[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 93 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H3735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
8-YEAR-OLD VICTIM OF SEX SLAVERY
(Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it happened right under the entire
community's nose: 8-year-old Jen--that is correct, 8 years old--was
raped and tortured almost on a daily basis. Jen was not kidnapped by a
stranger or abused by a relative. She was sold for sex by a neighbor at
the neighbor's house. It was not just Jen who was sold for sex. It was
also her younger sister, a male cousin, and a whole group of kids from
her hometown of Norristown, Pennsylvania.
She and her fellow victims were coerced into participating and
keeping it a secret through an elaborate con of gifts and threats. No
one ever went looking for Jen because she was not ever missing. From 3
to 6 p.m., she was forced to have sex with strangers.
The trafficking finally ended when she was about 10 years of age
because the neighbor just disappeared.
Mr. Speaker, sex slavery happens. As parents and grandparents, we
need to know where our kids are because monsters that hurt victims must
be prosecuted, both the sellers and the buyers, even if they are
neighbors.
The message is clear: Our children are not for sale. Leave them
alone.
And that is just the way it is.
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