[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Dold) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize January as Human and 
Sex Trafficking Awareness Month.
  Mr. Speaker, let's call sex trafficking what it is. It is modern-day 
slavery that exploits our society's most vulnerable. Unfortunately, sex 
trafficking is the fastest growing business of any organized crime in 
the world. This isn't a faraway problem. In the United States, it is an 
estimated $9.8 billion industry and, sadly, children aged 12 to 14 are 
the largest at risk for sex trafficking. This is absolutely disgusting.
  Last year we passed important legislation aimed at stopping sex 
trafficking, but the fight is far from over. It is our collective 
obligation to do everything that we can to put a definitive end to this 
modern-day slavery, which is why we must come together as a country, we 
must come together as a Congress, to do everything we can to stop this 
disgusting crime.


                         Mental Wellness Month

  Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mental Wellness 
Month.
  To this point, our government's approach to mental health has 
consisted of ineffective and disjointed policies. Too often, those in 
need of care end up either in jail or on the streets because adequate 
services are simply not available.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Helping Families in Mental Health 
Crisis Act, which would help the Nation's broken mental health system 
and care for those who are most in need.
  This bipartisan bill would improve effectiveness and efficiency in 
Federal programs that help people, with a focus on early intervention 
and prevention programs in addition to suicide prevention. I want to 
thank my friend Tim Murphy for his leadership on this bill.
  I am glad that the administration this week recognized the importance 
of mental health programs in reducing gun violence, but we need a long-
term legislative fix if we are really going to make progress on solving 
the mental health crisis in our Nation.
  That is why, in recognition of Mental Wellness Month, I call on my 
colleagues to pass this bipartisan bill and to stop playing partisan 
games with people's lives.


       Waukegan High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

  Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Waukegan High 
School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, which is celebrating its 
100th anniversary this week.
  Waukegan's program is the oldest JROTC program in the Nation. It was 
created before the national JROTC program was instated in late 1916. 
Its initial purpose was to prepare high school young men for military 
service during World War I. This organization has come a long way over 
the past century, as half of the cadets of this 777-member corps are 
young women.
  The Waukegan High School JROTC offers a curriculum not only of 
military training, but also of good leadership and citizenship skills. 
Students receive an education of flag and military structure, self-
discipline and guidance on personal, financial, college, and career 
planning. Of the 777 cadets, 75 percent go on to postsecondary 
education and 10 percent serve in our military.
  Congratulations to the Waukegan High School JROTC for this program 
and for leading and being a strong and positive representative for our 
Waukegan community.

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