[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3043-S3047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADAM WALSH REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2016
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will
proceed to the consideration of S. 2613, which the clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2613) to reauthorize certain programs
established by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
of 2006.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, with an
amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
S. 2613
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Adam Walsh Reauthorization
Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE (SOMA) PROGRAM
REAUTHORIZATION.
Section 126(d) of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and
Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16926(d)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2018, to be
available only for--
``(1) the SOMA program; and
``(2) the Jessica Lunsford Address Verification Grant
Program established under section 631.''.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE WITH RESPECT TO
VIOLATIONS OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.
Section 142(b) of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and
Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16941(b)) is amended by
striking ``such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2007 through 2009'' and inserting ``to the United States
Marshals Service $61,300,000 for each of fiscal years 2017
through 2018''.
SEC. 4. ENSURING SUPERVISION OF RELEASED SEXUALLY DANGEROUS
PERSONS.
(a) Probation Officers.--Section 3603 of title 18, United
States Code, is amended in paragraph (8)(A) by striking ``or
4246'' and inserting ``, 4246, or 4248''.
(b) Pretrial Services Officers.--Section 3154 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended in paragraph (12)(A) by
striking ``or 4246'' and inserting ``, 4246, or 4248''.
SEC. 5. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' RIGHTS.
(a) In General.--Part II of title 18, United States Code,
is amended by adding after chapter 237 the following:
``CHAPTER 238--SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' RIGHTS
``Sec.
``3772. Sexual assault survivors' rights.
``Sec. 3772. Sexual assault survivors' rights
``(a) Rights of Sexual Assault Survivors.--In addition to
those rights provided in section 3771, a sexual assault
survivor has the following rights:
``(1) The right not to be prevented from, or charged for,
receiving a medical forensic examination.
``(2) The right to--
``(A) subject to paragraph (3), have a sexual assault
evidence collection kit or its probative contents preserved,
without charge, for the duration of the maximum applicable
statute of limitations or 20 years, whichever is shorter;
``(B) be informed of any result of a sexual assault
evidence collection kit, including a DNA profile match,
toxicology report, or other information collected as part of
a medical forensic examination, if such disclosure would not
impede or compromise an ongoing investigation; and
``(C) be informed in writing of policies governing the
collection and preservation of a sexual assault evidence
collection kit.
``(3) The right, if the Government intends to destroy or
dispose of a sexual assault evidence collection kit or its
probative contents before the expiration of the applicable
time period under paragraph (2)(A), to--
``(A) upon written request, receive written notification
from the appropriate official with custody not later than 60
days before the date of the intended destruction or disposal;
and
``(B) upon written request, be granted further preservation
of the kit or its probative contents.
``(4) The right to be informed of the rights under this
subsection.
``(b) Applicability.--Subsections (b) through (f) of
section 3771 shall apply to sexual assault survivors.
``(c) Definition of Sexual Assault.--The Attorney General
shall by regulation define the term `sexual assault' for
purposes of this section.
``(d) Funding.--This section, other than paragraphs (2)(A)
and (3)(B) of subsection (a), shall be carried out using
funds made available under section 1402(d)(3)(A)(i) of the
Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(d)(3)(A)(i)).
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of
chapters for part II of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``238. Sexual assault survivors' rights.....................3772''.....
(c) Amendment to Victims of Crime Act of 1984.--Section
1402(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42
U.S.C. 10601(d)(3)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting after
``section 3771'' the following: ``or section 3772, as it
relates to direct services,''.
SEC. 6. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' NOTIFICATION GRANTS.
The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 is amended by adding after
section 1404E (42 U.S.C. 10603e) the following:
``SEC. 1404F. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' NOTIFICATION GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may make grants as
provided in section 1404(c)(1)(A)
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to States to develop and disseminate to entities described in
subsection (c)(1) of this section written notice of
applicable rights and policies for sexual assault survivors.
