Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims From Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, but I thank my colleagues here in the House, Congresswoman Brooks and Congresswoman Frankel of Florida.

In Michigan, there was a volcanic action. One might call it the ``Nassar volcano.'' It acted, and there was no reaction. It was deadening silence. No one responded to the volcano that kept pouring poisonous lava in the way of young, beautiful athletes.

I would hope and wish that I was not on the floor today with my colleague from Texas having to discuss this life-changing experience for these young athletes who wanted to do nothing else but to make their families proud first, maybe exceed, and be able to adhere to their faith, determination, and resolve and make their Nation, their State, their school proud of them, young girls, women, who, heretofore, Mr. Speaker, had been held back or told that this sport was not for them.

I am reminded of the women's hockey team, and I heard a young hockey player indicate that her grandmother said that hockey was not for girls.

All they wanted to do was to make us proud. All they wanted to do is to show the strength of women and the resolve of women. That is why I think this bill not only is important, Mr. Speaker, but it is timely to come today; but all of us would have wished, with no condemnation, that we had it 5 years ago or 10 years ago.

But remember what I said: the volcanic action was faced with deafening silence, for those who knew and for the girls who wanted to make us proud thought that the best way to resolve it or to handle it was to embrace it, accept it, suffer, and still make us proud.

That is why I believe this bill is crucial, and I am very glad to be on the floor with the two House sponsors, and I thank Senator Feinstein for her efforts, because this bill would prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities.

This is a reasonable and important measure that is intended to protect young athletes--and listen to the sound of the volcano--from abuse and preserve the sanctity of sports associated with the U.S. Olympic Committee, the organization responsible for preparing and training young athletes who might one day represent our Nation competitively all over the world.

How proud we are as we sit and view them on the Nation's televisions, the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics that are about to start. How shameful it is that we have to have this legislation to protect them and, as well, the deadening silence at Michigan State University and Dr. Nassar. I guess the only words that he could say are how ashamed and embarrassed and sorry he is.

Eons and eons and eons of young women now live with that pain. Children deserve to fully enjoy the innocence of their youth by exploring the curiosities of the world, taking pleasure in the art, participating in sports free of abuse.

Yes, I am going to defend the parents. I know some of them are overly eager. We have seen them at Little League, and we have seen them at football competition for little ones and middle school and high school, and they are overly enthusiastic. You can't condemn a parent for being proud of their child. And if that child wants to be engaged in sports, you can't condemn that parent for trying to get

them the best doctor and best instructor. Those parents were not protected--deafening silence.

Sexual abuse of children and youth is an abhorrent practice that is intolerable in any context, and we must take appropriate measures to eliminate it from youth sports. Young people look to adults to protect them and keep them safe. We all have a responsibility to do so. With S. 534, we have an opportunity to ensure that individuals abide by this duty.

Certain other professionals, such as doctors, dentists, social workers, psychologists, teachers, and daycare workers, are already bound by law to report suspected abuse to law enforcement. Finally, S. 534 will require the same of adults who interact with young athletes in connection with sports activities organized by the national governing bodies of various sports.

The urgent need for this legislation is best illustrated by the horrible abuse and exploitation of numerous young gymnasts at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar, who victimized young athletes participating in USA Gymnastics over the course of 20 years--20 years, two decades.

All of our hearts should break. In those 20 years, there were lives ruined. They will never be the vibrant, excited young women that they were as they entered this wonderful experience of showing their prowess, their genius, and their strength. The stories of abuse and suffering of these young women are heartbreaking.

Many complaints of sexual and emotional abuse by Nassar and others went unreported for years, allowing coaches, instructors, and doctors to repeatedly victimize gymnasts as young as 6 years old. The shocking failure of anyone to report accusations to law enforcement or even keep track of complaints internally made it possible for some of these predators to commit multiple horrific acts over time. We entrust the care of our children and young athletes to those we hope will uphold the trust and not abuse it.

One of the more than 150 girls and women victimized by Dr. Nassar was recently quoted as saying:

He has everything he needs to be an incredible leader. He

has the personality, the skill, and the knowledge, and he's

using it to prey on people. What a waste.

Last week, a Michigan judge sentenced Nassar to a prison sentence of up to 175 years. The judge called Nassar's assaults on scores of girls and women under the pretense that he was treating them as ``precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable.'' She also indicated what a debasing human being he was and is.

We must continue to do more to help protect our young athletes, and this bill will greatly assist in that effort. However, I must note a concern with a change the bill before us would make to the Senate- passed version of S. 534.

The bill unanimously passed by the Senate would authorize funding to be provided to the U.S. Center for Safe Sport in the amount of $1 million for each of the next 4 years. Unfortunately, the version of the bill before us strips this funding authorization. I believe we should have taken up the Senate bill without amendment.

Safe Sport is charged with important responsibilities under this bill with respect to receiving and investigating all allegations of abuse and setting policies to prevent future abuse, so this bill has taken out that language from the Senate.

It is critical that we ensure that the center is provided the resources for those things to be done immediately. By doing so, I hope we will prevent the type of abuse and suffering perpetrated by the people like Larry Nassar.

In a recent open letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association to athletes everywhere, they wrote:

The goal of Olympianism is to place sport at the service of

the harmonious development of humankind, womankind, with a

view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the

preservation of human dignity. Now we must ask: How can

athlete dignity be preserved when the responsible

institutions fail so in their oversight?

In an apology letter to Team USA from the United States Olympic Committee issued last week, the committee admitted that they had failed these young athletes.

Frankly, I believe that whole committee and system should be overhauled, reviewed, inspected, and changed. While the USA Gymnastics scandal is unfortunate, let it be an example and an incentive to prevent such abuse from happening in the nooks and crannies of this Nation, in the villages and cities and counties where young people who are starry-eyed and ready to accept the leadership of an adult are ready to show their proudness as well as their talent, their strength, and their resolve. I hope that we will never end that here in America.

Mr. Speaker, accordingly, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation. I hope we will see fit to fund it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel), the cosponsor of the House bill, and I thank her for her leadership on these issues.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as we have listened to various speakers, I am glad that we are joined by men and women of the United States Congress. All of us have indicated the sadness in which we do this now.

But I think it is also important to take note of the fact of individuals who have to be held responsible. We know that the president of the university was asked to resign, or in fact has resigned. As we go forward, there will be others as well.

This should be the clarion call, even as this legislation is passed and signed by the President, for all of these agencies and associations that run sports for children to do their own vetting and internal assessment of individuals who are not there for the benefit of children but are there for the benefit of themselves.

156-plus women were molested by this doctor. One of the victims said something that stops your breath. This could have been stopped in 1997, more than 20 years ago.

So this legislation should move swiftly to the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, when I read the quote from the accuser who said this could have been stopped in 1997, the article's headline was that eight times Larry Nassar could have been stopped. Eight times. So it is important to take note of this legislation as a clarion call, and these words are most important.

