[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9927-H9931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RESPECT FOR CHILD SURVIVORS ACT

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 4926) to amend chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, to 
require appropriate use of multidisciplinary teams for investigations 
of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the production of child sexual 
abuse material, or child trafficking conducted by the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 4926

       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 ``Respect for Child Survivors 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS.

       (a) Amendment.--Chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 540D. Multidisciplinary teams

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `child sexual abuse material' means a visual 
     depiction described in section 2256(8)(A) of title 18;
       ``(2) the term `covered investigation' means any 
     investigation of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the 
     production of child sexual abuse material, or child 
     trafficking conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
       ``(3) the term `Director' means the Director of the Federal 
     Bureau of Investigation;
       ``(4) the term `multidisciplinary team' means a 
     multidisciplinary team established or used under subsection 
     (b)(2);
       ``(5) the term `relevant children's advocacy center 
     personnel' means children's advocacy center staff that 
     regularly participate in multidisciplinary child support 
     settings, including the director of the children's advocacy 
     center, the coordinator of a multidisciplinary team, forensic 
     interviewers, victim advocates, forensic medical evaluators, 
     physicians, sexual assault nurse examiners, and mental health 
     clinicians; and
       ``(6) the term `victim advocate' means a person, whether 
     paid or serving as a volunteer, who provides services to 
     victims under the auspices or supervision of a victim 
     services program.
       ``(b) FBI Victim Support Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--To carry out the functions described in 
     subsection (c) in connection with each covered investigation 
     conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
     Director shall, unless unavailable or otherwise inconsistent 
     with applicable Federal law--
       ``(A) use a multidisciplinary team; and
       ``(B) in accordance with paragraph (3), use--
       ``(i) a trained Federal Bureau of Investigation child 
     adolescent forensic interviewer; or
       ``(ii) in the absence of a trained Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation child adolescent forensic interviewer, a 
     trained forensic interviewer at a children's advocacy center.
       ``(2) Use and coordination.--The Director shall use and 
     coordinate with children's advocacy center-based 
     multidisciplinary teams as necessary to carry out paragraph 
     (1).
       ``(3) Children's advocacy centers.--The Director--
       ``(A) may work with children's advocacy centers to 
     implement a multidisciplinary team approaches for purposes of 
     covered investigations; and
       ``(B) shall allow, facilitate, and encourage 
     multidisciplinary teams to collaborate with a children's 
     advocacy center with regard to availability, provision, and 
     use of services to and by victims and families that are 
     participants in or affected by the actions at issue in a 
     covered investigation.
       ``(4) Report.--The Director shall submit to the Attorney 
     General an annual report identifying any interview of a 
     victim reporting child sexual abuse material or child 
     trafficking that took place--
       ``(A) without the use of--
       ``(i) a multidisciplinary approach;
       ``(ii) a trained forensic interviewer; or
       ``(iii) either the use of a multidisciplinary approach or a 
     trained forensic interviewer; and
       ``(B) for each interview identified under subparagraph (A), 
     describing the exigent circumstances that existed with 
     respect to the interview, in accordance with paragraph (1).
       ``(5) Memoranda of understanding.--The Director shall seek 
     to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a reputable 
     national accrediting organization for children's advocacy 
     centers--
       ``(A) under which--
       ``(i) the children's advocacy services of the national 
     organization are made available to field offices of the 
     Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States; and
       ``(ii) special agents and other employees of the Federal 
     Bureau of Investigation are made aware of the existence of 
     such memoranda and its purposes; and
       ``(B) which shall reflect a trauma-informed, victim-
     centered approach and provide for case review.
       ``(c) Functions.--The functions described in this 
     subsection are the following:
       ``(1) To provide for the sharing of information among the 
     members of a multidisciplinary team, when such a team is 
     used, and with other appropriate personnel regarding the 
     progress of a covered investigation by the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation.
       ``(2) To provide for and enhance collaborative efforts 
     among the members of a multidisciplinary team, when such a 
     team is used, and other appropriate personnel regarding a 
     covered investigation.
       ``(3) To enhance the social services available to victims 
     in connection with a covered investigation, including through 
     the enhancement of cooperation among specialists and other 
     personnel providing such services in connection with a 
     covered investigation.
       ``(4) To carry out other duties regarding the response to 
     investigations of child sexual abuse or trafficking.
       ``(d) Personnel.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each multidisciplinary team shall be 
     composed of the following:
       ``(A) Appropriate investigative personnel.
       ``(B) Appropriate mental health professionals.
       ``(C) Appropriate medical personnel.
       ``(D) Victim advocates or victim specialists.
       ``(E) Relevant children's advocacy center personnel, with 
     respect to covered investigations in which the children's 
     advocacy center or personnel of the children's advocacy 
     center were used in the course of the covered investigation.
       ``(F) Prosecutors, as appropriate.
       ``(2) Expertise and training.--
       ``(A) In general.--Any individual assigned to a 
     multidisciplinary team shall possess such expertise, and 
     shall undertake such training as is required to maintain such 
     expertise, in order to ensure that members of the team remain 
     appropriately qualified to carry out the functions of the 
     team under this section.
       ``(B) Requirement.--The training and expertise required 
     under subparagraph (A) shall include training and expertise 
     on special victims' crimes, including child sexual abuse.
       ``(e) Sharing of Information.--
       ``(1) Access to information.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), 
     relevant children's advocacy center personnel who are 
     assigned to work on a covered investigation under this 
     section shall be granted access to the case information 
     necessary to perform their role conducting forensic 
     interviews and providing mental health treatment, medical 
     care, and victim advocacy for Federal Bureau of Investigation 
     cases.
       ``(B) Included information.--The case information described 
     in subparagraph (A) to which relevant children's advocacy 
     center personnel shall be granted access includes--
       ``(i) case outcome of forensic interviews;
       ``(ii) medical evaluation outcomes;
       ``(iii) mental health treatment referrals and treatment 
     completion;
       ``(iv) safety planning and child protection issues;
       ``(v) victim service needs and referrals addressed by the 
     victim advocate;
       ``(vi) case disposition;
       ``(vii) case outcomes; and
       ``(viii) any other information required for a children's 
     advocacy centers as a part of the standards of practice of 
     the children's advocacy center; and
       ``(C) Exempt information.--The case information described 
     in subparagraph (A) does not include--

