[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1454-H1456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE THAT THE UNITED STATES CONDEMNS ALL FORMS OF 
                   VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN GLOBALLY

  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 230) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the United States condemns all forms of violence 
against children globally and recognizes the harmful impacts of 
violence against children, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 230

       Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
     the United States condemns all forms of violence against 
     children globally and recognizes the harmful impacts of 
     violence against children.
       Whereas violence against children can take many forms, 
     including sexual violence, physical violence, emotional 
     violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
       Whereas, each year, more than 1,000,000,000 children 
     worldwide are exposed to violence;
       Whereas, each year, the global economic impact of physical, 
     psychological, and sexual violence against children is 
     estimated to be as high as $7,000,000,000,000, which is 8 
     percent of global gross domestic product (``global GDP'');
       Whereas, around the world, an estimated 1 in 3 adolescent 
     girls between 15 and 19 years of age, or 84,000,000 girls, 
     have been victims of emotional, physical, or sexual violence, 
     which is often perpetrated by individuals the girls know;
       Whereas 1 in 5 girls in the developing world is said to be 
     married before reaching 18 years of age and, of those girls, 
     an estimated 1 in 9 is said to be married before reaching 15 
     years of age;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations Children's Fund 
     (``UNICEF''), if current child marriage rates continue, 
     120,000,000 girls, an average of 12,000,000 girls a year, 
     will be married before their 18th birthday over the next 
     decade;
       Whereas 246,000,000 boys and girls experience school-
     related, gender-based violence each year;
       Whereas children with disabilities reportedly are 3 to 4 
     times more likely to experience physical or sexual violence;
       Whereas the tens of millions of children living outside of 
     family care, including those living on the streets, working 
     away from home, or in residential care, are particularly 
     vulnerable to violence and abuse;
       Whereas an estimated 152,000,000 children are involved in 
     child labor and 4,300,000 children are subject to forced 
     labor, including in situations of trafficking;
       Whereas nearly half of the 68,500,000 individuals who are 
     currently displaced by conflict and war around the world are 
     children, and displacement exposes those children to 
     increased risk of exploitation, violence, and abuse;
       Whereas, according to the United Nations, from 2016 to 
     2017, verified cases of child recruitment, including forcible 
     recruitment, and child participation in armed conflict--
       (1) quadrupled in the Central African Republic;
       (2) doubled in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and
       (3) persisted at alarming levels in Somalia, South Sudan, 
     the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen;
       Whereas more than 10,000 children were killed or maimed in 
     2017 in armed conflict;
       Whereas the risks of online abuse and exploitation of 
     children is constantly growing, with the National Center for 
     Missing and Exploited Children reviewing cases involving 
     25,000,000 child sexual abuse images in 2015, up from 450,000 
     in 2004;
       Whereas unaddressed exposure to violence disrupts the 
     development of critical brain architecture and other organ 
     structures, leaving children at lifelong risk of disease and 
     reduced potential;
       Whereas studies show toxic stress relating to exposure to 
     violent or dangerous environments becomes damaging to 
     learning, behavior, and health across a lifespan;
       Whereas violence against children can lead to negative 
     health consequences, including injury, noncommunicable and 
