[House Report 108-113]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    108-113

======================================================================



 
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO RAISING AWARENESS AND 
   ENCOURAGING PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE UNITED STATES AND 
 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS 
                          AND PREVENTION MONTH

                                _______
                                

May 19, 2003.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Sensenbrenner, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany S.J. Res. 8]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the 
joint resolution (S.J. Res. 8) expressing the sense of Congress 
with respect to raising awareness and encouraging prevention of 
sexual assault in the United States and supporting the goals 
and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention 
Month, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommends that the joint resolution do 
pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for the Legislation..........................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Committee Consideration..........................................     2
Vote of the Committee............................................     3
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     3
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................     3
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................     3
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     4
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................     4
Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion.......................     4
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     5
Markup Transcript................................................     5

                          Purpose and Summary

    S.J. Res. 8 supports the goals and ideals of National 
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. It notes the 
frequency of incidents of sexual assaults in this country and 
the importance of public awareness of these incidents. It also 
recognizes the survivors of this crime and stresses the 
important contribution that victims, volunteers, police, 
forensic workers, and prosecutors make to combat sexual 
assault.

                Background and Need for the Legislation

    By passing S.J. Res. 8, Congress recognizes the need to 
increase awareness of sexual assault and recognize the 
important contribution of various groups that combat sexual 
assault. Public awareness is a vital tool in combating the 
incidence of sexual assault.
    The problem of sexual assault is recognized in statistics 
compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Rape, 
Abuse, and Incest National Network. On average, a person is 
sexually assaulted in the United States every 2 minutes. The 
Department of Justice reports that 248,000 people in the United 
States were sexually assaulted in 2001. Statistics show that 1 
in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have been victims of rape or 
attempted rape. Additionally, statistics indicate that 44 
percent of sexual assault victims are under the age of 18, and 
80 percent are under the age of 30. Sexual assault affects 
women, men, and children of all racial, social, religious, age, 
ethnic, and economic groups in the United States.
    Public awareness of this issue is important to encourage 
victims to come forward and report the crime. Currently, less 
than 40 percent of sexual assault victims pursue prosecution by 
reporting their attack to law enforcement agencies. The lack of 
reporting in some instances may be attributable to the fact 
that two-thirds of sexual crimes are committed by persons who 
are not strangers to the victims.
    The Congress recognizes that public awareness may help 
reduce the number of sexual assaults, but there are other tools 
that are necessary in preventing sexual assaults. With advances 
in DNA technology, law enforcement agencies have the potential 
to identify the rapists in tens of thousands of unsolved rape 
cases. Aggressive prosecution leads to the incarceration of 
rapists and prevents them from committing further crimes.
    Additionally, sexual assault victims suffer emotional scars 
long after the physical scars have healed. However, free, 
confidential help is available to all victims of sexual assault 
through the National Sexual Assault Hotline, more than 1,000 
rape crisis centers across the United States, and other 
organizations that provide services to assist victims of sexual 
assault.

                                Hearings

    No hearings were held on S.J. Res. 8 in the Judiciary 
Committee.

                        Committee Consideration

    On May 7, 2003, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered favorably reported the joint resolution, S.J. Res. 8, 
without amendment by voice vote, a quorum being present.

                         Vote of the Committee

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that there 
were no recorded votes during the committee consideration of 
S.J. Res. 8.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee reports that the 
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on 
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does 
not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax 
expenditures.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with 
respect to the joint resolution, S.J. Res. 8, the following 
estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, May 15, 2003.
Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman,
Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S.J. Res. 8, expressing 
the sense of Congress with respect to raising awareness and 
encouraging prevention of sexual assault in the United States 
and supporting the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault 
Awareness and Prevention Month.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark 
Grabowicz, who can be reached at 226-2860.
            Sincerely,
                                       Douglas Holtz-Eakin.

Enclosure

cc:
        Honorable John Conyers, Jr.
        Ranking Member
S.J. Res. 8--Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to raising 
        awareness and encouraging prevention of sexual assault in the 
        United States and supporting the goals and ideals of National 
        Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

                                SUMMARY

    S.J. Res. 8 would express the sense of the Congress 
relating to prevention of sexual assaults. CBO estimates that 
the resolution would have no costs and would not affect direct 
spending or revenues. This legislation contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on 
State, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz, 
who can be reached at 226-2860. This estimate was approved by 
Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget 
Analysis.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    S.J. Res. 8 does not authorize funding. Therefore, clause 
3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is inapplicable.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for 
this legislation in article I, section 8, Constitution.

               Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion

    The resolution recognizes the prevalence of sexual assault 
and makes certain findings regarding the impact of sexual 
assault. The resolution expresses the sense of Congress that:

            (A) LNational Sexual Assault Awareness and 
        Prevention Month provides a special opportunity to 
        educate the people of the United States about sexual 
        violence and to encourage both the prevention of sexual 
        assault and the prosecution of its perpetrators;

            (B) Lit is appropriate to salute the more than 
        20,000,000 victims who have survived sexual assault in 
        the United States and the efforts of victims, 
        volunteers, and professionals who combat sexual 
        assault;

            (C) Lnational and community organizations and 
        private sector supporters should be recognized and 
        applauded for their work in promoting awareness about 
        sexual assault, providing information and treatment to 
        its victims, and encouraging the increased prosecution 
        and punishment of its perpetrators; and

            (D) Lpolice, forensic workers, and prosecutors 
        should be recognized and applauded for their hard work 
        and innovative strategies to increase the percentage of 
        sexual assault cases that result in the prosecution and 
        incarceration of the offenders;

        (2) LCongress urges national and community 
        organizations, businesses in the private sector, and 
        the media to promote, through National Sexual Assault 
        Awareness and Prevention Month, awareness of sexual 
        violence and strategies to decrease the incidence of 
        sexual assault; and

        (3) LCongress supports the goals and ideals of National 
        Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that S.J. 
Res. 8 makes no changes to existing law.

                           Markup Transcript



                            BUSINESS MEETING

                         WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2003

                  House of Representatives,
                                Committee on the Judiciary,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:00 a.m., in 
Room 2141, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. F. James 
Sensenbrenner, Jr. [Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
    [Intervening business.]
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The next item on the agenda, 
pursuant to notice, I now call up the joint resolution, S.J. 
Res. 8, a Senate joint resolution expressing the sense of 
Congress with respect to raising awareness on encouraging 
prevention of sexual assault in the United States and 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault 
Awareness and Prevention Month for purposes of markup, and move 
its favorable recommendation to the full House.
    Without objection, the joint resolution will be considered 
as read and open for amendment at any point.
    [The resolution, S.J. Res. 8, follows:]
    
    
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The Chair recognizes the gentleman 
from North Carolina, Mr. Coble, for 5 minutes to explain the 
joint resolution.
    Mr. Coble. I thank the Chairman. I will not take 5 minutes.
    I rise, Mr. Chairman, in support of S.J. Res. 8 that 
supports the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault 
Awareness and Prevention Month. This resolution notes the 
frequency of incidents of sexual assaults in this country and 
the importance of public awareness of these incidents and also 
recognizes the survivors of this crime and stresses the 
important contribution that victims, volunteers, police, 
forensic workers, and prosecutors make to combat sexual 
assault.
    I am now pleased to yield to the distinguished gentleman 
from Wisconsin, Mr. Green, who has obvious interest in this 
resolution.
    Mr. Green. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Declaring a 
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is obviously a 
symbolic step, but I think in this case symbolism is important 
because it raises the profile and raises awareness of these 
challenges and issues.
    A person is sexually assaulted in the United States every 2 
minutes; 248,000 people were sexually assaulted in the U.S. in 
the year 2001, and 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have been the 
victims of rape or attempted rape.
    We have been making some progress. Rape is down 50 percent 
over the last decade. But I think we all recognize that now is 
no time to let our guard down. What these numbers really 
suggest is, instead, that this is a fight that we can win, that 
we can make progress, that we can win this challenge and win 
this battle as long as we keep fighting. Raising awareness is a 
critically important part of meeting that challenge. We need to 
get information out to victims to let them know that help is 
out there. We need to let them know that law enforcement, 
health professionals and the community care about them and 
their needs, and we need to get information out there on how to 
prevent sexual assault.
    This joint resolution declares that Congress supports the 
goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and 
Prevention Month. It gives us an opportunity, this designated 
month, to work with community leaders to educate the public on 
how to prevent sexual assault and what to do if you are 
assaulted; to recognize those in the community that volunteer 
their numerous hours to work with the victims of sexual 
assault; and to recognize law enforcement for their dedicated 
work to increase sexual assault convictions and incarcerations; 
and, finally, to salute the more than 20 million victims who 
have survived sexual assaults in the United States.
    Prevention is charged with education, and I think 
designating a month for awareness and prevention will encourage 
the media, community groups, schools, and parents to get active 
and to talk some more about what can be done to win this battle 
and to prevent sexual assault.
    Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of this resolution. I 
yield back my time.
    Mr. Coble. I thank the gentleman. I reclaim and yield back.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Who on the minority side would like 
to--the gentleman from Michigan. Gentleman from Virginia.
    Without objection, all Members' opening statements will 
appear in the record at this point.
    Are there amendments? Are there amendments? There being no 
amendments, a reporting quorum is present. The question occurs 
on the motion to report the joint resolution, S.J. Res. 8, 
favorably.
    All in favor will say aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. The motion is 
agreed to.
    Without objection, the Chairman is authorized to move to go 
to conference, pursuant to House rules. Without objection, the 
staff is directed to make any technical and conforming changes, 
and all Members will be given 2 days, as provided by House 
rules, in which to submit additional dissenting, supplemental, 
or minority views.

                                
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