[[Page H9928]]

       ``(i) classified information;
       ``(ii) the identity of confidential informants; or
       ``(iii) other investigative information not included as a 
     part of the standards of practice of the children's advocacy 
     center.
       ``(2) Sharing information with fbi.--Children's advocacy 
     centers shall provide the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
     with forensic interview recordings and documentation, medical 
     reports, and other case information on Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation-related cases.
       ``(3) Security clearances.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Federal Bureau of Investigation may 
     provide security clearances to relevant children's advocacy 
     center personnel for purposes of case review by 
     multidisciplinary teams, if it is determined that those 
     personnel are eligible and possess a need-to-know specific 
     classified information to perform or assist in a lawful and 
     authorized government function.
       ``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(f) Use of Teams.--Multidisciplinary teams used under 
     this section shall be made available to victims reporting 
     child sexual abuse or child trafficking in covered 
     investigations, regardless of the age of the victim making 
     the report.
       ``(g) Case Review by Multidisciplinary Team.--Throughout a 
     covered investigation, a multidisciplinary team supporting an 
     investigation under this section shall, at regularly 
     scheduled times, convene to--
       ``(1) share information about case progress;
       ``(2) address any investigative or prosecutorial barriers; 
     and
       ``(3) ensure that victims receive support and needed 
     treatment.
       ``(h) Availability of Advocates.--The Director shall make 
     advocates available to each victim who reports child sexual 
     abuse or child trafficking in connection with an 
     investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
       ``(i) Rules of Construction.--
       ``(1) Investigative authority.--Nothing in this section 
     shall be construed to augment any existing investigative 
     authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or to expand 
     the jurisdiction of any Federal law enforcement agency.
       ``(2) Protecting investigations.--Nothing in this section 
     shall be construed to limit the legal obligations of the 
     Director under any other provision of law, including section 
     552a of title 5 (commonly known as the `Privacy Act of 
     1974'), or require the sharing of classified information with 
     unauthorized persons.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 540C 
     the following:

``540D. Multidisciplinary teams.''.

     SEC. 3. IMPROVING INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD 
                   ABUSE CASES.

