[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 30, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2898-H2901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
AND PREVENTION MONTH
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 330) supporting the goals and
ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 330
Whereas on average, a person is sexually assaulted in the
United States every two-and-a-half minutes;
Whereas the Department of Justice reports that 191,670
people in the United States were sexually assaulted in 2005;
Whereas 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have been victims of
rape or attempted rape;
Whereas the Department of Defense received 2,688 reports of
sexual assault involving members of the Armed Forces in
fiscal year 2007;
Whereas children and young adults are most at risk of
sexual assault, as 44 percent of sexual assault victims are
under the age of 18, and 80 percent are under the age of 30;
Whereas sexual assault affects women, men, and children of
all racial, social, religious, age, ethnic, and economic
groups in the United States;
Whereas only 41 percent of sexual assault victims pursue
prosecution by reporting their attack to law enforcement
agencies;
Whereas two-thirds of sexual crimes are committed by
persons who are not strangers to the victims;
Whereas sexual assault survivors suffer emotional scars
long after the physical scars have healed;
Whereas prevention education programs carried out by rape
crisis and women's health centers have the potential to
reduce the prevalence of sexual assault in their communities;
Whereas because of recent advances in DNA technology, law
enforcement agencies have the potential to identify the
rapists in tens of thousands of unsolved rape cases;
Whereas aggressive prosecution can incarcerate rapists and
therefore prevent them from committing further crimes;
Whereas free, confidential help is available to all
survivors of sexual assault through the National Sexual
Assault Hotline, more than 1,000 rape crisis centers across
the United States, and other organizations that provide
services to assist survivors of sexual assault; and
Whereas April is recognized as ``National Sexual Assault
Awareness and Prevention Month'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That--
(1) it is the sense of Congress that--
(A) National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
provides a special opportunity to educate the people of the
United States about sexual violence and to encourage the
prevention of sexual assault, the improved treatment of its
survivors, and the prosecution of its perpetrators;
(B) it is appropriate to properly acknowledge the more than
20,000,000 men and women who have survived sexual assault in
the United States and salute the efforts of survivors,
volunteers, and professionals who combat sexual assault;
(C) national and community organizations and private sector
supporters should be recognized and applauded for their work
in promoting awareness about sexual assault, providing
information and treatment to its survivors, and increasing
the number of successful prosecutions of its perpetrators;
and
(D) public safety, law enforcement, and health
professionals should be recognized and applauded for their
hard work and innovative strategies to increase the
percentage of sexual assault cases that result in the
prosecution and incarceration of the offenders;
(2) Congress strongly recommends national and community
organizations, businesses in the private sector, colleges and
universities, and the media to promote, through National
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, awareness of
sexual violence and strategies to decrease the incidence of
sexual assault; and
(3) Congress supports the goals and ideals of National
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.
General Leave
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Wisconsin?
[[Page H2899]]
There was no objection.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Studies show that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be a victim of
rape or attempted rape in their lifetime and that, on average, a person
is sexually assaulted in the United States every 2\1/2\ minutes. In my
State of Wisconsin, there were 5,628 sexual assaults reported in the
year 2004, the last year statistics are available. This marks a 3.7
percent increase from the previous year. Nationwide, we know that
children and young adults are most at risk. Forty-four percent of
sexual assault victims are under the age of 18, and 80 percent are
under the age of 30.
Although most victims are younger women, the effects of sexual
assault cross all racial, social, religious, ethnic, and economic
boundaries. Whether the crime is rape, incest, child sexual abuse,
stalking, or sexual harassment, sexual assault impacts our schools, our
workplaces, our streets, and our homes. Survivors are our sons, our
daughters, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our grandparents.
In addition to the physical effects of victimization, the emotional
scars felt by sexual assault survivors may persist long after the
physical scars have healed. Sexual violence costs an estimated $127
billion per year in medical expenses, lost productivity, treatment of
psychological trauma, and pain and suffering. Yet we know that only 41
percent of sexual assault survivors pursue prosecution by reporting
their attack to law enforcement officials, and despite the support
services offered by the National Sexual Assault Hotline and more than
1,000 crisis centers across the Nation, fewer than 50 percent of
survivors ever tell anyone about their experience. These statistics are
staggering and unconscionable. Despite the alarming prevalence of
sexual assault, there is a clear and significant need for more public
education and awareness.
