[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 102 (Friday, July 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE, 
                                ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2003

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the National 
Children's Advocacy Center as it celebrates the grand opening of its 
new facility today in Huntsville, Alabama. This organization, which I 
founded in 1985 as Madison County, Alabama District Attorney, moves 
from its ``little house'' where it began almost twenty years ago to a 
45,000 square foot, four-building campus where it will excel as the 
national headquarters for training, research, education and outreach 
for other CAC's across the country.
  When I served as D.A., I discovered first-hand the harsh reality of 
child abuse and realized that the justice system was not doing enough 
for its most vulnerable victims. Too often, these children were 
victimized even further by having to re-tell and re-live their horror 
stories. There was an incredible need for a child-friendly place where 
victims of sexual abuse and neglect could get all of the help they 
needed in one centralized location. Uniting law enforcement, child 
protective services, prosecutors, medical and mental health 
professionals and other child advocates under one roof became the 
foundation of the CAC approach and the key to its tremendous success.
  The network of Children's Advocacy Centers has grown to over 500 
programs spread throughout every state and the District of Columbia and 
is expanding internationally. I want to thank the professionals at 
these centers for their tireless efforts to help abused children and 
their families by making their tragic situations a little easier.
  With each child abuse professional that receives training at the new 
campus, each law enforcement officer that learns new techniques for 
tracking offenders, and each bit of research that helps another center 
expand its reach, we are protecting children across the country and 
helping others recover from tragedy. On behalf of the people of North 
Alabama and the United States House of Representatives, I congratulate 
the professionals at the National Children's Advocacy Center as they 
move into their new home and celebrate this milestone in child safety.

                          ____________________