This provision makes it unlawful for an adult who is authorized by a national governing body, a member of a national governing body, or an amateur sports organization that participates in interstate or international amateur athletic competition to interact with a minor or amateur athlete at specific events to fail to report as soon as possible child and sexual abuse to local law enforcement or another agency.

Many times members of the Judiciary Committee don't like wide nets. We have a responsibility to adhere to the Constitution. But we are the committee that has the responsibility of upholding the rule of law. And to all of those who are now in this wide net, that is the rule of law: to be able to protect our children against massive sexual abuse as they pursue their dreams.

Just a comment, the requirement would arise on a person that learns of the facts that give reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse, including sexual abuse; and, therefore, those who can say or attempt to say, ``I couldn't understand what the child was saying; it wasn't clear,'' but if they got a sense that there was a problem, they come under that net. I believe that that is appropriate.

Let me also indicate that there is a long list of sheroes who have been impacted by Dr. Nassar. My constituent stated, on January 16, a former Olympic gymnast who wowed the world, Simone Biles, said that she was abused by Dr. Nassar.

The long list of Dr. Nassar's victims include U.S. Olympic gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Gabby Douglas. They represented the country and made us proud. And can you imagine? They were abused. Let me thank the many organizations that have worked hard to advance this legislation, including Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, RAINN, the Nation's largest antisexual violence organization. They have been magnificent.

I include in the Record a number of letters, Mr. Speaker, because each day approximately 600 individuals are affected by sexual violence, most of whom are children or parents seeking support, and they are served by this organization.

The first letter I include in the Record supporting this legislation is from RAINN, which urges the House of Representatives and others to pass this legislation so that it can move quickly into the position to be signed by the President.

Mr. Speaker, every 2 minutes in America, someone is sexually assaulted; every 8 minutes, that individual is a child.

Let me include in the Record a letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association, and I would like to call out their names. These are all athletes: Dick Fosbury, track and field; Willie Banks, track and field; Allison Baver, speedskating; Carol Brown, rowing; Candace Cable, Paralympic track and field; Caryn Davies, rowing; Gary Hall, Sr., swimming; Micki King, diving; Carol Lewis, track and field; John Naber, swimming; Bill Toomey, track and field; Iris Zimmerman, fencing.

U.S. Olympians & Paralympians

Association.

An open letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians

Association to athletes everywhere:

We hear you.

We have heard your many stories detailing the sexual and

emotional abuse you endured while training and competing in

pursuit of your goals and your dreams. We applaud your

individual and collective courage and conviction in coming

forward and telling all . . . and calling out those who

abused your trust.

We are both appalled by the actions of those who hurt you

and deeply saddened by your suffering. For those whose

stories we haven't heard (and may never hear), we respect

your decision and your privacy . . . but also acknowledge the

pain you feel in silence.

We are united in saying that there is no place for abuse in

sport--at any age, at any level, in any venue. As Olympic and

Paralympic alumni, we want you to know we are a family that

stands strong for the ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic

movements.

When we, as athletes, returned from past Games, we shared

an understanding that ``The goal of Olympism is to place

sport at the service of the harmonious development of

humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society

concerned with the preservation of human dignity.'' Now we

must ask how can athlete dignity be preserved when the

responsible institutions fail so in their oversight?

So what shall we do? We shall continue to advocate for

education and safe sport, to teach young boys and girls to

recognize the signs of abuse and provide a safe place to

speak without repercussion. Parents, coaches and trainers

need to be educated to recognize the signs and learn how to

behave properly in coaching situations. We shall support

Title IX, the U.S. Center for SafeSport and pending federal

legislation to protect our athletes.

For any of you who are currently in need (or know someone

who is), the newly created and independent U.S. Center for

SafeSport is available for confidential 24/7 reporting and

crisis support:

SafeSport.org

24/7 SafeSport Crisis Helpline 866-200-0796

We know the power of commitment to a belief and to goals;

our goal is that your experiences are never repeated.

Together, we shall seek to create a way of life based on the

joy of effort.

Together in sport,

United States Olympians and Paralympians Association

Executive Committee

President Dick Fosbury--Track and Field, 1968

Willie Banks--Track and Field, 1980/1984/1988

Allison Baver--Speedskating, 2002/2006/2010

Carol Brown--Rowing 1976/1980/1984

Candace Cable--Paralympic Track and Field, 1980/1988/1992/

1996, Alpine Skiing, 1992; Nordic Skiing,1994/1998/2002/2006

Caryn Davies--Rowing, 2004/2008/2012

Gary Hall Sr.--Swimming, 1968/1972/1976

Micki King--Diving, 1968/1972

Carol Lewis--Track and Field, 1980/1984/1988

John Naber--Swimming, 1976

Bill Toomey--Track and Field, 1968

Iris Zimmerman--Fencing, 2000

Mr. Speaker, likewise, I include in the Record a letter, dated November 16, 2017, from the CWLA, Child Welfare League of America, an organization that worked on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence. They have worked along with RAINN and have emphasized that the Nation's youngest have been impacted by this dastardly series of actions.

DC Coalition Against

Domestic Violence,

Washington, DC, November 20, 2017.

Hon. Paul Ryan,

Speaker of the House,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Susan Brooks,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Kevin McCarthy,

House of Representatives.

Hon. John Thune,

U.S. Senate.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Minority Leader,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Lois Frankel,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Steny Hoyer,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Dianne Feinstein,

U.S. Senate.

Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Ms. Brooks, Ms. Frankel,

Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Thune, and Ms. Feinstein:

The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence urges the House

of Representatives to pass the Protecting Young Victims from

Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act.

This bipartisan legislation is imperative to respond to the

numerous disclosures of child sexual abuse by our nation's

youngest and most accomplished athletes while they were

training for the U.S. Olympics. Intervention and prevention

measures through this legislation are desperately needed to

keep our children safe and hold offenders and entities

accountable for their actions and their silence.

Authorization and funding for the U.S. Center for Safe Sport

will be the first significant step toward this goal.

We ask the House of Representatives to swiftly and

expeditiously pass this legislation to protect our young

athletes and show them they are valued and deserve to excel

in their chosen sport without fear of and violence from those

they trust.

Thank you for your commitment to ending sexual abuse,

please do not hesitate to contact our office if we can be of

further assistance in this charge.

Sincerely,

Karma Cottman,

Executive Director.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from Professor Emeritus Howard M. Rubin from DePaul University who speaks about sexual abuse. ``My wife, Barbara Blaine, knew the lasting damage that is caused when a child is abused having been a child victim.''

DePaul University

College of Law,

Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2017.

Re: SB.534/ HR 1973--Protecting Young Victims from Sexual

Abuse Act of 2017

Senator Dianne Feinstein,

Senator John Thune,

Representative Susan Brooks,

Representative Lois Frankel.

Dear Lawmakers: I am writing to enthusiastically support

S.534/HR 1973 and to express my appreciation for your work in

drafting and advancing this legislation. In the wake of the

deluge of sexual harassment scandals breaking on a daily

basis, the American public is crying out for recognition of

women's rights, and the rights of victims of sexual abuse and

harassment.

