[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5641]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

  (Ms. BASS of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. BASS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April 
as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. During this month, it is 
important that we acknowledge the role that we all play in promoting 
the social and emotional well-being of children in our communities. 
Unfortunately, throughout this congressional term, we've been 
astonished by a few high-profile child sex abuse cases; and in some 
situations, the abuse was unreported for years, leaving dozens of youth 
vulnerable to further maltreatment for decades. This is unacceptable. 
Adults should never turn a blind eye after seeing sexual abuse 
firsthand.
  Sadly, failing to report child sexual abuse is not new. In 1999, 
Sherrice Iverson, a 7-year-old girl from Los Angeles was attacked in a 
restroom. A witness didn't stop the attack or even call for help. She 
was ultimately murdered. Fortunately, California enacted a law in her 
name to help ensure this never happens again.
  At the end of 2011, Representative Bobby Schilling and I introduced a 
similar bill here in Congress. The bipartisan Speak Out to Stop Child 
Abuse Act requires all adult witnesses to report child sexual abuse to 
law enforcement or Child Protective Services. I ask my colleagues to 
cosponsor this bipartisan bill.

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