     communicable diseases, and poor maternal and child health 
     outcomes;
       Whereas all forms of violence in childhood have a 
     significant negative impact on educational outcomes, 
     including by reducing school attendance and increasing 
     dropout rates, and can further limit access to the physical, 
     mental health, psychosocial, and cognitive protections that 
     safe educational settings provide;
       Whereas decades of behavioral and social science research 
     have demonstrated that building adaptive capacities, known as 
     resilience, through stable and committed relationships with a 
     supportive caregiver or other adult can lessen the harmful 
     developmental effects of violence in children and youth;
       Whereas, according to the Organization for Economic Co-
     operation and Development, the United States invests 0.5 
     percent of official development assistance in programs that 
     are designed to prevent and address violence against children 
     and youth;
       Whereas the United States, in coordination with public-
     private partnerships and other organizations, has endorsed 
     the technical package called ``INSPIRE: Seven Strategies for 
     Ending Violence against Children'' (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``INSPIRE'') put forth by the World Health 
     Organization with substantial technical input from the United 
     States Government, including from the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention and United States Agency for 
     International Development;
       Whereas INSPIRE contains 7 evidence-based strategies to end 
     violence against children that include--
       (1) implementing and enforcing relevant laws;
       (2) addressing harmful gender and other social norms;
       (3) creating and sustaining safe communities;
       (4) supporting parents and caregivers;
       (5) improving household economic security to reduce 
     violence in the home;
       (6) improving access to health services, social welfare, 
     and criminal justice support; and
       (7) ensuring safe school environments that provide gender-
     equitable education and social-emotional learning and life 
     skills training; and
       Whereas the United States Agency for International 
     Development, the Department of State, the Department of 
     Labor, the Department of Homeland Security, and the 
     Department of Health and Human Services each play a critical 
     role in preventing and responding to violence against 
     children and youth: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that the United States--
       (1) condemns all forms of violence against children and 
     youth globally, including physical, mental, and sexual 
     violence, neglect, abuse, maltreatment, and exploitation; and
       (2) should--
       (A) develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated 
     strategy built on evidence-based practices, including the 
     technical package called ``INSPIRE: Seven Strategies for 
     Ending Violence against Children'' put forth by the World 
     Health Organization; and
       (B) adopt common metrics and indicators to monitor progress 
     across Federal agencies to prevent, address, and end violence 
     against children and youth globally, including harmful 
     impacts of violence on the healthy development of children 
     and the harmful economic impact of violence against children 
     and youth globally.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Rhode Island.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 230.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Rhode Island?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure, and I thank 
the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my colleague, for his 
hard work in bringing this resolution forward.
  More than a billion children worldwide are exposed to violence each 
year. This can take the form of sexual violence, physical violence, 
abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Adolescent girls are an especially 
vulnerable group. One in three girls between the ages of 15 and 17 
experience violent acts and are often the victims of someone they know. 
Children with disabilities are reportedly three to four times