While there is no way to quantify the struggles of one

victim against another a young victim's childhood is

indelibly harmed by sexual abuse. My wife, Barbara Blaine,

knew the lasting damage that is caused when a child is abused

having been a child victim. For her entire adult life she

fought selflessly and tirelessly to ensure the safety and

well-being of survivors, to prevent children from suffering

abuse, and to hold accountable those responsible. Abusers and

their enablers utilizing their power and status as shields

against prosecution and retribution were dragged out into the

light of justice and accountability by Barbara's ceaseless

crusade as advocate.

One of Barbara's passions was confronting unfair statute of

limitations. They protected abusers and punished young

victims unable to confront their abuse till later in life.

The language in S.534 that extends statute of limitations for

victims of child sexual abuse pertaining to federal crimes is

a tribute to her efforts.

Barbara cast a bright light against the darkness, but

tragically, her flame was snuffed out far too soon. She left

this world suddenly and before she could finish her life's

work. It is upon us now to stoke the embers left in the wake

of that lifetime, that her legacy might live on forever

through S.534, and cast such a spark so as to permanently

light the way towards justice for those who have been abused.

I would consider it an honor to be included in the list of

supporters for S.534.

Sincerely,

Howard M Rubin,

Professor Emeritus.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Children's Alliance, which has been working with other advocacy groups and, again, has done longstanding work against child abuse, supporting this legislation.

National Children Alliance,

Washington, DC, November 20, 2017.

Hon. Paul Ryan,

Speaker of the House,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Kevin McCarthy,

U.S. House of Representatives.

Hon. John Thune,

U.S. Senate.

Hon. Susan Brooks,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Minority Leader,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Steny Hoyer,

House of Representatives.

Hon. Dianne Feinstein,

U.S. Senate.

Hon. Lois Frankel,

House of Representatives.

Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi:

Dear Congressman McCarthy and Congressman Hoyer:

Dear Senator Thune and Senator Feinstein:

Dear Congresswoman Brooks and Congresswoman Frankel: The

National Children's Alliance, in cooperation with numerous

other advocacy groups, encourages the House of

Representatives to pass the Protecting Young Victims from

Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act (S.534).

Having recently passed the Senate, this bipartisan

legislation seeks to address the numerous reports of

childhood sexual abuse that have occurred against our

nation's young athletes. The recent press surrounding the

United States' Olympic trainees only serves to heighten the

need for a strong legislative response.

The NCA's longstanding work on child abuse leads us to

believe that this legislation will increase the

accountability of U.S. Olympic organizations and help ensure

that incidences of this nature are not repeated. In

particular, authorization and funding for the U.S. Center for

Safe Sport is one of the critical provisions of this bill

that will actively enhance U.S. Olympic organizations'

responsibility in these matters. It establishes an office for

education and outreach to develop the appropnate training,

policies, and procedures to combat and prevent the emotional,

physical, and sexual abuse, of young athletes competing in

athletic activities sponsored by national governing bodies

and Paralympic sports organizations.

We hope that the House of Representatives will take swift

action and stand with us in ensuring that our young athletes

are protected as they stave to compete on behalf of our

nation.

Thank you for your consideration of our youth.

Sincerely,

Teresa Huizar,

Executive Director,

National Children's Alliance.

CHILD USA: Let's End Child Abuse and Neglect said

in a letter, which I include in the Record: ``This bill would shine much needed sunlight on the problem of abuse in sports. It will protect children in the future.''

Mr. Speaker, I also include in the Record a letter from the United States Olympic Committee, dated January 24, 2018.

United States Olympic Committee,

Colorado Springs, CO, January 24, 2018.

To Team USA: The athlete testimony that just concluded in

the Nassar hearings framed the tragedy through the eyes of

the victims and survivors, and was worse than our own worst

fears. It was powerful because of the strength of the

victims, survivors and parents, who so eloquently and

forcefully told their stories and so rightfully demanded

justice. The USOC should have been there to hear it in

person, and I am deeply sorry that did not happen.

The purpose of this message is to tell all of Nassar's

victims and survivors, directly, how incredibly sorry we are

We have said it in other contexts, but we have not been

direct enough with you. We are sorry for the pain caused by

this terrible man, and sorry that you weren't afforded a safe

opportunity to pursue your sports dreams. The Olympic family

is among those that have failed you.

I know this apology is not enough. We have been working on

taking steps at the USOC and mandating changes among National

Governing Bodies to ensure this does not happen again. Our

next steps will be these:

1. We Must Change the Culture of the Sport. This was the

primary recommendation of the independent Deborah Daniels

Report on USA Gymnastics and the athlete testimony underlined

its importance. We heard athletes describe being unsure or

unaware of how to report abuse and to whom, and sometimes

even what constitutes abuse. We heard athletes describe being

afraid or discouraged from reporting abuse. We heard athletes

describe feeling hurt, betrayed, discounted and alone. Since

October of last year, we have been engaged in direct talks

with USAG leadership on this fundamental point. New

leadership at the board level is critical and you recently

saw three USAG board resignations. Further changes are

necessary to help create a culture that fosters safe sport

practice, offers athletes strong resources in education and

reporting, and ensures the healing of the victims and

survivors. This includes a full turnover of leadership from

the past, which means that all current USAG directors must

resign.

2. We Must Change the Governance Structure of the NGB. We

need to help USA Gymnastics better support its mission, which

is to provide the best resources and safest environment for

athletes to train and compete. We have strongly considered

decertifying USAG as a National Governing Body. But USA

Gymnastics includes clubs and athletes who had no hand in

this and who need to be supported. We believe it would hurt

more than help the athletes and their sport. But we will

pursue decertification if USA Gymnastics does not fully

embrace the necessary changes in their governance structure

along with other mandated changes under review right now.

3. We Must Know Who Knew What and When. The USOC has

decided to launch an investigation by an independent third

party to examine how an abuse of this proportion could have

gone undetected for so long. We need to know when complaints

were brought forward and to who. This investigation will

include both USAG and the USOC, and we believe USAG will

cooperate fully. We will make the results public.

4. We Must Support Safe Sport Victims and Survivors. Team

USA safe sport assault victims and survivors need access to

testing, treatment and counseling. The USOC will devote

substantial funds to help provide these resources to victims

and survivors. We are working on the details of how this

funding will become available to athletes and will

communicate them soon.

I hope that all members of Team USA remember that the USOC

ombudsman office is always available to provide free,

independent and confidential help to athletes with concerns

or questions about safe sport or other matters. Contact

information, along with other helpful athlete resources, are

here.

In order to bring even more focus and urgency to these

important points, the USOC board of directors has mobilized a

board-level working group chaired by independent board member

Susanne Lyons.

Finally, I invite any member of Team USA to communicate

with me or Ms. Lyons directly if there is more that you think

the Olympic family can or should be doing for you and your

families.

Sincerely,

Scott Blackmun,

Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Poe for his longstanding work on these issues, the two House cosponsors, and the Senator, and I want to end with, with that volcanic action, there was no reaction, a deafening silence. Let us, with the passage of this bill, begin the journey of commitment, along with our acknowledgment of the Me Too movement that we will never be silent again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 534, the ``Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act''.