       The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301 et 
     seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 211 (34 U.S.C. 20301)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``3,300,000'' and inserting ``3,400,000''; 
     and
       (ii) by striking ``, and drug abuse is associated with a 
     significant portion of these'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (8) as 
     paragraphs (4) through (9), respectively;
       (C) by inserting afer paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) a key to a child victim healing from abuse is access 
     to supportive and healthy families and communities;''; and
       (D) in paragraph (9)(B), as so redesignated, by inserting 
     ``, and operations of centers'' before the period at the end;
       (2) in section 212 (34 U.S.C. 20302)--
       (A) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``coordinated team'' 
     before ``response''; and
       (B) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``organizational 
     capacity'' before ``support'';
       (3) in section 213 (34 U.S.C. 20303)--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in the heading, by inserting ``and Maintenance'' after 
     ``Establishment'';
       (ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--

       (I) by striking ``, in coordination with the Director of 
     the Office of Victims of Crime,''; and
       (II) by inserting ``and maintain'' after ``establish'';

       (iii) in paragraph (3)--

       (I) by striking ``and victim advocates'' and inserting 
     ``victim advocates, multidisciplinary team leadership, and 
     children's advocacy center staff''; and
       (II) by striking ``and'' at the end;

       (iv) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5);
       (v) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) provide technical assistance, training, coordination, 
     and organizational capacity support for State chapters; 
     and''; and
       (vi) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``and oversight to'' and inserting ``organizational capacity 
     support, and oversight of'';
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (1)--

       (I) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and maintain'' 
     after ``establish''; and
       (II) in the matter following subparagraph (B), by striking 
     ``and technical assistance to aid communities in 
     establishing'' and inserting ``training and technical 
     assistance to aid communities in establishing and 
     maintaining''; and

       (ii) in paragraph (2)--

       (I) in subparagraph (A)--

       (aa) in clause (ii), by inserting ``Center'' after 
     ``Advocacy''; and
       (bb) in clause (iii), by striking ``of, assessment of, and 
     intervention in'' and inserting ``and intervention in 
     child''; and

       (II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``centers and 
     interested communities'' and inserting ``centers, interested 
     communities, and chapters''; and

       (C) in subsection (c)--
       (i) in paragraph (2)--

       (I) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``evaluation, 
     intervention, evidence gathering, and counseling'' and 
     inserting ``investigation and intervention in child abuse''; 
     and
       (II) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``judicial handling 
     of child abuse and neglect'' and inserting 
     ``multidisciplinary response to child abuse'';

       (ii) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking ``so that 
     communities can establish multidisciplinary programs that 
     respond to child abuse'' and inserting ``and chapters so that 
     communities can establish and maintain multidisciplinary 
     programs that respond to child abuse and chapters can 
     establish and maintain children's advocacy centers in their 
     State'';
       (iii) in paragraph (4)(B)--

       (I) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (II) in by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and
       (III) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:

       ``(iv) best result in supporting chapters in each State; 
     and''; and
       (iv) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``under this Act'' 
     after ``recipients'';
       (4) in section 214 (34 U.S.C. 20304)--
       (A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
       ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall make grants to--
       ``(1) establish and maintain a network of care for child 
     abuse victims where investigation, prosecutions, and 
     interventions are continually occurring and coordinating 
     activities within local children's advocacy centers and 
     multidisciplinary teams;
       ``(2) develop, enhance, and coordinate multidisciplinary 
     child abuse investigations, intervention, and prosecution 
     activities;
       ``(3) promote the effective delivery of the evidence-based, 
     trauma-informed Children's Advocacy Center Model and the 
     multidisciplinary response to child abuse; and
       ``(4) develop and disseminate practice standards for care 
     and best practices in programmatic evaluation, and support 
     State chapter organizational capacity and local children's 
     advocacy center organizational capacity and operations in 
     order to meet such practice standards and best practices.'';
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``, in coordination with 
     the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime,'';
       (C) in subsection (c)(2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``to the greatest 
     extent practicable, but in no case later than 72 hours,'' 
     after ``hours''; and
       (ii) by striking subparagraphs (D) through (I) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(D) Forensic interviews of child victims by trained 
     personnel that are used by law enforcement, health, and child 
     protective service agencies to interview suspected abuse 
     victims about allegations of abuse.
       ``(E) Provision of needed follow up services such as 
     medical care, mental healthcare, and victims advocacy 
     services.
       ``(F) A requirement that, to the extent practicable, all 
     interviews and meetings with a child victim occur at the 
     children's advocacy center or an agency with which there is a 
     linkage agreement regarding the delivery of multidisciplinary 
     child abuse investigation, prosecution, and intervention 
     services.
       ``(G) Coordination of each step of the investigation 
     process to eliminate duplicative forensic interviews with a 
     child victim.
       ``(H) Designation of a director for the children's advocacy 
     center.
       ``(I) Designation of a multidisciplinary team coordinator.
       ``(J) Assignment of a volunteer or staff advocate to each 
     child in order to assist the child and, when appropriate, the 
     child's family, throughout each step of intervention and 
     judicial proceedings.
       ``(K) Coordination with State chapters to assist and 
     provide oversight, and organizational capacity that supports 
     local children's advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams, 
     and communities working to implement a multidisciplinary 
     response to child abuse in the provision of evidence-informed 
     initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic 
     interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim 
     advocacy.
       ``(L) Such other criteria as the Administrator shall 
     establish by regulation.''; and
       (D) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
       ``(f) Grants to State Chapters for Assistance to Local 
     Children's Advocacy Centers.--In awarding grants under this 
     section, the Administrator shall ensure that a portion of the 
     grants is distributed to State chapters to enable State 
     chapters to provide oversight, training, and technical 
     assistance to local centers on evidence-informed initiatives 
     including mental health, counseling, forensic interviewing, 
     multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim advocacy.'';
       (5) in section 214A (34 U.S.C. 20305)--
       (A) in subsection (a)--