``(b) Notification of Rights.--Each recipient of a grant
awarded under subsection (a) shall make its best effort to
ensure that each entity described in subsection (c)(1)
provides individuals who identify as a survivor of a sexual
assault, and who consent to receiving such information, with
written notice of applicable rights and policies regarding--
``(1) the right not to be charged fees for or otherwise
prevented from pursuing a sexual assault evidence collection
kit;
``(2) the right to have a sexual assault medical forensic
examination regardless of whether the survivor reports to or
cooperates with law enforcement;
``(3) the availability of a sexual assault advocate;
``(4) the availability of protective orders and policies
related to their enforcement;
``(5) policies regarding the storage, preservation, and
disposal of sexual assault evidence collection kits;
``(6) the process, if any, to request preservation of
sexual assault evidence collection kits or the probative
evidence from such kits; and
``(7) the availability of victim compensation and
restitution.
``(c) Dissemination of Written Notice.--Each recipient of a
grant awarded under subsection (a) shall--
``(1) provide the written notice described in subsection
(b) to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual
assault service providers, State and local law enforcement
agencies, and any other State agency or department reasonably
likely to serve sexual assault survivors; and
``(2) make the written notice described in subsection (b)
publicly available on the Internet website of the attorney
general of the State.
``(d) Provision To Promote Compliance.--The Attorney
General may provide such technical assistance and guidance as
necessary to help recipients meet the requirements of this
section.
``(e) Integration of Systems.--Any system developed and
implemented under this section may be integrated with an
existing case management system operated by the recipient of
the grant if the system meets the requirements listed in this
section.''.
SEC. 7. WORKING GROUP.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General, in consultation with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in
this section as the ``Secretary''), shall establish a joint
working group (referred to in this section as the ``Working
Group'') to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best
practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault
survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.
(b) Consultation With Stakeholders.--The Working Group
shall consult with--
(1) stakeholders in law enforcement, prosecution, forensic
laboratory, counseling, forensic examiner, medical facility,
and medical provider communities; and
(2) representatives of not less than 3 entities with
demonstrated expertise in sexual assault prevention, sexual
assault advocacy, or representation of sexual assault
victims, of which not less than 1 representative shall be a
sexual assault victim.
(c) Membership.--The Working Group shall be composed of
governmental or nongovernmental agency heads at the
discretion of the Attorney General, in consultation with the
Secretary.
(d) Duties.--The Working Group shall--
(1) develop recommendations for improving the coordination
of the dissemination and implementation of best practices and
protocols regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault
survivors and the preservation of evidence to hospital
administrators, physicians, forensic examiners, and other
medical associations and leaders in the medical community;
(2) encourage, where appropriate, the adoption and
implementation of best practices and protocols regarding the
care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the
preservation of evidence among hospital administrators,
physicians, forensic examiners, and other medical
associations and leaders in the medical community;
(3) develop recommendations to promote the coordination of
the dissemination and implementation of best practices
regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors
and the preservation of evidence to State attorneys general,
United States attorneys, heads of State law enforcement
agencies, forensic laboratory directors and managers, and
other leaders in the law enforcement community;
(4) develop and implement, where practicable, incentives to
encourage the adoption or implementation of best practices
regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors
and the preservation of evidence among State attorneys
general, United States attorneys, heads of State law
enforcement agencies, forensic laboratory directors and
managers, and other leaders in the law enforcement community;
(5) collect feedback from stakeholders, practitioners, and
leadership throughout the Federal and State law enforcement,
victim services, forensic science practitioner, and health
care communities to inform development of future best
practices or clinical guidelines regarding the care and
treatment of sexual assault survivors; and
(6) perform other activities, such as activities relating
to development, dissemination, outreach, engagement, or
training associated with advancing victim-centered care for
sexual assault survivors.
(e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Working Group shall submit to the
Attorney General, the Secretary, and Congress a report
containing the findings and recommended actions of the
Working Group.
SEC. 8. CIVIL REMEDY FOR SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Section 2255(b) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``three years'' and inserting ``10 years'';
and
(2) by inserting ``ends'' before the period at the end.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.
Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I rise to discuss the Sexual Assault
Survivors' Rights Act. I am very pleased this legislation has been
incorporated into the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act that is before us
this afternoon. I thank the chair and ranking member of the Judiciary
Committee, Senators Grassley and Leahy, for their help and support in
moving this important legislation forward.
The Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act builds on the legacy of the
Crime Victims' Rights Act by establishing our Nation's first set of
codified, court-enforceable rights to address unique issues faced by
sexual assault survivors. These rights, coupled with renewed efforts to
educate survivors about available options and resources, will help
empower survivors already in the justice system. In addition, this bill
will send a powerful message to survivors all across the country: You
do have rights. We do care about you. If you choose to come forward, we
are going to be there for you, and we are going to ensure a justice
system that treats you with dignity and fairness.
As many of our colleagues know, sexual assault remains one of the
most pervasive and complex challenges in our justice system. It affects
every segment and demographic of our society, young and old, rich and
poor, rural and urban. The immediate physical harm of an attack can
result in a lifetime of emotional scars and lingering stigma.
Sexual assault is also one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute.
For starters, it is the most underreported crime in our country. The
Department of Justice estimates that nearly 70 percent of attacks go
unreported and only a small percentage of perpetrators go to prison.
When we ask survivors why other victims don't come forward and press
charges, they tell us our justice system seems to be working against
them, not for them. They even say the trauma of an attack can be
compounded by the disappointment they feel when our legal system puts
so many needless obstacles in the path of justice. For survivors, it is
too often a grueling and bewildering process. Many feel intimidated and
ultimately choose not to go forward. Some who may initially file
charges give up before their case is resolved or they simply slip
through the cracks. In many States, sexual assault survivors risk
having their untested rape kits destroyed, sometimes without their
knowledge.
This issue came to the attention of my office when a 24-year-old
young woman, Amanda Nguyen, came to my office and told me about her
experience with this very issue. She had the tragic circumstance of
having been raped in Massachusetts, and despite the State's 20-year
statute of limitations for sexual assault, Amanda has had to return to
the same police station every 6 months just to make sure her rape kit
evidence is not destroyed. That means that every 6 months she has to
relive the crime that was committed against her. She has to meet with a
different person, reexplain her situation, and hope her evidence is not
destroyed. What is worse, if Amanda had not been proactive in figuring
out all the relevant policies, her evidence could have been destroyed
without her even being notified.
Fortunately, Amanda didn't give up. She decided this was wrong and
she was going to do something about it. She visited a number of offices
across Capitol Hill, and when she got to ours, we said: You are right.
This is wrong. We need to do something about it, and we worked with her
and with an organization she started called Rise to put together
legislation that could serve as a model for the rest of the country.
Fortunately, the Senate has an opportunity to respond to the issues
Amanda raised and so many people have faced across this country. This
bill will establish in the Adam Walsh
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Reauthorization Act the first set of court-enforceable rights for
survivors of sexual assault codified in the U.S. Criminal Code. These
rights are specifically designed to address many of the unique
challenges faced by survivors of sexual assault. They include
commonsense changes, such as ensuring that survivors are not charged
for the rape kits, requiring that the relevant evidence be kept for the
entire statute of limitations period, the right to be informed of the
medical results of a rape forensic examination, and the right to have
written notice before a rape kit containing critical evidence is
destroyed.
It is important to note that the rights contained in this bill would
only apply at the Federal level. However, they are drawn from best
practices developed by many States, and we are hopeful they will serve
as a model and a catalyst for each of the 50 States to enact or improve
their own survivor bill of rights. Already we have heard from several
State legislators who intend to introduce bills mirroring the Federal
standards in this legislation.
We know the status quo is not acceptable. Currently, inadequate laws
work against survivors, against law enforcement, and against
prosecutors--serving only the perpetrators who too often remain at
large. It is past time for a reform process that ends the silence
surrounding sexual assault, brings it out of the shadows, and gives
survivors a fair shot at justice. This is exactly what the Sexual
Assault Survivors' Rights Act will do.
I am so pleased it has been included in the Adam Walsh
Reauthorization Act that is before us today. Again, I thank the
Judiciary Committee. I thank Amanda Nguyen and Rise. They have been so
critical to getting this legislation included in the Adam Walsh Act,
and I urge my colleagues to support this bill when it comes to the
floor.
Madam President, I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coats). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today we will vote on the Adam Walsh
Reauthorization Act of 2016. Passage of this bipartisan bill will send
a strong and clear message to the American people about Congress's
steadfast commitment to keeping our children safe from sexual predators
and other violent criminals.