This bill will help prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities.

This is a reasonable and important measure that is intended to protect young athletes from abuse and preserve the sanctity of sports associated with the U.S. Olympic Committee--the organization responsible for preparing and training young athletes who might one day represent our Nation competitively all over the world.

Children deserve to fully enjoy the innocence of their youth--by exploring the curiosities of the world, taking pleasure in the arts, and participating in sports--free from abuse.

Sexual abuse of children and youth is an abhorrent practice that is intolerable in any context, and we must take appropriate measures to eliminate it from youth sports.

Young people look to adults to protect them and keep them safe. We all have a responsibility to do so. With S. 534, we have an opportunity to ensure that individuals abide by this duty.

Certain other professionals--such as doctors, dentists, social workers, psychologists, teachers, and daycare workers, are already bound by law to report suspected abuse to law enforcement. S. 534 will require the same of adults who interact with young athletes in connection with sports activities organized by the national governing bodies of various sports.

The urgent need for this legislation is best illustrated by the horrible abuse and exploitation of numerous young gymnasts at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar, who victimized young athletes participating in USA Gymnastics over the course of 20 years. The stories of abuse and suffering of these young women are heartbreaking.

Many complaints of sexual and emotional abuse by Nassar and others went unreported for years--allowing coaches, instructors, and doctors to repeatedly victimize gymnasts as young as six years old.

The shocking failure of anyone to report accusations to law enforcement, or even keep track of complaints internally, made it possible for some of these predators to commit multiple, horrific acts over time.

We entrust the care of our children and young athletes in the hands of those we hope to uphold that trust and not abuse it.

One of the more than 150 girls and women victimized by Dr. Nassar was recently quoted as saying, ``He has everything he needs to be an incredible leader. He has the personality . . . the skill . . . the knowledge. And he's using that to prey on people . . . what a waste.''

Last week, a Michigan judge sentenced Nassar to a prison sentence of up to 175 years. The judge described Nassar's assault of scores of girls and women, under the pretense that he was treating them, as ``precise,

calculated, manipulative, devious and despicable.''

We must continue to do more to help protect our young athletes, and this bill will greatly assist in that effort. However, I must note a concern with a change the bill before us would make to the Senate- passed version of S. 534. The bill unanimously passed by the Senate would authorize funding to be provided to the U.S. Center for Safe Sport in the amount of $1 million for each of the next five years.

Unfortunately, the version of the bill before us strips this funding authorization. I believe we should have taken up the Senate bill, without amendment. Safe Sport is charged with important responsibilities under this bill--with respect to receiving and investigating allegations of abuse and setting policies to prevent future abuse. It is critical that we ensure that the Center is provided the resources for those things to be done immediately and effectively.

By doing so, I hope we will prevent the type of abuse and suffering perpetrated by people like Larry Nassar.

In a recent open letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association to athletes everywhere, they wrote: ``The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity. Now we must ask how can athlete dignity be preserved when the responsible institutions fail so in their oversight?''

In an apology letter to Team USA from the United States Olympic Committee issued last week, the Committee admitted that it had failed its young athletes.

While the USA Gymnastics scandal is unfortunate, let it be an example and incentive to prevent such abuse from happening again.

Accordingly, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

The ``Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act'' is a necessary measure to ensure young athletes in this country are able to pursue their athletic dreams in safe environments, free of the fear of being victimized by predators.

I thank the many organizations that have worked hard to advance this legislation, including Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the Nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.

I'd like to enter into the record a letter from RAINN, which indicates survivors are reaching out to its National Sexual Assault Hotline in record numbers, at a 21 percent increase.

Each day approximately 600 individuals affected by sexual violence are served, most of whom are children or parents seeking support.

For the foregoing reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I ask support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 534) to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 534, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today we are voting on S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017. This important legislation protects child athletes from both sexual and physical abuse.

Over the past year, the Nation was horrified to learn of the decades of abuse that occurred within USA Gymnastics by Dr. Larry ``Lecherous'' Nassar. The middle name was added by me, Mr. Speaker. Last week, Nassar was sentenced to between 40 and 175 years' incarceration after pleading guilty to several counts of sexual assault.

Over 150 women and girls gave victim impact statements. How a serial predator like Dr. Nassar could have preyed on so many young girls for such a long time in such a flagrant fashion is appalling.

Our amateur gymnasts were failed. They were failed by the very people who are supposed to protect them and do no harm, as doctors are supposed to do.

In the past weeks, we have not only seen Dr. Nassar brought to justice, but we have also seen many others held accountable for their roles of commission and omission associated with these atrocities. Though we are glad to see justice finally served in this case, we must take appropriate measures to prevent this from occurring again. This bill will do that.

Under current law, the Victims of Child Abuse Act requires persons engaged in certain activities and professions on Federal lands or in Federal facilities to report child abuse. Failure to report could subject such persons to criminal penalties.

This bill expands these mandatory reporting requirements to adults working at national governing boards, that is, amateur sports organizations recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, such as USA Gymnastics or USA Tennis, or at sanctioned events. The bill also charters a new organization called Safe Sport, tasked with preventing child abuse within the national governing bodies through education and handling reports of misconduct.

Safe Sport will assure these national governing bodies abide by such policies and procedures to assure that predators like Dr. Nassar will never again be permitted to terrorize young athletes with impunity.

I would like to thank Mrs. Brooks of Indiana for her hard work on this issue and for assembling a bipartisan team of cosponsors. Protecting our young people, including those who have sacrificed so much to represent the United States, such as Olympic athletes, is and should be a bipartisan undertaking.

I commend my colleagues for their support, and I urge them to vote in favor of S. 534.

Mr. Speaker, I have 133 victim impact statements of young women that were made at this sentencing, and I want to read just a few phrases from some of these strong athletes who had the courage to come forward and tell what Dr. Nassar did to them.

The first one is from Donna Markham. Donna's daughter Chelsey was an athlete under the supervision of Nassar. She could not give a victim impact statement, and here is why, according to her mother, Donna: ``In 2009, she took her own life. She couldn't deal with the pain anymore. Every day I miss her. It all started with him.''

Danielle Moore: ``I hope being reduced to a prison number''--she is talking to Nassar--``will define you as it defined me for so many years. I will no longer be known as a number, and I will be Dr. Danielle Moore.''

Megan Halicek: ``As I stand here, I still flash back to the feelings of fear, laying frozen in his office, my sweating, shaking body, adrenaline pumping, painfully clutching the sides of the table, waiting for the sick treatment to be over.''

Gwen Anderson: ``I still remember him saying, `It's okay. I know you're not used to being touched there, but it will feel better.''

And here is what Gwen's coach had to say, Thomas Brennan: ``For the record, go to hell. . . . What you did to everyone else who trusted you and sent girls your way is disgusting, reprehensible, unforgivable.''

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of my friend from Texas. Just so it is clear, I agree with her on the money. It should have been funded, but it was ruled an earmark, and we can't do earmarks anymore. We have to go through another process to get that funding. A good reason why we ought to have earmarks.

