[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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