Many of us supported the original Adam Walsh Child Protection and
Safety Act, which is so named for a 6-year-old boy who was abducted and
tragically murdered nearly 35 years ago. Adam Walsh was abducted on
July 27, 1981, from a mall in Hollywood, FL. In what is every parent's
nightmare, Adam's remains were found 2 weeks later, more than 100 miles
from his home.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of his disappearance. In the
intervening years, his parents, John and Reve Walsh, have dedicated
their lives to protecting children from harm and bringing child
predators to justice. John Walsh collaborated on the development of the
original Adam Walsh Act, and he has continued to provide invaluable
insight regarding the reauthorization bill that is before us today.
This bill is yet another bipartisan measure that the Senate Judiciary
Committee reported unanimously in the 114th Congress. Senators Hatch,
Schumer, and Feinstein, who all cosponsored an early Senate version of
the 2006 Adam Walsh Act, have once again joined as original cosponsors
of this legislation. I want to also thank our committee's ranking
member, Senator Leahy, as well as Senator Ayotte and other Members of
this Chamber who have joined as cosponsors or contributed in some way
to the bill's success.
As a reminder, the Adam Walsh Act originally was enacted in response
to notorious cases involving children who had been targeted by adult
criminals, many of them repeat sex offenders. The names Johnny Gosch,
Eugene Martin, and Jetseta Gage, for example, still bring heartbreak to
all Iowans. Johnny Gosch was a 12-year-old paperboy delivering
newspapers in West Des Moines, IA, when he disappeared in 1982. Two
years later, 13-year-old Eugene Martin disappeared in Des Moines, IA--
also while delivering newspapers. And 10-year-old Jetseta Gage was
kidnapped, raped, and murdered by a convicted sex offender in rural
Johnson County, IA in 2005.
The original Adam Walsh Act was enacted in response to these and many
other cases involving missing children. The 2006 law established
numerous programs, but their authorization expired some years ago.
Several of these programs, for which Congress continues to provide
funding in the annual appropriations process, are the centerpiece of
the Adam Walsh Act and are key to its successful implementation. This
bill would extend the authorization for these pivotal programs.
First, this bill would reauthorize the sex offender management
assistance program. It is estimated that there are more than 700,000
registered sex offenders in the United States. This program helps
States to meet national notification and registration standards for
these sex offenders. It also helps State and local law enforcement
agencies improve their sex offender registry systems and information
sharing capabilities.
Second, this bill would extend the Jessica Lunsford Address
Verification Grant Program. Who can forget Jessica Lunsford, for whom
this program is named? This 9-year-old Florida girl was abducted and
murdered by a registered sex offender who lived nearby. Her story is
not unlike that of 10-year-old Jetseta Gage.
The Jessica Lunsford program authorizes grants to State and local
governments to help fund programs that verify the residences of
registered sex offenders. Having accurate information on where sex
offenders live is crucial to ensuring that law enforcement can
adequately protect the safety of children and keep the public informed.
Third, this bill authorizes continued funding for the U.S. Marshals
Service to support local efforts to track down sex offenders who fail
to register as such or who later disappear from the system. These
fugitive apprehension activities, authorized under the original Adam
Walsh Act, continue to be funded by appropriators, but they need to be
reauthorized. Extending the authorization signals Congress's continued
commitment to ensuring that these activities continue.
Fourth, during the committee markup of this bill, I offered a
substitute amendment that incorporates a package of new rights for
sexual assault survivors. It was accepted with the unanimous support of
our committee members. Several members worked with me on its
development, and I appreciate their contributions. I want to especially
thank Ms. Amanda Nguyen, a young woman who has bravely spoken out about
her experience of sexual assault. Amanda, who founded a nonprofit known
as RISE, originated the idea for a survivors' rights package and urged
me to incorporate such language in this bill.
The package we adopted in the Judiciary Committee includes new
rights, under our Federal Criminal Code, for victims of sexual assault
offenses. These rights are in addition to those already available to
all victims of crime under the Federal Criminal Code. They include the
right not to be prevented from or charged for receiving a medical
forensic exam. They include the right to have a sexual assault evidence
collection kit preserved without charge for the statutory limitations
period or 20 years. They include the right to be informed of the
results of that kit's analysis, as well as policies governing the kit's
collection and preservation. They include the right to notice when the
government intends to dispose of a sexual assault evidence collection
kit. RISE endorsed these provisions last July.