Mr. Speaker, Amanda Barterian said this at the sentencing hearing: ``I refuse to let Larry Nassar take anything more from here. He has already taken enough.''

Nicole Walker said this at the sentencing hearing: ``I have anxiety and sleep disorders all because of what you''--Nassar--``did to me.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), a former U.S. attorney.

Mr. Speaker, Katherine Gordon said this at the sentencing: ``Sexual assault is distant until you realize each girl in the news is a broken mirror.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas, not only for her support of the legislation, but also for her long-time working on these issues of victims of crime, and her involvement in legislation in the past and in the future on matters such as this.

This is not a happy event, Mr. Speaker. This legislation, as Mr. Bishop said, it is unfortunate that Congress had to get involved in this issue. Congress is going to get involved, and we are going to try to rectify the problems of the past and hold people accountable for crimes in the future.

We are talking about the symbol of everything that is good, and right, and beautiful about America: these Olympics, the Olympians, and particularly the gymnasts who represent America; the training they go through; the zeal for which they represent our country and work. Yet, while all of that was going on, bad things were happening to them.

Our gymnasts who just participated in the last Olympics, who won medals, gold medals, they endured abuse, yet they went forward to represent our country in the United States Olympics.

People who harm those girls and other athletes, male and female, they need to be held accountable, not just Larry Nassar, but other people need to be held accountable. This is where law enforcement needs to be involved.

Mr. Speaker, I am a former judge, and I want to commend the judge in this case, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, for allowing all of these victims to testify in open court. They had the courage to come forward and tell very difficult things, things that are difficult for us to even listen to here on the House floor. They said it, and they wanted the criminal to know what he had done to them impacted them.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the judge for allowing that, but also the sentence that she imposed. I want to read a few more of the statements, Mr. Speaker:

Jessica Rodriguez: ``USA Gymnastics should be held accountable for each and every one of these acts of abuse they allowed to happen.''

Taryn Look: ``I was still a child. . . . I wanted to end my life.''

Mattie Larson: ``I was at the height of my career at 19, and the Olympics were just a year away, and I just couldn't take any more of the abuse. I was broken. Larry, my coaches, and USA Gymnastics turned a sport I fell in love with as a kid to my personal living hell.''

Mr. Speaker, all of these brave Americans came forward and testified about what had happened to them. And we should--they are all Olympians for that. They all deserve the gold medal for what they did representing our country and their strength and their courage to testify in open court about what happened to them.

The defendant, the convicted criminal, wrote a letter to the judge, Mr. Speaker, saying he couldn't take all of this abuse against him for having to listen to all of the statements by the victims. Are you kidding me? He is not the victim. He is the criminal, and he belongs in jail.

He belongs in jail, as these victims have said, for the rest of his life, to keep him away from little girls. And I am glad that that is where he is going, but he is not a victim. Because of the mental abuse that he caused on victims of crime, he needs to remember what he has done. And I am glad that we have finally got this legislation passed in such a quick method. It is proof, Mr. Speaker, that we can work pretty fast, we also can work in a bipartisan manner, and we can also work with the Senate getting legislation that is important to America passed.

Mr. Speaker, I want to read one last statement, and I include in the Record the 133 written statements that I have, subject to length limitation in the Record.

Statements by 133 people

Kyle Stephens: ``Little girls don't stay little forever,

they grow into strong women that return to destroy your

world.''

Jessica Thomashow: ``What you did to me was twisted. You

manipulated me and my family. How dare you.

Donna Markham (Speaking on behalf of her daughter, Chelsey,

who killed herself 10 years ago.): ``In 2009, she took her

own life. She couldn't deal with the pain anymore. Every day

I miss her, every day. It all started with him.''

Jade Capua: ``I am no longer broken by you. Every day I

grow a new strength and look into the mirror to see a strong,

unbreakable person. Nothing will ever take away what you've

done to me or to the others that started behind me. However,

we can walk free and radiate the strength that we've gained

from your horrific acts, something you will never be able to

do.''

Alexis Moore: ``I don't like the word victim. I am a

survivor, but more so I am me. Those 10 years are a part of

my story. They have helped define who I am today.''

Olivia Cowan: On Michigan State University and USA

Gymnastics:

``If they would have taken action when it was first

reported, they would have saved me.''

Nicole Soos: ``I thought he was a famous doctor. There was

no way he would do anything inappropriately in front of my

mom. I was wrong.''

Ashley Erickson: ``Today I can say I'm finally ready to

face you . . . Why did you do this? You were the adult, you

were the doctor.''

Rebecca Mark: ``He molested me and he molested me with my

mom in the room.''

Bethany Bauman: ``I am 100% confident, that if he had not

been caught, he would have continued to do this for the rest

of his life.''

Kate Mahon: ``By publicly speaking out against Larry

Nassar, I'm not just speaking out for myself. I'm speaking

out for all the girls and women of the past, present, and

future that have been or will be affected by sexual

assault.''

Danielle Moore; ``I hope being reduced to a (prison) number

will define you as it defined me for so many years. I will no

longer be known as a number, and I will be Dr. Danielle

Moore.''

Melissa Imrie: ``Everybody's story that I listened to today

is just an echo of everything that I've went through. They're

just speaking like it's my voice.''

Megan Halicek: ``As I stand here, I still flash back to the

feelings of fear, laying frozen in his office, my sweating

shaking body, adrenaline pumping, painfully clutching the

sides of the table, waiting for the sick treatment to be

over.''

Jamie Dantzscher: ``There is no therapy, no cure for

monsters like you. You are pure evil.''

Brianne Randall: ``I was a 17-year-old that reported your

abuse to police in 2004. You used my vulnerability at the

time to sexually abuse me. I reported you to police

immediately and had a rape kit done . . . you had the

audacity to tell [police] I misunderstood the treatment

because I wasn't comfortable with my body. How dare you?

Sadly they took your word instead of mine.''

Anna Ludes (video statement): ``I felt so special and lucky

that Larry Nassar would take the time to help me. But it

turned out that he was a molester.''

Lindsey Schuett (video statement): ``If anyone deserves to

never see the light of day again it is this man.''

Marion Siebert: ``You hindered the trajectories of our

lives that we and our parents worked so very hard for, and

changed the rest of our lives in ways that we're still

realizing and dealing with every day. This is what makes this

crime so heinous.''

Katelyn Skrabis (statement read on her behalf): ``Nothing

can change what Larry Nassar did to me.''

Taylor Stevens (statement read on her behalf): ``Because of

you my life has been forever changed. I have to live with the

fact that I am a victim of sexual assault.''

Breanne Rata (statement read on her behalf): ``My only

relief is knowing my picture is no longer on the wall of your

Michigan State office.''

Erin McCann: ``I was told over and over again how honored I

should feel for seeing Dr. Nassar . . . It was no honor. It

was disgust. It took more than it should have from me.''

Jennifer Rood-Bedford: ``The road to healing looks steep

from where I am standing now, but I am a warrior.''