National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month does just
this. Observed each year in April, this dedicated month provides a
special opportunity to educate Americans about sexual violence and to
encourage the prevention of sexual assault, the improved treatment of
its survivors, and the prosecution of its perpetrators.
As part of the National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention
Month, we recognize national and community organizations, as well as
private sector supporters, for their work in promoting awareness about
sexual assault. We also applaud public safety, law enforcement, and
health professionals for their hard work and innovative strategies to
increase the percentage of sexual assault cases that result in the
prosecution and incarceration of offenders.
Along with my colleague, Congressman Ted Poe from Texas, I introduced
House Concurrent Resolution 330 to recognize April 2008 as National
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. By supporting this
resolution, we highlight the efforts of individuals and agencies that
provide rape crisis intervention and prevention services. We also call
attention to sexual violence as a major public health issue and raise
awareness of the need for increased resources for preventing sexual
violence.
Mr. Speaker, I want to quickly extend my thanks to a number of
advocates for their work on sexual assault prevention. In Wisconsin, we
are incredibly lucky to have the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual
Assault working to create the social change necessary to end sexual
violence. My thanks to the Coalition and their member organizations
across the State for the important work that they do.
Since the first national observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month
in 2001, many Members of Congress have been actively involved in
ensuring congressional support for efforts to raise awareness around
sexual violence. I wholeheartedly thank all the cosponsors of this
bipartisan resolution for once again lending their names to this worthy
cause.
Finally, I want to extend my sincerest thank you to my colleague,
Congressman Ted Poe, for his strong support as the lead sponsor of this
resolution. Mr. Poe has been a dedicated advocate for victims and
victims' rights in this Congress, and I have very much admired his
commitment to ending sexual violence in all forms. Thank for your hard
work and leadership on this resolution.
Although we have made significant progress, we still have far to go
in eradicating the harm inflicted on our community by sexual assault. I
urge all of my colleagues to fully support this resolution recognizing
the National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent
Resolution 330, recognizing April as National Sexual Assault Awareness
and Prevention Month. Every 2\1/2\ minutes, a person is sexually
assaulted in the United States. Sadly, one in six women have been
victims of rape or attempted rape. Two-thirds of these assaults are
committed by someone known to the victim, and yet only 40 percent of
sexual assaults are reported to the police.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month attempts to change these startling
statistics by promoting educational programs, victim support services,
advances in DNA and forensics technology, and aggressive prosecution
and incarceration of sexual offenders. National Sexual Assault
Awareness and Prevention Month helps to educate the public about sexual
violence in our communities and the long-term effects on these victims.
It also recognizes the selfless work of staff and volunteers at rape
crisis centers and other community organizations across the United
States that provide counseling and victim support services to sexual
assault survivors.
This year, the featured event of Sexual Assault Awareness Month was
``Shop to End Sexual Violence.'' Businesses throughout America pledged
to donate a percentage of their sales during April to increase
awareness of sexual violence and promote community involvement in
reducing these crimes.
With education and community support, it is my hope that more victims
will pursue prosecution of their attackers by reporting these assaults.
Once the victims take the first and critical steps, it is up to
lawmakers and law enforcement to ensure these violent offenders are put
away.
Earlier this month, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on H.R.
5057, to reauthorize the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Program. The Debbie
Smith Program, originally authorized in 2000, awards grants to State
and local governments to reduce the DNA backlog of samples collected
from crime scenes and the backlog for entry into the national DNA
database. Through these grants, State and local governments received
funding to test approximately 104,000 DNA cases between 2004 and 2007.
These grants have also funded the collection of 2.5 million DNA
samples from convicted offenders and arrestees for inclusion in the
national DNA database. The Department of Justice estimates that over
5,000 ``hits'' or matches are the result of this DNA backlog reduction.
This is a positive step forward, but we must continue our efforts to
reduce the DNA backlog to provide justice for sexual assault victims
and put their attackers behind bars for good.
I wish to thank my Judiciary colleague, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin,
for sponsoring this resolution, and also thank Congressman Ted Poe for
taking the lead on our side of the aisle in moving forward this
important resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time at this moment.
I would continue to reserve.
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), the coauthor of this
resolution.
