ``sexually
exploited children are unable to develop healthy affectionate
relationships in later life, have sexual dysfunctions, and
have a tendency to become sexual abusers as adults'' (New
York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747, 758, n.9 (1982));
Whereas Paidika--The Journal of Pedophilia, a publication
advocating the legalization of sex with ``willing'' children,
has published an article by one of the authors of the study,
Robert Bauserman, Ph.D. (see ``Man-Boy Sexual Relationships
in a Cross-Cultural Perspective,'' vol. 2, No. 1, Summer
1989); and
Whereas pedophiles and organizations, such as the North
American Man-Boy Love Association, that advocate laws to
permit sex between adults and children are exploiting the
study to promote and justify child sexual abuse: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) condemns and denounces all suggestions in the article
``A Meta-Analytic Examination of Assumed Properties of Child
Sexual Abuse Using College Samples'' that indicate that
sexual relationships between adults and ``willing'' children
are less harmful than believed and might be positive for
``willing'' children (Psychological Bulletin, vol. 124, No.
1, July 1998);
(2) vigorously opposes any public policy or legislative
attempts to normalize adult-child sex or to lower the age of
consent;
(3) urges the President likewise to reject and condemn, in
the strongest possible terms, any suggestion that sexual
relations between children and adults--regardless of the
child's frame of mind--are anything but abusive, destructive,
exploitive, reprehensible, and punishable by law; and
(4) encourages competent investigations to continue to
research the effects of child sexual abuse using the best
methodology, so that the public, and public policymakers, may
act upon accurate information.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Salmon) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Salmon).
Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
There are no lower life forms than adults who sexually abuse children.
Child molesters rob children of their innocense and subject them to a
lifetime of nightmares. Those who engage in this activity deserve the
harshest punishment.
Those who excuse this evil conduct, particularly those in positions
of influence, are also pretty low on the food chain and deserve the
harshest possible condemnation.
Towards this end, we are here today to consider House Concurrent
Resolution 107, which condemns and denounces all suggestions in an
article published in the Psychological Bulletin, a journal of the
American Psychological Association, that sexual relationships between
adults and ``willing'' children might be positive for children.
The resolution also stresses that Congress will vigorously oppose any
public policy or legislative attempts to normalize child sexual abuse.
The study in question, ``A Meta-Analytic Examination of Assumed
Properties of Child Sexual Abuse Using College Samples,'' escaped
public scrutiny until talk host Dr. Laura Schlessinger brought this
matter to the attention of her listeners.
Dr. Laura denounced the study, which reviewed 59 earlier studies of
dubious validity, as ``flawed pseudo-science.'' She reported that 38
percent of the studies were never subjected to peer review or
published, and that all of the studies were based on self-reporting.
Also unsettling, no follow-up analysis occurred on the college
students examined in the studies.
We should all be indebted to Dr. Laura. While the mainstream media
ignored what some call the ``emancipation proclamation of pedophiles,
the article did not escape the attention of groups such as the North
American Man/Boy Love Association, which highlights the conclusions of
the article on its web page, and for defense attorneys who have been
encouraged to cite the article in closing arguments in child sexual
abuse criminal cases.
It was irresponsible for a respected academic journal to publish a
study which implies that adult-child sex could be a positive
experience. But I applaud the APA for responding to the recent public
uproar over the study by clarifying its opposition to any adult-child
sexual relations, and for promising to consider their social
responsibility when making publishing decisions in the future.
The APA's actions will help to deny pedophiles from citing the study
in a legal defense. House Concurrent Resolution 107 has been revised to
include language praising the APA for its commitment in fighting child
sexual abuse.
While I am delighted that the Congress is considering this resolution
denouncing attempts to normalize child
[[Page H5342]]
sexual abuse, our work is not done with the passage of this resolution.
Words alone will not protect children from the monsters who prey on
them.
Typically, sexual predators who victimize children receive light
prison sentences in this country. On average, a convicted child
molester, that is, not one who plea bargains down to a lesser offense,
serves less than 4 years behind bars, and recidivism rates are quoted
as high as 70 percent. Those are just the ones who get caught. In other
words, they get out of prison and they prey on children again and
again. The next time, the pedophiles may end up killing the child to
make sure there is not evidence so they can be put away again.