Gina Nichols (on behalf of her daughter, Olympic hopeful

Maggie Nichols): ``You are not a real doctor. You are a

serial child molester, a pedophile.''

Tiffany Lopez Thomas: ``I imagine hitting you if I ever had

the opportunity to see you again. Instead I will allow my

thoughts and my feelings to hit your heart.''

Jeanette Antolin: ``You made me believe you were my friend.

I truly believe you are the spawn of Satan. There's no

therapy that will fix the evil that's deep inside you.''

Kayla Spicher: ``I was sexually assaulted, but I was

unaware, not because I was naive, but because I was a

child.''

Gwen Anderson: ``I still remember him saying, ``It's OK. I

know you're not used to being touched there, but it will feel

better.''

Thomas Brennan (Gwen's coach): ``For the record, go to hell

. . . What you did to everyone else who trusted you and sent

girls your way is disgusting, reprehensible, unforgivable.''

Amanda Thomashow; ``Larry, the thing you didn't realize

when you were sexually assaulting me . . . was that you were

building an army of survivors who would ultimately expose you

for who you are. From this rubble we will rise as an army of

female warriors.''

Jaime Doski: ``I want to show my family how strong I am and

that I'm a survivor.''

Jenelle Moul: ``I hope you are never able to walk outside

those [prison] walls as a free man. Most importantly I hope

all of the survivors you hurt are able to heal from the

damage you have done.''

Madeline Jones: ``Before every appointment, I cried in the

bathroom. After every appointment, I couldn't wait to get

home and shower.''

Amanda Barterian: ``I refuse to let Larry Nassar take

anything more from here. He's already taken enough.''

Jennifer Hayes: ``You parted my legs and forcefully pushed

your dry fingers in my vagina . . . You had created a secure

world where you brainwashed everyone around you.''

Nicole Walker: ``I have anxiety and sleep disorders all

because of what you did to me.''

Chelsea Williams: ``He manipulated me with such ease, with

such finesse. This is perhaps what scares me the most about

him.''

Stephanie Robinson: ``While I came to this stand as a

victim, I leave as victor.''

Carrie Hogan: ``I am broken, I'm tired, I feel like life

has been desperately sucked out of me.''

Helena Weick: ``This is not my shame anymore. It's yours.''

Amanda Cormier: ``These things happened to me in his office

long ago were not short lived and uncomfortable moments. They

were lifelong traumas that changed the way I walk in the

world.''

McKayla Maroney (statement read on her behalf): ``He abused

my trust. He abused my body and he left scars on my psyche

that will never go away. It all started when I was 13 or 14

years old. It didn't end until I left the sport.''

Annette Hill: ``As your former patient, I trusted you,

Larry. You sexually abused me.''

Aly Raisman: ``I will not rest until every last trace of

your influence on this sport has been destroyed like the

cancer it is.''

Lyndsy Carr Gamet: ``I was a carefree silly little girl

until this happened and afterwards there was a cloud and the

cloud has followed me into every relationship in my life,

especially the most important ones.''

Taylor Cole: ``This man has broken my world.''

Jessica Smith: ``I'm mortified that I didn't understand

exactly what that meant at that time.''

Arianna Guerrero: ``I am only 16. I should not even know

what an impact statement is. I shouldn't know what the inside

of a courtroom looks like. You have a hard time looking at me

now. But you didn't seem to have a problem when I was half

naked on your table.''

Nicole Reeb: ``[Michigan State University's] response has

compounded my pain. I am frustrated and outraged at the

administration's inability to take responsibility for handing

over children and girls to a predator for almost 20 years. I

no longer bleed green.''

Christine Harrison: ``You knew what you were doing was

wrong and you only asked for forgiveness because you got

caught.''

Jessica Tarrant (recorded video): ``I wasn't even alive yet

the first time he sexually assaulted someone and I was only

one when he was first reported.''

Brian Tarrant (Jessica's father): ``I just want to say,

Larry, you did nothing to defeat her.''

Mary Fisher-Follmer (on behalf of her two daughters,

Katherine Payne and Maureen Payne): ``As you deteriorate in

prison, I want you to remember you lost.''

Katie Rasmussen: ``No one did anything because no one

believed me. They didn't understand how such a respectable

doctor would do something like that. And I don't understand

how a 14-year-old could make that up.''

Madeline Johnson: ``I realized the only way I could get him

to stop was if I lied and told him pain was all gone.''

Chelsea Zerfas: ``I avoided going to practice when I knew I

had to see him . . . I felt like I couldn't breathe and I'd

tremble in fear.''

Samantha Ursch: ``I'm not pretending it didn't happen

anymore. I'm just moving past it.''

Kara Johnson: ``The framed photos of patients on his wall

told an incredible story of a doctor who could heal anyone.''

Clasina Syrovy: ``When girls came forward and told an adult

the adults didn't listen. Why didn't they listen? What good

is it to teach children to tell an adult if the grown-up

doesn't listen, doesn't take action?''

Brad Johnson (Kara and Madeline's father): ``Your story is

dark, sinister, and pure evil.''

William Michell (Larissa's father): ``You sowed a

destructive black seed in my daughter's innocent mind and

body.''

Amy Labadie: ``Come hell or high water we'll take every

last one of you down that could have stopped this monster.''

Ashley Yost: ``That's something a 25-year-old shouldn't

have to do . . . sleep in their parents' bed because they're

afraid of a monster.''

Marie Anderson: ``While his fingers were inside of me, he

would apply pressure to the outside of my lower abdomen and

massage the inside of my vaginal area.''

Kassie Powell: ``You hid for years behind Olympic rings and

a Spartan [Michigan State University's mascot] head, but now

there is nowhere left for you to hide.''

Doug Powell (Kassie's father): ``I want you to fear and

cry, and no one to listen. I want you to remain alive for

your eternal life in those [prison] walls.''

Megan Ginter: ``I am done being ashamed of something that

was out of my control.''

Katherine Gordon: ``Sexual assault is distant until you

realize each girl in the news is a broken mirror.''

Katelynne Hall: ``What if someone would have taken the

abuse seriously?''

Anya Gillengarten: ``I thought the things that Larry Nassar

did to me would send me to Hell.''

Amanda McGeachie: ``MSU has failed to represent us; failed

to respect us; failed to take accountability for our safety.

After being a proud Spartum alum . . . I now feel ashamed to

have represented a school who will not take accountability.''

Lindsay Woolever: ``You were in the best position to help

people but you chose to do the opposite.''

Hannah Morrow: ``Life's handed me lemons, and you'd best

believe that I am well prepared to make lemonade.''

Jordyn Wieber: ``Even though I am a victim, I won't live my

life as one. I am an Olympian.

Alexis Alvarado: ``I was only a child when this abuse

started. I didn't know what he was doing was wrong.''

Morgan McCaul: ``You violated the very principle of your

calling: Do no harm.''

Trinea Gonczar: ``It's time for me to stand up for these

little girls and not stand behind you anymore. Goodbye,

Larry. May god bless your dark broken soul.''