[[Page H9929]]

       (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``attorneys and other 
     allied'' and inserting ``prosecutors and other attorneys and 
     allied''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``Center'' after 
     ``Advocacy''; and
       (B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraph (A) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(A) a significant connection to prosecutors who handle 
     child abuse cases in State courts, such as a membership 
     organization or support service providers; and''; and
       (6) by striking 214B (34 U.S.C. 20306) and inserting the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 214B. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
     sections 213, 214, and 214A, $40,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2022 through 2028.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Nadler) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on S. 4926.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, how many people are necessary to stand up to 
get a roll call vote?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The yeas and nays can be supported by one-
fifth of those Members present.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 4926, the Respect for Child Survivors Act is 
bipartisan legislation that responds to the testimony of Olympian 
McKayla Maroney, who bravely shared her story with Congress, alongside 
her fellow gymnasts, Simone Biles, Maggie Nichols, and Aly Raisman. 
They told Congress about the abuse they faced at the hands of Larry 
Nassar, and the failures of so many people to stop that abuse sooner.
  Maroney testified that she was interviewed by an FBI agent in 2015. 
She testified that she spoke to the agent over the phone for nearly 3 
hours, recounting numerous molestations and answering every question, 
trusting that sharing this information would lead to action and to 
protecting other young women.
  ``I began crying at the memory over the phone, and there was just 
dead silence,'' Maroney testified. She said, ``I was so shocked at the 
agent's silence and disregard for my trauma.'' Unfortunately, it was 
not until 17 months later that the agent even documented the interview. 
Unsurprisingly, it did not accurately describe Maroney's account of the 
abuse that she experienced.
  The Respect for Child Survivors Act seeks to ensure that no one will 
experience what McKayla Maroney experienced when she trusted the FBI 
with her most personal traumatic memories.
  This legislation requires the FBI to use multidisciplinary teams of 
experts when investigating cases of child sexual abuse, the production 
of child sexual abuse material, and child trafficking. These experts 
must receive training on special victims' crimes, including child 
sexual abuse, and they must provide trauma-informed care. The use of 
these multidisciplinary teams would prevent the re-traumatization of 
victims who come forward seeking justice.
  The bill also requires the director of the FBI to annually report to 
the Attorney General about any interview of a victim reporting child 
sexual abuse material or child trafficking that took place without the 
use of a multidisciplinary approach or a trained forensic interviewer.
  The bill also encourages the FBI to work with multidisciplinary teams 
at existing Children's Advocacy Centers, as established by the Victims 
of Child Abuse Act. The bill ensures that the FBI gives Children's 
Advocacy Center personnel access to critical case information so 
victims can get the medical, mental health, and advocacy services they 
need.
  Finally, the bill requires that child sexual abuse and child 
trafficking cases are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team at regularly 
scheduled times so that the team can share information about case 
progress, address any investigative or prosecutorial barriers, and 
ensure that victims receive support and needed treatment.
  This provision would ensure that none of these serious cases is 
neglected and that children are not endangered by a failure to 
investigate.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Senators Cornyn, Coons, Grassley, and Klobuchar 
for introducing this important legislation in the Senate. I thank 
Congressmen Costa and Gonzales for championing it in the House. I hope 
my colleagues will join me in supporting this bipartisan, bicameral 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 4926, the Respect for Child Survivors Act requires 
the FBI to use multidisciplinary teams when investigating certain 
crimes involving children.
  This requirement includes, for example, situations where the 
interviewed victim is no longer a child, but was the victim of a crime 
as a child. The multidisciplinary teams would consist of a variety of 
professionals trained to work with children who had been victims of a 
crime. The goal of using these multidisciplinary teams is to prevent 
re-traumatizing victims.
  S. 4926 also contains provisions related to information-sharing and 
case review for crimes involving children. These provisions would 
hopefully ensure that these cases are not forgotten or simply dropped 
without review.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a member of the Judiciary 
Committee.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the manager of 
this bill.
  I display this picture for everyone to see because a picture is worth 
a thousand words. This is McKayla and a constituent of mine, Simone 
Biles. As indicated, these women have spent years investing in their 
sport and rising to the level of excellence, and they are victims that 
should not have been victimized.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Respect for Child Survivors Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the article titled: ``Senators 
Propose New Bill Following USA Gymnastics Scandal.''

