[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 133 (Saturday, August 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                     PREVENTING CHILD SEX ABUSE ACT

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I have long fought to protect victims 
of violent crime. Victims of sexual assault, especially children who 
are victimized by sexual predators, must be safeguarded. I have worked 
to ensure the Violence Against Women Act is funded. I steered through 
the Senate and into law the Survivor's Bill of Rights in the States 
Act. And I have introduced the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to 
support victims of human trafficking. I have fought and will continue 
to fight for victims of violent crime.
  When I was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I convened 
the first congressional hearing on protecting young athletes from 
sexual abuse. I conducted aggressive oversight into the U.S. Olympic 
Committee's response following the scandal involving disgraced Olympic 
physician Larry Nassar. And I worked to ensure that the Protecting 
Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act became law, which requires 
instructors, coaches, and others who work with young athletes to report 
cases of child sexual abuse to the authorities. But more needs to be 
done.
  I continue to press the Department of Justice for more answers on the 
FBI's handling of the Nassar case and why Nassar wasn't federally 
charged for his heinous physical abuse against our Olympic gymnasts. My 
oversight in this area has brought to the surface more information 
about how our legal system fails victims of abuse, especially children. 
Our outdated laws aren't keeping pace with how predators develop new 
tricks and use new technology.
  Children are a gift, but they are vulnerable. They must be 
protected--not taken advantage of. As a father and a grandfather, the 
safety and welfare of the next generation is a deeply personal issue to 
me.
  Today, I am pleased to announce that I, along with Senator Ossoff, am 
introducing the Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Act. We are confident 
this bill will make children--both at home and around the world--safer 
from the predators who want to sexually abuse them.
  I have worked extensively with the Department of Justice's Child 
Exploitation and Obscenity Section to get their feedback and hear about 
what legislative tools they need to protect children. I look forward to 
continuing this partnership with them as we improve this legislation.
  Victims and advocacy groups focused on this issue endorse this bill, 
including: U.S. Olympic medalist Tasha Schwikert, the Army of 
Survivors, the National and International Centers for Missing and 
Exploited Children, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Stop 
Child Predators, Rights4Girls, the Keep Kids Safe Movement, the 
National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, and the Iowa 
County Attorneys Association. I appreciate their contributions and 
suggestions in improving this bill and their tireless efforts to keep 
children safe from the scourge of this kind of abuse.
  This bill gives prosecutors more tools in their toolbox to get child 
abusers away from children. One of the sections in my bill will now 
make it possible for Federal prosecutors to charge the likes of Larry 
Nassar with a Federal crime for his abuse of our gymnasts. Another 
section ensures that Americans who travel abroad under the guise of 
business or charitable work to abuse children will be held accountable. 
The final section of this bill modernizes our understanding of child 
sexual abuse in the digital age.
  I wish legislation like this wasn't necessary, but it is. We have to 
crack down on violent crime against children, and we shouldn't wait 
another minute to act. I look forward to working with my fellow 
Senators to pass this legislation quickly and keep our children safe 
from predators.

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