Larissa Michell Boyce: ``Today is a new day. Today I am

claiming my freedom from you. Today I am breaking free from

the chains you put me in 20 years ago. Today I am finally

free. I am standing here reclaiming the voice that you stole

from me. I am reclaiming my confidence. I am reclaiming the

power you took from me. I am reclaiming Larissa Michell, that

innocent girl you abused. I am no longer that little girl. I

am taking her back, I have the control now.''

Bayle Pickel: ``How could you do something so horrible to

an innocent young girl?''

Adam Boyce (Larissa's husband): ``It was and still is very

real for us.''

Bailey Lorencen: ``While my mind heals and filters out the

evil sickness that you unwillingly bestowed upon my body your

mind will get darker and darker and you will hate yourself

almost as much as everyone hates you in this room right

now.''

Valerie Webb: ``To all my sisters, we need to stand, fight

back and not rest until this mess is up mopped up; each and

every crumb.''

Whitney Mergens: ``All I want is for this darkness to go

away. I don't want to look in

the mirror and have to convince myself that I'm okay. I want

to stand there and see a strong woman other than a damaged

one. Standing here today I know the light is near.''

Marta Stern: ``I will no longer carry the weight of what

you did to me so long ago. The burden is yours.''

Melody Posthuma-Vanderveen: ``We need to call out the

deeper issue at hand. We live in a society where action is

not taken when it's most needed.''

Emma Ann Miller: ``[Michigan State University] is still

sending bills to my mom for appointments where I was sexually

assaulted.''

Amanda Smith: ``I will not stop speaking until I am heard,

until we are heard, until things are changed.''

Taylor Livingston: ``Everyone who continued to allow this

man, knowing full well what he was doing, is to blame.''

Lindsey Lemke: ``Larry, I hope you . . . and all others

realize you've pissed off the wrong army of women.''

Christy Lemke-Akeo (mother of gymnast Lindsey Lemke):

``These girls had no idea this wasn't a medical procedure.''

Krista Wakeman: ``You're a sick man, Larry. I hope you rot

in prison because that's where you belong.''

Paula Daniels (on behalf of daughter Samantha Daniels):

``When you lay down to sleep at night I want you to see every

little girl's face that you've abused. Hundreds of girls

Larry, innocent girls who trusted you--and know these little

girls are all grown-up now and I pray that they haunt you

every single day.''

Alliree Gingerich (statement read on her behalf): ``Not one

day goes by where I don't replay the abuse my head.''

Mr. Speaker, here is what Natalie Woodland said: ``I am strong, and I am beautiful, and I am bold, and no one, especially you''--Nassar--``can take that away from me. . . . While standing up here, I'm finally realizing that I'm not alone.''

And she is not alone. We are on her side. We should be on the side of victims of crime, and this legislation will promote a better atmosphere: a lawful, good atmosphere for our gymnasts and other athletes to work in. The people who committed these crimes need to be held accountable, and society has started with the first culprit, Larry ``Lecherous'' Nassar, and there should be more to follow.

And that is just the way it is, Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following statements from the Nassar trial:

Megan Farnsworth (statement read on her behalf): ``He took

away something I can't get back. He took it 18 years ago when

he did his procedures, and again when I was adult and learned

what he had been doing.''

Kourtney Weidner (statement read on her behalf): ``Through

these years I've experienced increase in anxiety and

stress.''

Charla Burill (statement read on her behalf): ``You were

the doctor who would give me a hug, who seemed to

understand.''

Lauren Michalak (statement read on her behalf): ``It makes

me feel disgusted that a man that was so respected in the

community could take advantage of a girl who was only in 8th

grade.''

Sherry Bradley (mother of Vanasia Bradley): ``I am sick to

my stomach with disgust and betrayal.''

Presley Allison: ``I was abused while my own mother was in

the room.''

Kamerin Moore: ``You molested a little girl who had just

lost her father . . . you used my father's death as another

opportunity to manipulate the trust I put in you.''

Catherine Hannum: ``What he did to me . . . is disgusting,

vile, and wrong. I am going to find my sense of self again

and it starts with this letter.''

Jessica Chedler Rodriguez: ``USA Gymnastics should be held

accountable for each and every one of these acts of abuse

they allowed to happen.''

Taryn Look: ``I was still a child . . . . I wanted to end

my life.''

Mattie Larson: ``I was at the height of my career at 19 and

the Olympics were just a year away and I just couldn't take

any more of the abuse. I was broken. Larry, my coaches, and

USA Gymnastics turned the sport I fell in love with as a kid

to my personal living hell.''

Whitney Burns: ``As this man's hands were touching places I

had never let any man touch, I told myself I could make it

one more second without the anger exploding inside me. `One

more second, Whitney, you can make it one more second.' ''

Isabell Hutchins (statement read on her behalf): ``I

couldn't accept the fact that it happened to me and I was in

denial for a long time.''

Natalie Woodland: ``I am strong, and I am beautiful, and I

am bold, and no one, especially not you can take that away

from me . . . While standing up here I'm finally realizing

that I'm not alone.''

Jillian Swinehart: ``You have to be the most sick and

twisted person ever to do that to young girls.''

Anne Swinehart (Jillian's mother): ``To think, I let this

happen to my child while I was sitting right there.''

Alison Chauvette: ``He was in no way treating my body. He

was, however using his position, manipulating me as a person

changing the person I was, preying on me, a young girl, to

fulfil his sick fantasies.''

Anna Dayton: ``You were supposed to be the good guy.

Instead you used your power and your authority to take

advantage of me, to take away my trust, and strip me of my

innocence.''

Olivia Venuto (statement read on her behalf): ``I know that

we will overcome this.''

Sarah (no last name provided): ``By coming forward, we

victims of Larry Nassar can help see that justice is

served.''

Kristen Thelen: ``In that moment of terror and confusion, I

completely froze.''

Alexandra Romano (statement read by her sister Danielle

Romano): ``The pain is just beginning for you. You disgust me

and everyone else in this world and like many other girls

said, today is the last day you are anything to me. You are a

sad excuse for a human being and from now on you're dead to

us.''

Jessica Howard (statement read on her behalf): ``My mother

blames herself.''

Arianna Castillo: ``He told me I had to go through pain in

order to be successful in the sport.''

Selena Brennan: ``Today is your time to face me. I want you

to continue to look at me while I speak because that is the

attention I deserve . . . I want you to know you have not

defeated me.''

Kaylee McDowell: ``My body is scarred by you . . . You

covered me with your illness and I will be contaminated by

you for the rest of my life.''

Emily Morales: ``He would rub one hand up and down my leg

and butt as the other ungloved hand penetrated me . . . He

talked about how my muscles were so tight.''

Abigail Mealy: ``The final level of your horrible pyramid

of lies is when I had to lie on a table in your basement next

to your lit fireplace and your children's toys surrounding me

while you 'treated' me for my back problems.''

Ashley Bremer: ``He was only acting as my friend to gain my

trust.''

Brooke Hylek: ``All I ever wanted to do was feel better and

go back to the sport I loved without any pain.''

Abigayle Bergeron: ``I was a victim of Larry Nassar but I

will not let that define me.''

