[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 87 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND 
                            PREVENTION MONTH

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                               speech of

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S.J. Res. 
8 to raise awareness and encourage prevention of sexual assault in the 
United States. I commend the leadership for calling up this resolution.
  When I worked at the White House to help pass the Violence Against 
Women Act, I became aware that sexual assault is a national trauma that 
affects hundreds of thousands of people each year. According to the 
National Criminal Victimization Study, 248,000 people over the age of 
12 reported being raped in 2001. While no one is immune from sexual 
assault, some are more vulnerable than others. Sadly, children are at 
the greatest risk. According to the U.S. Justice Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, 67 percent of all reporting victims of sexual assault were 
younger than 18; 34 percent of all victims were under age 12, and one 
of every seven victims of sexual assault were under age 6.
  Most sexual assaults fit a similar profile where a child is assaulted 
by a family member, another trusted adult, or by a juvenile. The 
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that 
although sexual abuse of children is reported up to 80,000 times a 
year, that number may be a low estimate of the actual number of such 
cases. Regrettably, too many cases go unreported because of children's 
fear of their abusers and a law enforcement and legal system that does 
not accommodate their special needs.
  Sexual assault can cripple a child's psyche and deprive him or her of 
hope. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent 
Psychiatry, ``A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse 
usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an 
abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and 
mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal.'' While no single 
solution will eliminate sexual assault, education and awareness can go 
a long way toward its prevention. Young adults must be given the 
assistance necessary to stop unwanted sexual advances and to minimize 
such risk.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in heightening awareness 
and encouraging prevention of this urgent problem by voting for this 
important resolution.

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