[[Page H1455]]

likelier to experience physical or sexual abuse.
  This violence has a lifetime impact on the health and well-being of a 
growing child and on their community. Children who experience violence 
have higher rates of anxiety and depression and are at greater risk of 
suicide. These traumatic events have a lasting impact, from reduced 
neurological functions, to poorer educational outcomes, to higher rates 
of early and child marriage.
  Children should feel safe at home, in school, and in their 
communities. But it is in these places that most violence against 
children occurs, often at the hands of people they see every day. These 
abuses shape their lives forever.
  Violence against children can be prevented. Implementing appropriate 
laws, reinforcing positive norms and values, creating safe 
environments, and providing support to children and their caregivers 
can help to address the risk of violence perpetrated against children.
  This resolution puts the House on record, saying the United States 
condemns all forms of violence--including physical, mental, and sexual 
violence--against children.
  In addition, the resolution urges the United States to adopt 
evidence-based strategies to combat violence against children as part 
of the World Health Organization's INSPIRE program, and it urges the 
administration to develop indicators and evaluation tools to monitor 
violence against young people globally across Federal agencies.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a good measure. I am glad to support it, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.

                                        Committee on Education and


                              Labor, House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, February 28, 2020.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: I write concerning H. Res. 230, 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
     United States condemns all forms of violence against children 
     globally and recognizes the harmful impacts of violence 
     against children. This resolution was primarily referred to 
     the Committee on Education and Labor, and additionally to the 
     Committees on Foreign Affairs. As a result of Leadership and 
     Foreign Affairs having consulted with me concerning this bill 
     generally, I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill 
     so the bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       The Committee on Education and Labor takes this action with 
     our mutual understanding that by forgoing formal 
     consideration of H. Res. 230, we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation, and we will be appropriately consulted 
     and involved as the resolution or similar legislation moves 
     forward so we may address any remaining issue within our Rule 
     X jurisdiction. I also request that you support my request to 
     name members of the Committee on Education and Labor to any 
     conference committee to consider such provisions.
       Finally, I would appreciate a response confirming this 
     understanding and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters 
     on this matter be included in the committee report for H. 
     Res. 230 and in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration thereof.
           Very truly yours,
                                        Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC, February 28, 2020.
     Hon. Bobby Scott,
     Committee on Education and Labor,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Scott: I am writing to you concerning H. Res. 
     230, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
     that the United States condemns all forms of violence against 
     children globally and recognizes the harmful impacts of 
     violence against children. I appreciate your willingness to 
     work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor under 
     House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H. 
     Res. 230, to expedite floor consideration. I further 
     acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect 
     to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim 
     over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of 
     Committee on Education and Labor conferees during any House-
     Senate conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to condemn 
all forms of violence against children around the world. I thank my 
colleagues, Congressman McGovern and Congressman Wilson, for 
introducing this resolution and for their work to address this very 
important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, more than 1 billion children around the world are 
victims of violence each year. Violence, exploitation, and abuse take 
many forms and disproportionately affect children in the most 
vulnerable populations, including those in refugee settlements and 
conflict zones.
  These traumatic experiences have serious and long-lasting effects on 
children's psychological, physical, and social development. But the 
negative consequences of violence against children spread far beyond 
individuals and families. When children are prevented from reaching 
their full potential, nations suffer severe political and economic 
setbacks.
  The United States has been a global leader in prioritizing programs 
to support the health and well-being of children around the world 
through our foreign assistance programs, but we can always do more.
  This resolution encourages the development of a coordinated and 
evidence-based U.S. strategy to prevent, address, and end this abuse.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my friend, the author of this important 
resolution, a champion of human rights, and the co-chair of the Tom 
Lantos Human Rights Commission.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time and for his leadership on programs that protect and address the 
needs of vulnerable children here at home and around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to be the author of this bipartisan 
resolution, along with Congressman   Joe Wilson. And I am very proud of 
the 62 bipartisan cosponsors on this bill who represent the geographic 
and ideological diversity of this House.
  I also thank the broad coalition of organizations that have worked so 
long in support of this resolution, in particular, ChildFund, Save the 
Children, World Vision, Futures Without Violence, and UNICEF USA.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter supporting this 
resolution from these groups and others.

                                                 January 31, 2020.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Steny Hoyer,
     Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
     Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Minority 
     Leader McCarthy: As organizations committed to the protection 
     and health of children around the globe, we kindly request 
     that the House of Representatives approve on suspension of 
     the rules H. Res. 230, a Congressional Resolution to End 
     Violence Against Children Globally. Our community is proud of 
     the strong bipartisan support that H. Res. 230 has received 
     in Congress since it was introduced by Congressman Jim 
     McGovern (D-MA) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) on March 
     14, 2019. It is currently cosponsored by a bipartisan group 
     of more than 60 Members of Congress and was previously 
     approved by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on October 
     30, 2019.
       Half of all children--one billion--are victims of violence 
     each year and every five minutes, a child dies as a result. 
     Forms of violence include, but are not limited to, human 
     trafficking, child marriage, child labor, homicide, and 
     online exploitation and sexual abuse. Early exposure to 
     violence can impair children's brain development and damage 
     their circulatory, reproductive, and immune systems, causing 
     life-long risk of disease and reduced potential. The global 
     economic cost of violence against children has been measured 
     to be as high as $7 trillion dollars or 8% of the world's GDP 
     annually.
       Fortunately, the United States Government is uniquely 
     positioned to drive efforts to prevent and respond to 
     violence against children. Federal government agencies like 
     USAID, the State Department and the Department of Labor are 
     already hard at work serving the world's children. However, 
     these efforts are done without optimal coordination between 
     agencies or an overarching, government-wide strategy.