               [From NBC Los Angeles, September 22, 2022]

       Senators Propose New Bill Following USA Gymnastics Scandal

                           (By Kristen Conti)

       A group of senators have decided to roll out a bill to 
     adjust the intricacies of the USA Gymnastics scandal with the 
     implementation of The Respect for Child Survivors Act, 
     following the Larry Nassar incident.
       The intentions of the act are to improve the way the FBI 
     interacts with underage witnesses and victims in sex abuse 
     and human trafficking cases.
       The catalyst for this endeavor surrounds the FBl's previous 
     failures in handling the Nassar investigation from 2015. 
     Nassar is currently facing decades in prison for abusing 
     underage athletes on the USA Gymnastics team.
       The FBI failed to act, despite being notified of the 
     allegations in 2015. It took them over a year to take action, 
     leaving Nassar many more months to prey on the girls.
       Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Maroney are 
     among the over 100 alleged victims of Nassar.


              What is the Respect for Child Survivors Act?

       The Respect for Child Survivors Act, which primarily aims 
     to handle the interactions between the FBI and abuse victims, 
     is a parallel to two other acts--The Adult Survivors Act and 
     The Child Victims Act (CVA).
       The act, which has officially been introduced as a bill, 
     will soon be assigned to a committee whose members will 
     discuss and implement the necessary and proper changes to the 
     bill. Next, the bill will be put before the chamber and be 
     voted on, which will determine whether it will become a law.
       The timeline for this process has yet to be determined.


           When will the Adult Survivors Act go into effect?

       The Adult Survivors Act will go into effect in November 
     2022. The bill, which is sponsored by Senate Judiciary 
     Committee Chair Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Linda B. 
     Rosenthal, was framed to resemble The Child Victims Act.
       The CVA, previously passed in 2019 and extended in 2021, 
     only covers abuse that happened to people under 18.

[[Page H9930]]

  



                Who does the Adult Survivors Act serve?

       The victims in the Nassar case were under 18 when the 
     crimes were committed and reported in 2015. However, it 
     wasn't until 2016 that the FBI began to investigate and truly 
     ignite action. And at this point, the young athletes 
     surpassed the age limit the CVA covers.
       The Adult Survivors Act allows a one-year windows for 
     survivors of adult sexual abuse in New York to file a civil 
     lawsuit. Claims will be eligible even when the statute of 
     limitations has already expired.


  What does the Respect for Child Survivors Act require the FBI to do?

       The new legislation will require the FBI to use 
     multidisciplinary teams with trauma expertise when 
     investigating these types of cases, even in cases where the 
     victim is no longer a child.
       The bill aims to make sure cases like this are not 
     prolonged like the Nassar investigation had been.
       ``It takes tremendous courage for young victims of sexual 
     assault to tell their story and overcome the fear that they 
     may not be taken seriously, may be ignored, or may be 
     wrongfully blamed,'' said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, one of 
     the bill's sponsors.
       ``To avoid re-traumatizing victims during the investigation 
     process, it's imperative we give these individuals the 
     support they need to ensure survivors feel respected during 
     the interview process and abusers are prosecuted to the 
     fullest extent of the law.''
       The bill was directly inspired by the testimony of former 
     Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, who was wrongfully treated 
     during FBI interviews about the scandal.
       ``They had legal, legitimate evidence of child abuse and 
     did nothing,'' said Maroney at a Senate Judiciary Committee 
     hearing in Sept. 2021.

