[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 91 (Thursday, May 25, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           YOUTH SEXUAL ABUSE

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. MARK DeSAULNIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2017

  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, this week we considered an important 
issue that needs to be addressed: youth sexual abuse. Some research 
shows that as many as 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys will be victims of 
sexual abuse. Congress can and should do more to reduce the prevalence 
of this heinous behavior.
  Unfortunately, some of the bills we considered this week use the 
wrong tools to address this problem. Those bills include the 
Strengthening Children's Safety Act (H.R. 1842), the Global Child 
Protection Act (H.R. 1862), and the Protecting Against Child 
Exploitation Act (H.R. 1761). All of these bills double down on our 
country's misguided practice of enforcing mandatory minimum sentencing, 
which research has shown does not dissuade crime and can tie the hands 
of judges when mitigating factors warrant lighter sentencing.
  Let me be clear--sexual abuse of children is a horrible offense that 
cannot be tolerated, and I support efforts to address this issue, 
including the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act (H.R. 
1973), which I was proud to vote in favor of this week. My opposition 
to H.R. 1842 and H.R. 1761 reflects my opposition to mandatory minimum 
sentencing. I would welcome the opportunity to work with my colleagues 
to improve these measures for the future to best protect our youth.

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