[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E609-E610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   2014 VICTIMS' RIGHTS CAUCUS AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2014

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 30th Anniversary 
of the passage of the Crime Victims' Rights Act, and we celebrated that 
great achievement during National Crime Victims' Rights Week with our 
2014 Victims' Rights Caucus Awards. We honored 6 amazing individuals 
and organizations who are changing the lives of victims of crime.
  Fellow Houstonian Sheriff Adrian Garcia of Harris County, Texas, 
received the Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award for Public Awareness. For 
the past 6 years, Sheriff Garcia has headed the largest sheriff's 
department in the state of Texas and the third largest department in 
the nation. He has been on the forefront of using social media to help 
fight crime. His department has created an app that allows residents to 
report crime immediately and anonymously, if necessary. This has been 
especially beneficial in the fight against human trafficking. Sheriff 
Garcia has made cracking down on human trafficking a top priority 
within his department. Under his leadership, the Sheriff's Department 
works hard to close illegitimate businesses and to arrest those 
exploiting the vulnerable. The impact of Sheriff Garcia's work is far 
reaching. He truly is a hero whose efforts are felt in our community 
and homes each and every day.
  Congressman Scott Perry honored Mrs. Jane Tucker, the co-founder of 
ACCESS York with the Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award. As a survivor, Jane 
Tucker knew more services were needed for victims in York, 
Pennsylvania, so together with likeminded individuals, ACCESS-York was 
created. ACCESS-York is a program for victims of domestic violence that 
continues to provide free and confidential emergency shelter, 
transitional housing, medical and legal advocacy, individual and group 
counseling, life skills training, and a 24-hour hotline for all victims 
seeking help. Ms. Tucker has served ACCESS-York for thirty years, and 
continues to volunteer to this day. She has used her story and her work 
with other victims to advocate on behalf of programming for domestic 
violence survivors.
  Congressman John Lewis honored Ms. Jessalyn Dorsey, Victims' Advocate 
at The Crime Victims Advocacy Council (CVAC) with the Eva Murillo 
Unsung Hero Award. In 1999, Ms. Dorsey's only son Terrence Green was 
shot and killed by teens after a neighborhood party. She was devastated 
by the crime and eventually attended CVAC's support group for homicide 
survivors. As she began to heal, she started to help co-facilitate the 
groups. Now she runs support groups as a professional victims advocate 
for CVAC. She served as CVAC's President for three years and won the 
award for CJCC's Volunteer of the year. During her tenure, she and her 
team have helped over 7500 crime victims. Ms. Dorsey used what she 
learned from her personal tragedy to help others in similar 
circumstances.
  The Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy was 
awarded to Community Action Partnership of Madera County, Victim 
Service Center (CAPMC) by VRC co-founder and co-chair, Rep. Jim Costa. 
CAPMC operates a multi-program victim service center for Madera County, 
California that addresses the needs of domestic violence victims, 
sexual assault victims, child abuse victims, homicide victims, and 
victims of all types of crime. CAPMC's broad range of services greatly 
benefits the population that they serve. CAPMC's programs are all in 
one center, which reduces the barriers that can prevent victims from 
accessing services. In addition, CAPMC is the only agency in Madera 
County that provides 24 hour crisis intervention to crime victims. 
Congresswoman Ann Wagner awarded Mrs. Kimberly Ritter, Director of 
Development of the Exchange Initiative, with the Allied Professional 
Award. Ms. Ritter has used her involvement with the conference and 
hospitality industry to raise awareness of the role that this industry 
can play in combatting human trafficking. She is a resource for law 
enforcement and hotels in the St. Louis area and around the country for 
training and awareness purposes, and has been the driving force behind 
many large hotels signing of the ECPAT Code of Conduct.

[[Page E610]]

She brought together the knowledge from her career with her knowledge 
of human trafficking to make a real difference in stopping this crime 
and saving victims.
  Rep. Eric Swalwell awarded District Attorney Nancy E. O'Malley of 
Alameda County, California with the Lois Haight Award for Innovation 
and Excellence. D.A. O'Malley is a leader in fighting for victims of 
crime throughout her career. As District Attorney, she created the 
first unit in the country to focus exclusively on rescuing child 
victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those who exploit these 
children, called the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) unit. 
From this work, she has created a blueprint, so other communities can 
create similar programs. In addition, she created a diversion program 
for sexually exploited girls in the juvenile justice system. DA 
O'Malley has lead efforts for victims of domestic violence and sexual 
assault. She is a true champion for victims at the local, state, and 
federal level.
  These wonderful survivors and advocates stand up for victims and make 
life better for them every day. They cannot be commended enough.
  And that's just the way it is.

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