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this bill was inspired by the heroic 
testimony of gymnast and survivor McKayla Maroney, who came before 
Congress to share a story of the abuse she and more than 100 others 
faced at the hands of Larry Nassar.
  McKayla told Congress that when she was asked to speak to the FBI 
about Nassar's abuse, she told them everything, she poured her heart 
out to them. She spoke to FBI agents over the phone for 3 hours. Can 
you imagine how painful that was, as she sat on the floor of her 
bedroom recounting details of molestation--information she had not 
shared with her mother?
  She wanted to make a difference. She wanted to protect others. She 
said it was the most uncomfortable conversation that she ever had in 
her life. But she thought as uncomfortable as it was, she was making a 
difference and, hopefully, protecting others from the same abuse. She 
thought and trusted that they would act quickly for the sake of the 
other girls. She waited and waited and waited and heard nothing. They 
did nothing.

                              {time}  1445

  We know now that the FBI's failure to listen to McKayla and other 
survivors allowed Nassar to continue his abuse, his torture of these 
young, beautiful women and continue to molest them. Our outstanding 
athletes who we cheer and are so proud when we are looking at the 
Olympics, look what they had to suffer.
  These young women made great sacrifices to pursue their sport and 
represent the best of their country. They put their safety in the hands 
of their coaches and their doctors and ultimately, the FBI, the people 
who were all supposed to protect them but failed.
  I am very grateful to Congressmen Costa and Gonzales and all the 
sponsors in the Senate. As the chair of the Subcommittee on Crime, 
Terrorism, and Homeland Security, we had a hearing dealing with the 
human trafficking issues.
  This is a mighty powerful bill. We hope that we will pass the no 
trafficking zone bill in the other body that complements this because I 
don't know if anybody realizes, this is a scourge, it is an epidemic. 
This bill will provide for wraparound services so that whatever is said 
by a child, that this can now be utilized to protect others. That is 
what the no trafficking zone is about, and that is what we are trying 
to protect.
  As I close, Mr. Speaker, I want everybody to realize that just in the 
last 24 hours they talked about a sextortion campaign against young 
boys--where do they do it? Online. Where are children online? At 
schools, among other places--to extort from children who are asked to 
take pictures of themselves.
  This legislation is crucial. The no trafficking zone legislation is 
crucial. We hope that it will pass as well, and we are grateful for the 
work that has been done.
  Finally, let me say that I congratulate those who supported the Equal 
Pay for Team USA Act for 2022. I couldn't support it even more.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4926, the ``Respect for Child 
Survivors Act.''
  This bill was inspired by the heroic testimony of gymnast and 
survivor McKayla Maroney, who came before Congress to share her story 
of the abuse she and more than 100 others faced at the hands of Larry 
Nassar.
  McKayla told Congress that when she was asked to speak to the FBI 
about Nassar's abuse, she told them everything. She spoke to FBI agents 
over the phone for three hours as she sat on the floor of her bedroom, 
recounting details of her molestation--information she had not even 
shared with her mother.
  She said, ``it was the most uncomfortable conversation I had ever had 
in my life, but I thought as uncomfortable as it was, I was making a 
difference, and hopefully protecting others from the same abuse . . . I 
thought and trusted that they would act quickly for the sake of other 
girls. I waited, and I waited and heard nothing.''
  We know now that the FBI's failure to listen to McKayla and other 
survivors allowed Nassar to continue his abuse and to molest more young 
women.
  These young women made great sacrifices to pursue their sport and 
represent the best of their country. They put their safety in the hands 
of their coaches, their doctors, and ultimately, the FBI--people who 
were all supposed to protect them but failed.
  McKayla is not alone in coming forward to bravely share her story so 
that Congress can do better to protect victims and survivors of abuse. 
In April, I convened the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on 
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security for a hearing on federal 
efforts to combat human trafficking.
  At this hearing, we heard from survivors who explained the many 
hurdles faced by those who are trafficked. These individuals came from 
different parts of the country; they were different ages, ethnicities, 
and genders; and they experienced different types of abuse and 
trafficking, including both labor and sexual exploitation--but they 
nonetheless had a great deal in common.
  They often put their trust in an adult who was supposed to protect 
them. They often told multiple people about their abuse before finding 
someone who would help them escape. And they experienced significant 
obstacles as they sought freedom, justice, and healing.
  We must do more to make sure that the FBI is never an obstacle. The 
treatment that McKayla and other survivors experienced at the hands of 
the FBI never should have happened, and with this legislation, Congress 
can ensure that it will not ever happen again.
  The Respect for Child Survivors Act directs the FBI to use 
multidisciplinary teams of trained experts to interview victims of 
child sexual abuse or child trafficking. This is critical to providing 
trauma-informed care and preventing further harm.
  The bill also requires that victims are connected with advocates and 
that critical information is shared with these advocates to support 
victims' needs.
  The bill encourages coordination with Children's Advocacy Centers, 
which already have significant expertise in supporting the diverse 
needs of child victims.
  Lastly, the bill creates a case review process to ensure no victim or 
investigation is forgotten.
  This legislation is supported by the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National 
Network; the National District Attorneys Association; Army of 
Survivors; and the National Children's Alliance.
  I thank Senators Cornyn, Coons, Grassley, and Klobuchar for their 
leadership in bringing forth this bipartisan legislation in the Senate, 
and I thank Congressman Costa and Congressman Gonzales for championing 
the House companion.
  While I hope that we continue to make progress in the fight to combat 
human trafficking in the 118th Congress, it is my hope that the Senate 
will pass my No Trafficking Zones Act, which already passed the House 
this year with bipartisan support.
  There is much more that we can and should do to support victims of 
child abuse and human trafficking, and to prevent these horrible crimes 
from occurring, but I am pleased that we are taking this important step 
today.
  Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I simply urge Members to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is endorsed by the Rape, 
Abuse & Incest National Network; the National District Attorneys 
Association; Army of Survivors; and the National Children's Alliance.
  We must do better in helping survivors seek justice.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H9931]]