The bill reported by our committee also clarifies that the Justice
Department can make discretionary grants available, under the crime
victims fund, to States that agree to notify sexual assault survivors
of any applicable rights under state law. The bill calls for the
establishment of a Federal working group to disseminate best practices
for the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and for the
preservation of forensic evidence. The
[[Page S3046]]
bill also would extend the statutory deadline by which child victims of
certain human trafficking and child abuse offenses can file suit
against their perpetrators.
We also added language to the bill, at the suggestion of the Judicial
Conference of the United States, to clarify that courts can supervise
sexual offenders after their release from civil confinement. Courts
already do this in practice, just as they do with criminal offenders
after their release, but this legislation clarifies judges' authority
to do so.
Before concluding, I should mention that the Adam Walsh
Reauthorization Act not only has the bipartisan support of members of
this chamber, but also has the support of groups that advocate for
child protection and safety, such as the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children. It has been endorsed by two leading antihuman
trafficking organizations, Polaris and Shared Hope International. And
as already mentioned, the current version has the support of John Walsh
and RISE.
Finally, I want to reiterate that the 35th anniversary of the
abduction of and murder of young Adam Walsh will take place in July. It
is my hope that we can send this legislation to the President's desk
before that date passes. As a father and as a grandfather, I cannot
stress enough the importance of making this bill's passage a priority
for the 114th Congress.
We cannot bring back Adam Walsh, Jetseta Gage, Jessica Lunsford, or
the other innocent children we have lost under such terrible
circumstances. But we can do our best to honor their memory and to
protect America's present and future children by extending these key
programs that were authorized under the original Adam Walsh Act.
I yield the floor.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, soon the Senate will vote on legislation to
reauthorize key elements of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety
Act. I supported this important law when it was first enacted nearly 10
years ago, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this reauthorization
bill.
Both the original legislation and the reauthorization bill we are
voting on today bear the name of Adam Walsh, a young boy who was
abducted and murdered nearly 35 years ago. Since that tragic day,
Adam's father, John, has been a determined and tireless advocate on
behalf of missing and exploited children. I have worked with John Walsh
and others over the years to protect the most vulnerable among us. As a
Senator and former prosecutor--but most importantly, as a father and a
grandfather--I take seriously my duty to protect the children of
Vermont and every community throughout the country.
The Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act will reauthorize two important
programs that assist State and local law enforcement agencies to
monitor and apprehend sex offenders. Specifically, this legislation
authorizes the Attorney General to continue providing grants to State
and local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to improve sex
offender registry systems. The bill also reauthorizes funding for
grants to improve information sharing and verification and supports the
work of the U.S. Marshals Service in helping State and local law
enforcement to locate and apprehend sex offenders who fail to comply
with registration requirements.
For more than three decades, the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children, NCMEC, has served as a national clearinghouse on
issues related to missing and exploited children. I know that the
center works closely with the marshals and other Federal, State, and
local law enforcement agencies, and the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act
will help further our support for these collaborative efforts. NCMEC
has played a vital role in these efforts, which is why last Congress, I
helped lead the fight to reauthorize NCMEC, so that it could continue
its important work.
The bill also includes an important set of provisions authored by
Senator Shaheen to protect the rights of sexual assault survivors,
particularly with regard to sexual assault and rape kits. I want to
thank and applaud Senator Shaheen for her hard work and leadership on
the Sexual Assault Survivors Rights Act. As an original cosponsor of
her bill, I supported the inclusion of her important measure as part of
this bill.
I encourage all Senators to support this bill. I hope that the House
will take it up and promptly pass it so that it can be signed into law
by the President. There is no need to delay any longer our support for
the Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies that work tirelessly
to protect the children of our community. But once this bill become
law, our job does not end there. It is not sufficient to just pay lip
service to this issue and allow Congress to pat itself on the back for
passing an authorization bill. Just as we have seen with our efforts to
combat the opioid abuse epidemic, a bill that authorizes programs is
important and worthy of support, but ultimately an empty promise if it
is not backed up with the actual Federal resources that Congress
authorizes. I will keep fighting to ensure that Congress puts its money
where its mouth is and provides the funding that is necessary to
support these important efforts. I will continue fighting to improve
our laws so that we protect the most vulnerable in all of our
communities.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I support the ``Adam Walsh
Reauthorization Act of 2016,'' an important bill crafted to protect--
and support--victims of sex crimes. I am proud to be an original
cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators
Grassley and Schumer.