[[Page H1456]]

       The Congressional Resolution to End Violence Against 
     Children Globally (H. Res. 230/S. Res. 112) recognizes the 
     harmful impacts of violence and calls upon Congress to 
     develop and implement a coordinated strategy based on proven 
     practices. The resolution highlights the INSPIRE framework--
     seven key evidence-based strategies to end violence against 
     children. INSPIRE, developed in collaboration with the CDC, 
     USAID, and others, provides common metrics and indicators 
     which can measure and monitor progress.
       Over the years, the U.S. Government has demonstrated its 
     commitment to the health and well-being of children. 
     Providing safety and security for vulnerable children 
     supports U.S. efforts to address violence and mitigate its 
     impacts, therein bolstering other anti-poverty international 
     development efforts, including education, health, and 
     economic well-being. Building upon the work of the U.S. 
     Government's Strategy on Advancing Protection and Care for 
     Children in Adversity, passage of H. Res. 230 would enhance 
     existing government efforts to address pervasive violence 
     against children.
       We thank you in advance for your consideration of H. Res. 
     230. We urge you to support these one billion children and 
     support passage of this important resolution.
           Sincerely,
       American Academy of Pediatrics, ChildFund International, 
     Futures Without Violence, Save the Children, UNICEF USA, 
     World Vision, Bethany Christian Services, Elizabeth Glaser 
     Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Feed the Children, Food for the 
     Hungry, Global Campaign for Education-US, 
     GlobalPartnersUnited, Islamic Relief USA, RESULTS, RISE 
     Institute, SPOON Foundation.

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, even though we have made great strides in 
identifying and addressing much of the violence that affects children 
and young people around the world, the sad reality is that violence 
against children is still pandemic.
  Every 5 minutes, a child dies of violence. Half of all children--1 
billion--are victims of violence. Homicide is among the top causes of 
death in adolescents.
  That is not just a shame, Mr. Speaker. That is absolutely 
unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, 80 percent of those homicide victims are boys, and 
nearly one in five girls is sexually abused at least once in her life.
  Mr. Speaker, sadly, violence can happen anywhere--in communities, in 
schools, in the home, in emergency and crisis situations, in churches, 
on the streets, online, and on the phone. It happens in the most 
idyllic-seeming neighborhood and in the midst of conflict and war.
  Violence takes many forms: human trafficking, child marriage, child 
labor, murder, assault, beatings, psychological abuse, and online 
exploitation. And too much of the violence is based on gender.
  We know that children who are exposed to violence at a very young age 
can be affected for life. Violence can impair brain development. It 
could damage the circulatory and immune systems.
  Such violence can cause lifelong risks of being vulnerable to 
disease, illness, and disabilities. It can harm the ability to 
reproduce and engage in a full sexual life. It can severely affect the 
ability of a child to live up to their full potential.
  Luckily, nations, healthcare providers, teachers, communities, and 
nongovernmental groups have come together to end violence against 
children. They have identified and agreed upon some solutions to ending 
violence against children.
  We in this House should be proud that the CDC, USAID, World Health 
Organization, and others have developed what is called the INSPIRE 
package, which is a set of strategies to reduce and end violence 
against children everywhere.
  So many of us in this Chamber are parents. I am the father of a son 
and a daughter. I know how we worry about our children's safety and 
well-being. This is true of all families everywhere. In many ways, each 
and every child is our child. We need to be concerned about their 
vulnerability, about their safety, about their care, and about their 
protection.
  This resolution announces to the world that we are aware; that we do 
care; and, more importantly, that we want our health and aid agencies 
to take action.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, 
and I thank my colleagues for their support.
  Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again thank my colleagues for 
their hard work on this important cause.
  The exploitation, violence, and abuse experienced by so many of the 
world's most vulnerable children cannot be tolerated. This resolution 
raises awareness of this horrific reality and urges the United States 
Government to develop and coordinate evidence-based strategies to 
address this issue.
  The United States must continue to use its influence on the global 
stage to end violence against children wherever it exists.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
for the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, I again thank Congressman McGovern for his hard work on 
this measure. He has been a tireless advocate for children and 
protecting children around the world.
  American leadership on this issue is absolutely vital. Ensuring the 
safety of our children today safeguards the future of our communities 
tomorrow.
  Protecting children across the world must be an American foreign 
policy priority. We owe it to our younger generations everywhere the 
best shot possible at a full, healthy, and prosperous life.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent measure. I am pleased to be a 
cosponsor, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it. I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 230, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________