Mr. POE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I am proud to have introduced this National Sexual Assault Awareness
and Prevention Month resolution with my friend, Congresswoman Baldwin
from Wisconsin. I appreciate her leadership in bringing this issue to
the national attention of all of us.
When I was an assistant district attorney back in Texas, I prosecuted
rapists for 8 years, and then I sat on the bench as a judge in Houston
for 22 years, hearing felony criminal cases.
[[Page H2900]]
{time} 1515
During those 30 years, I learned a lot about sexual assault and the
devastation it has on victims.
Probably one of the best statements ever made about a sexual assault
and how it affects the victim was a sexual assault victim who was 90
years old and had been raped. She testified on the witness stand that
what happened to her ``was a fate worse than death.'' And, yes, many
times it is a fate worse than murder itself, the crime that occurs
against these individuals throughout our country. It devastates the
victim, and after the crime occurs the victim faces a lifetime of
battle to recover. In many cases, sexual assault or rape is an attempt
on the part of the offender to destroy the inner soul and being of the
victim, and sometimes that actually occurs.
When I came to Congress, I founded the Victims' Rights Caucus to
advocate on behalf of victims so that this caucus could be a voice for
all crime victims. The gentlewoman from Wisconsin who introduced this
resolution is a member of this caucus and continues to be a leader in
public awareness.
With this resolution, I hope we can educate the public about this
horrendous crime, but also thank the outstanding victim advocates who
hold the victim's hand from the time the crime is committed and
sometimes throughout the entire episode until the trial is over with.
Rape and sexual assault statistics are difficult to determine because
many victims are ashamed and afraid to come forward and report these
crimes. There are outstanding support services in this country, like
the National Sexual Assault Hotline, and many, many hundreds of
thousands of crisis centers throughout the country, but still sexual
assault victims are reluctant to come forward. By drawing attention to
sexual violence and speaking about it on the national level here in our
Congress, we can encourage victims to report these crimes and get the
help they need.
Predators intimidate and threaten victims with the hope that these
victims will never tell anyone about it. Victims need to understand
that American citizens support victims and are on their side. Of those
reported sexual assaults, there are haunting statistics. Three out of
four victims knew the perpetrator that committed the crime against
them. The rapist is not a stranger.
I would like to relate one case that occurred many years ago when I
was prosecuting these types of cases. I will call this young lady Lisa,
to protect the privacy of her family. She was a student at one of our
universities in Houston. She left the university one night and stopped
at a service station for help, because her car was having difficulty in
moving down the highway.
She came in contact with an individual that I will call Luke. He was
not a service station attendant. He was just a criminal. He kidnapped
Lisa. He sexually assaulted her. He pistol-whipped her. He beat her so
bad that he thought he had killed her, and when he was arrested, he was
mad that he hadn't killed her. He was captured and he was tried. A jury
in Houston, Texas, convicted him and gave him 99 years in the Texas
penitentiary, which he earned and deserved.
But Lisa's life fell apart. She never went back to school. She lost
her job. Her husband, the kind of individual he was, sued her for
divorce, got all the children and left the State. She started using
drugs, first alcohol and then everything else. Not long after the
trial, I received a phone call from Lisa's mother telling me that she
had taken her own life, and she left a note that I still have today
that says, ``I am tired of running from Luke Johnson in my
nightmares.''
You see, crime occurs. Victims are victimized. But sometimes they
live a short life thereafter because of the crime that has occurred.
And no crime is more devastating to a victim than sexual assault.
So it is important that we designate April as National Sexual Assault
and Awareness Month so we can educate our fellow citizens on these
statistics and encourage rape and sexual assault victims to no longer
be afraid. We need to promote justice for sexual assault victims,
because justice is what we do in America.
And that's just the way it is.
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish to urge my colleagues to
support this resolution. As we have heard, this bill supports the goals
and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
and highlights the need for increased awareness about this major public
health issue. I wish to again commend my colleague, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Poe), for his heartfelt and strong leadership on this issue,
and urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.
Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H. Con. Res. 330, which supports the goals and ideals of National
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
I was the lead Democratic sponsor of the original legislation,
introduced by former Representative Mark Green and signed into law in
2003, that designated April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and
Prevention Month.