In my opinion, the average sentence is about 96 years too short. The
Congress took an important step in addressing this problem recently
when both the House and Senate voted with huge bipartisan majorities
for Aimee's Law, otherwise known as the No Second Chances for
Murderers, Rapists, or Child Molesters Act.
My initiative would encourage States to keep child molesters and
other serious criminals behind bars for longer sentences, which would
prevent literally thousands each year of 100 percent preventable
offenses, either child sexual assaults or other crimes that occur each
year by those who are let out of prison for committing exactly the same
crime.
Before I close, I would like to thank the distinguished majority
whip, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), and the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the chairman of the Committee on Education
and the Workforce, for their assistance in moving House Concurrent
Resolution 107 forward.
I also would like to thank the gentlemen from Pennsylvania, Mr. Pitts
and Mr. Weldon, for all of their work on the resolution.
Finally, the Family Research Council should be commended for their
efforts to educate Members of Congress about how the public release of
the Meta-Analytic study is an assault on children.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to make a strong congressional
statement in opposition to efforts to normalize child sexual abuse, and
vote in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 107.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I join those who rise to condemn child sexual abuse. Too
many of our children fall prey to sexual abuse, often by those whom
they know and too often by those whom they trust.
Statistics show that 90 percent of all sexual abuse cases go
unreported, and worse, unpunished. Nevertheless, child sexual abuse can
have devastating consequences on a victim's future employment, health,
and familial relationships.
We need to continue to reach out as a Nation and as a society to
ensure that our children are free from abuse and neglect. This involves
a three-pronged approach of education, prevention, and treatment.
We need to continue our educational efforts with young children to
teach them what is and what is not appropriate behavior by adults. We
need to continue prevention efforts aimed at reducing the likelihood
that our children will find themselves in inappropriate situations that
can lead to abuse.
We also need to provide treatment for those who have been the victims
of abuse so they can recover and lead successful, productive lives.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I join those who have and will rise to
condemn child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse not only has devastating
consequences for its victims, but also for all of society. It is
important to remember that no amount of legal or professional
legerdemain can detract from the inherent evil caused by child sexual
abuse.
Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the American
Psychological Association for clarifying its position on pedophilia.
Without question, sexual abuse of minors is child abuse. Child abuse is
a plague on this country that cannot be overlooked or obscured by
pseudo-scientific doubletalk.
In these times--with so much talk about victimization and
harassment--it amazes me that there is any confusion regarding the
patently perverse nature of sexual abuse of children. There simply can
be no equivocation about the obvious emotional devastation that is
caused when adults have sexual relations with children.
Sexual activity between an adult and a child is always abusive and
always criminal in all cases--period.
The fact that this obvious reality has been clouded recently is an
indictment of the liberal secularization of the culture. Too many of us
today worship the self and the moment with no regard for future
consequences.
Well, our children are our future and both should be safeguarded. The
days ahead will be dark indeed if our society turns a blind eye to
abuse of innocent ones.
There can be no compromises in the war against child abuse. We must
all be eternally vigilant in this most important cause.
Every so often, trendy social theories and politically-motivated
psychological hypotheses creep into the mainstream. At first, such
ideas go unchallenged because they seem too crazy to be taken
seriously. But after awhile, the momentum shifts against common sense.
Bad ideas have bad consequences and the damage to society must always
be combated in every field.
The American Psychological Association made a mistake by publishing a
study that used pseudo-scientific jargon to advise that sexual
relations between adults and children are not always abusive.
Such a study by such a prestigious institution gives credibility and
potential legal defenses to pedophiliac sickos.
After the controversy was exposed, the APA admitted its error in
publishing the report and underscored its position that pedophilia is
harmful criminal behavior and that all sexual abuse of children should
be exposed.
Mr. Speaker, organizations, like people, make mistakes. The test of
integrity is the ability to admit a mistake and correct it. The
American Psychological Association has shown great courage in doing
just this. In the battle against child abuse, the APA is fighting on
the right side.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Salmon) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 107, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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