[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING SECRETARY KERRY'S NEW POLICY TO DENY VISAS TO PERPETRATORS 
                           OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2014

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the action taken by 
Secretary of State John Kerry and U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague 
to deny visas to perpetrators of sexual violence in times of armed 
conflict. This announcement sends a clear signal to sexual offenders 
and enablers of sexual violence that the United States will not 
tolerate these depraved acts.
   Secretaries Kerry and Hague were joined by the U.S. Ambassador-at-
large for global women's issues, Catherine Russell; the U.S. Assistant 
Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Anne 
Richard; and United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence 
in Conflict Zanaib Bangura in announcing this policy and shining a 
light on the sensitive yet urgent topic of rape and sexual violence as 
a tool of war.
   Since my days in the Massachusetts state legislature and then as 
District Attorney, I have been a staunch supporter for survivors and 
victims of sexual assault. I brought this passion to Washington, where 
I have been proud to support passage of legislation that would 
strengthen whistleblower protections for those who report sexual 
assaults in the military, and have consistently worked to protect 
essential programs that serve victims of domestic violence, dating 
violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including the Violence Against 
Women Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. And, as 
co-chair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, I have 
worked to ensure that military service victims' rights are protected 
through access to legal assistance and expedited transfers from his or 
her attacker.
   Secretary Kerry has exhibited commendable leadership on this issue, 
and I look forward to working with him, the State Department, the 
Department of Defense, and our global counterparts to end this culture 
of negligence that exists within our armed services and create a safe 
and transparent environment.

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