The bill reauthorizes important programs that assist States in
managing sex offenders and reauthorizes the U.S. Marshals Service
efforts to locate and apprehend these offenders. The bill also protects
the rights of sexual assault survivors. For example, it includes
provisions to ensure sexual assault survivors are notified of their
rights, such as the right to have a sexual assault medical forensic
examination.
For many years, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and I pushed to provide
victims of crime with basic protections in the criminal justice system.
Those efforts culminated with the passage of the Crime Victims' Rights
Act of 2004.
This bill similarly recognizes the rights of victims of sexual
assault--an important step forward.
Finally, the bill includes a provision that I authored, along with
Senator Cornyn, to extend the time for minor victims of sex crimes to
pursue justice against their perpetrators.
Across this country, those who were sexually exploited as children
are courageously coming forward, many years after the abuse took place.
My office has heard from a number of victims from California who--in
the height of their innocence as children--were subjected to untold
abuse and sexual exploitation. Many of these victims were not able to
come forward until many years later--after they had reached adulthood.
To address this, I authored language to extend the statute of
limitations for minor victims of Federal sex crimes. Specifically,
section 8 of the bill extends the civil statute of limitations until
the age of 28 to allow minor victims of sex offenses, including sexual
abuse and child pornography, to sue their perpetrators.
This brings the statute of limitations in line with a similar law
that provides a remedy for victims of sex trafficking. This provision
is one step in the right direction, but we must do more to reform the
statute of limitations for minor victims of Federal sex offenses.
Indeed, Senator Cornyn and I recently introduced legislation called
the Extending Justice for Sex Crime Victims Act of 2016. This bill
would clarify the law so that the civil statute of limitations for
Federal sex crime victims begins to run 10 years after the later of
when the victim actually discovers the injury or the violation, or when
the victim turns 28 years old. This is important because victims of sex
crimes are sometimes abused even before they can remember or understand
the abuse--some as young as 3 years old.
I am hopeful that the Senate will take up and pass the bill I have
introduced separately with Senator Cornyn to address this issue.
I am pleased to support the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2016
today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.
Mrs. ERNST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in
morning business.
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The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Hearing none, it is so ordered.
Honoring Women Airforce Service Pilots
Mrs. ERNST. Mr. President, I am pleased to report that last week,
bipartisan legislation to restore the rights of the Women Airforce
Service Pilots, or WASP, to have their ashes inurned at Arlington
National Cemetery was signed into law.
I was proud to have led the Senate's effort, with Senator Mikulski,
to honor this group of revolutionary women who courageously served our
country. I thank Congresswomen Martha McSally and Susan Davis for their
leadership and for spearheading this bill in the House.
On the heels of Pearl Harbor, these trailblazing women bucked the
status quo and made tremendous sacrifices for this Nation. They joined
a groundbreaking flight training program for women, flying noncombat
service missions for the Army Air Force to free their male counterparts
for combat duty overseas. The WASP willingly put their lives on the
line for this country during a time of war. This work wasn't easy and
certainly contained peril. In fact, 38 WASP died in service to our
great country during World War II. Their sacrifice and love for this
Nation deserves to be celebrated and always remembered.
Iowa was at one time or another home to at least 25 courageous WASP.
While they were eventually granted veteran status in 1977, it was not
until 2002 that the Army allowed these women to have their ashes placed
in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. In 2015 that
honor was inexplicably and wrongly revoked by the Army.
With less than 100 WASP still living, time was short to do what was
right and honor these women for their selfless sacrifice and service to
our Nation. They were role models for women in the military, like me,
and proved their strength and fortitude in the missions they carried
out.
I want to take this time to honor these extraordinary women and thank
them for their remarkable military service. As Memorial Day approaches,
I am grateful that we can restore a basic honor to them and their
families through this law.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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