[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.

                          ____________________