It is important that we remember that preventing sexual assault
should be a top priority during each month of the year. Every 2\1/2\
minutes, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted. I have
long been a champion of increased efforts to prevent violence against
women and in 2004, legislation that I first introduced, ``The Debbie
Smith Act,'' was signed into law. Through this landmark act, we have
the ability to protect our daughters, our sisters, and our friends by
putting rapists behind bars through DNA evidence. We know that DNA
evidence is better than a fresh set of fingerprints. And we know that
it is often better than eyewitness testimony. With ``The Debbie Smith
Act,'' the hundreds of thousands of rape kits that were gathering dust
across the country are finally being processed.
In January I introduced H.R. 5057, ``The Debbie Smith Reauthorization
Act,'' to extend the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Elimination Program
through FY 2014. I am pleased to have been joined in introducing the
legislation by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Judiciary
Committee, Chairman Conyers and Ranking Member Smith.
It is vitally important that we support the Violence Against Women
Act by fully funding the important programs that will help women escape
abusive and dangerous situations and begin new lives that are free from
violence and fear. The organizations, shelters, and counseling centers
that are on the front lines of this problem need our steadfast
commitment that they will have the resources to continue their
important work.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H. Con. Res. 330, ``Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month''. I would like to thank
my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin,
for introducing this important piece of legislation.
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month highlights an issue
that has often been covered up even in this great nation. Rape is a
violent assault, not a sexually-motivated or gratifying act. The
rapist's aim is to dominate, humiliate, control and degrade the victim.
For the victim of sexual assault, it is a wound that while covered
never truly heals.
texas statistics on sexual assault
Approximately 1.9 million adult Texans, or 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20
men, have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime.
While these numbers are daunting they pale in comparison to the vast
number of incidents that we never hear about.
An estimated 82 percent of rapes go unreported. The vast majority of
rape victims--nearly 80 percent--know the person who rapes them.
In any given year, sexual assault of adults costs the state of Texas
$27,161,428. Nine percent of sexual assault victims in Texas sought
medical care after being victimized (5 percent of male victims, 10
percent of female victims).
Over 30,000 sexual assault survivors receive services at Texas rape
crisis centers each year. Sadly approximately 43 Texas counties are not
currently served by a rape crisis center or other victim's assistance
organization. Which leaves victims feeling further isolated and without
support from the local community.
As of January 1, 2005, there were 2,546 cases pending for sexual
assault of an adult and 10,543 cases pending for sexual assault or
indecency with a child. In that same year, there were only 559
convictions for sexual assault of an adult, and 2,449 convictions for
sexual assault or indecency with a child.
Prevention
For many years now, rape crisis centers across Texas and the U.S.
have provided invaluable services to survivors of sexual violence while
also educating their communities
[[Page H2901]]
about the prevalence and nature of sexual violence. Unfortunately, the
need for services continues to exceed the capacity of most of our
State's crisis centers. In order to address the astonishing rates of
sexual violence, we are now increasing our focus on the primary
prevention of sexual violence.
Plainly put, we're trying to engage communities to stop sexual
violence before it occurs and to build safe, healthy communities. Dr.
George Albee, a pioneer in clinical psychology, put it best, ``No mass
disorder afflicting humankind has been eliminated or brought under
control by attempts at treating the affected individual. Sexual
violence prevention requires comprehensive, community-based initiatives
that address the various systemic issues, attitudes, behaviors and
norms that perpetuate sexual violence.''
As a member of the Women's and Children's Caucus, I strongly urge my
colleagues to examine the issue of sexual assault and prevention. Let's
stop trying to sweep the issue under the rug simply because it is
difficult to hear. For it affects you and me, and our families and our
communities. Eighty-two percent of victims reported that the rape
permanently changed them. Thirteen percent of rape victims attempt
suicide. Thirty percent said they contemplated suicide.
These lasting scars are on the hearts, minds, and souls of women,
men, and children. Sexual Assault--Sexual Violence is a problem that
must be dealt with for it is not going away.
As the electronic games our children play, the sexual exploitation
and violence they see on television grows, and the miseducation of what
love, sex, and violence really mean continues to exist. We will need to
highlight this important issue.
In the time it took me to give this statement, someone in America was
sexually assaulted for the Department of Justice has stated that every
two minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted. I express my
support for the designation of National Sexual Assault Awareness and
Prevention Month. I believe we should increase public awareness of
sexual assault and continue to look at new ways to focus on prevention.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 330.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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