  

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the 
Respect for Child Survivors Act. As Co-Founder and Chairman of the 
Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to put 
forward legislation that helps protect the most vulnerable in our 
communities. This important legislation was brought about, in part, by 
the failings of the FBI during its handling of the Larry Nassar sexual 
abuse cases. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General 
found that the FBI did not properly handle or document evidence 
gathering with USA Gymnastics or the victims and did not notify state 
or local authorities of the sexual assault allegations. This bill is 
intended to prevent similar situations from happening with future 
investigations. The legislation will require the FBI to utilize 
multidisciplinary teams, made up of trauma-informed experts, when 
interviewing a victim who reports child abuse or trafficking. The use 
of these teams would prevent further traumatizing victims. In addition, 
the bill's information sharing and case review provisions would ensure 
accountability so cases are not mishandled in the future.
  This legislation also includes another bill I am proud to lead, the 
Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA) Reauthorization Act of 2021. This 
legislation will reauthorize funding for Children's Advocacy Centers 
through the Victims of Child Abuse Act through 2028. Victims and 
survivors of child abuse must have access to the resources and care 
provided by Children's Advocacy Centers to heal from their trauma. This 
legislation will put the authorized level in line with the increased 
Fiscal Year 2023 funding level set by appropriators. I worked to 
reauthorize VOCAA in both 2013 and 2018 and will continue to ensure 
that VOCAA is reauthorized and fully funded.
  I want to thank the bipartisan group of legislators that have helped 
champion this legislation. In the House, Representatives Tony Gonzales 
and Brian Fitzpatrick are the Republican Leads on the Respect for Child 
Survivors Act and Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act, 
respectively. I also would like to thank Senators Coons, Cornyn, 
Klobuchar, and Graham, who have championed this through the Senate. 
Finally, thank you to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the respective 
committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate for helping to get 
these important pieces of legislation to the floor.
  The Respect for Child Survivors Act is endorsed by Rape Abuse & 
Incest National Network, the National District Attorneys Association, 
Army of Survivors, the National Children's Alliance, Keep Kids Safe, 
Together for Girls, Darkness to Light, the Monique Bun Foundation for 
Children, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and 
the Brave Movement. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act is endorsed by 
National Children's Alliance, National Children's Advocacy Center, 
Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center, Midwest Regional 
Children's Advocacy Center. Western Regional Children's Advocacy 
Center, Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center, Fraternal Order 
of Police, National District Attorneys Association, National 
Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs' 
Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Sergeants 
Benevolent Association NYPD. I thank these groups for their support of 
these bills and for their advocacy.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 4926--the Respect for 
Child Survivors Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 4926.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________