Emily Meinke: ``My initial gut reaction was to question the

technique . . . I couldn't help but wonder how inserting his

bare fingers in my vagina was supposed to make my pain

disappear. Since I hadn't even had my period yet I assumed it

was my vagina but I really didn't know for sure.''

Morgan Valley (statement read by her mother, Dawn Valley):

``This so-called doctor took advantage of my pain and my

innocence.''

Marty Valley (father of Morgan Valley): ``We're overcome by

anger and guilt for not protecting our beautiful, precious

daughter. As difficult as it is for us as parents, we know

it's nothing compared to what these young women are going

through.''

Christina Barba: ``We know that a single candle can light a

dark room. Imagine what all these flames can do. We will not

live in darkness. We will burn brightly. To all the abuses

and predators and harassers and enablers, we will burn your

pedestals and hiding places to the ground. All your darkest

secrets will be brought to light. We are strong and will not

let you snuff out our light. We will burn brightly and not

with hate but with hope.''

Makayla Thrush: ``Nobody should ever have to question their

doctor, especially one who was the doctor for the US Olympic

team.''

Sterling Riethman: ``Larry did not violate Jane Doe. He did

not sexually assault Jane Doe . . . he violated real girls

and real women. Well, those little girls are here today and

we said it before and we'll say it again, time's up. The

truth will come out.''

Kaylee Lorincz: ``You made a critical mistake. You

underestimated the mind, power, and will of your victims,

these accomplished athletes.''

Rachael Denhollander (Her testimony to the IndyStar began

the legal case): ``I can call what you did evil and wicked

because it was . . . I can call it evil because I know what

goodness is. And this is why I pity you.''

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the opponents and proponents of this legislation because they have said much the same thing.

H.R. 1761 is a bill that stands against everything we stand against. It is for protecting against child exploitation, and we all agree with that. We agree, as well, that the bill has existing mandatory minimums and the attempt of the proponent of this bill to ensure that the decision that occurred in Palomino would not occur again.

Some clarification has occurred, and that is that the bill, or the law, now, with H.R. 1761 explicitly prohibits the creation of a visual depiction or live transmission of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. That is, of course, a meritorious and unanimously supported position. The mandatory minimums continue and also are added to, now, a number of other offenses. As have been indicated, those offenses can be upwards of 20 years, and they can be for a variety of offenses added under this bill.

So the bill is well intended, and the initial prohibition could draw support in a bipartisan manner, but the continued adding of offenses to mandatory minimums rather than language that would have left the sentencing to the discretion of the Federal court--which, by the way, many Federal judges have come to this Congress and to the Committee on the Judiciary to ask for and indicate the value of discretion as relates to their sentencing. This is not a death penalty case, so, clearly, the discretion of the court and the wisdom of the court could be utilized for the appropriate new offenses and the appropriate sentencing.

So while the bill is well intended, it is overbroad in scope and will punish the very people it indicates it is designed to protect: our children. H.R. 1761 would expand and modify the meaning of sexual exploitation of children, thereby granting new offenses that may be prosecuted under section 2251 of the Federal criminal code, which generally prohibits the production of child pornography.

As indicated, it works to fix the Fourth Circuit decision in Palomino, which reversed the defendant's conviction because the decision was that there was no proof of intent. The structure of the statute, however, would significantly be modified by H.R. 1761, separating section 2251(a) into five enumerated offenses, codified as 2251(a)(1) through (5). Based on the language in this bill, to criminalize the knowing consent of the visual depiction or live transmission of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, a teenager sexting another teenager could be swept up under the statutory power of this new measure.

Research shows that 91 percent of teenagers, tweens, have access to the internet and/or a smartphone. Hence, given the rampant advancement in technology and, consequently, its usage among this demographic, we must exercise prudence when introducing legislation that is seemingly ignorant of the growing trend of communication among teenagers.

H.R. 1761 ignores the life-altering impact it would have on our juveniles who engage in otherwise stupid and immature behaviors and, in most cases, consensually explicit sexual conduct if we begin to criminalize such conduct. While this bill seeks to protect minors--and I congratulate the proponent for that intent--in the same vein, it drastically alters the penalty for minors who may face mandatory minimums in sentencing, and, therefore, it is flawed in its design and intended purpose.

Let me be very clear: Legislators have very good intentions, but we cannot stand on the floor and guarantee how it will be interpreted. We cannot guarantee that one teenager will not be caught up in this new legislation. Court interpretation, prosecutors' interpretation, all that will be subjected to mandatory minimums, which is in the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to consider these concerns.

I heard the gentleman speak of his effort to ensure that the internet provider would have to show intent or have intentionally engaged.

Again, the interpretation of these bills are subject to interpretation, and the clearer we can be here on the floor of the House, the more we can be appropriate in its application.

My point is, in concluding, I hope we will ultimately have legislation that comes back to the floor of the House that we all may be able to join in and that the elements that do not impact and protect our teenagers will be eliminated and we can be assured that internet providers are protected as well.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I associate myself with the words of the ranking member, Mr. Conyers.

I look forward to strengthening these laws and, as well, working on legislation to continue to protect our children, our innocent children, from sexual abuse, sexual assault, and the devastation that it has on their lives.

So I rise to continue that theme and to indicate, as I said earlier, that some of the clarifications in the underlying bill are important, and important to clarify, and important to provide prohibitions that will be clear in possible further court interpretations. But I maintain that we cannot predict the court interpretations, and the better and clearer that we are to protect our children, I believe, is a route that we should take.

The bill would add new classes of offenses. But section 2251 does not provide for Romeo and Juliet exceptions; i.e., the penalties apply even when conduct is consensual and when the victim and offender are close in age. For example, a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old who videotaped themselves engaged in a sexual act, then emailed the video to their own email accounts, the 19-year-old would be subject to mandatory minimums. That is the basis of the amendment, the Jackson Lee amendment.

The Jackson Lee amendment is a Romeo and Juliet exception. The amendment is a reasonable approach to treatment of adolescent behavior that should not be left to prosecutors. The pervasiveness of personal technology, such as cell phones and tablets, have given rise to teenage sexting. Research has shown that teenage sexting is widespread, even among middle school-age youth.

Under section 2251, teenagers prosecuted for talking and sending messages, and then taking and sending messages, would be subject to mandatory prison sentences of at least 15 years and sex offender registration.

In light of the recent troubling statements by Attorney General Sessions, Congress should provide an alternative to existing mandatory penalties in sexting cases, particularly with juveniles. We cannot say that a juvenile will not be prosecuted federally. They could be, under this particular statute.

So this is a carve-out, a Romeo and Juliet carve-out, to ensure that it does not happen, to protect against the possibility of it happening.

A study conducted by Drexel University found that more than half of the undergraduate students who took part in an online survey said they had sexted when they were teenagers, and 30 percent said that they included photos in that message, meaning that they had sent sexual texts.

Therefore, I ask that my colleagues come together and support the Jackson Lee amendment for a Romeo and Juliet carve-out.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, let me quickly say that I respect the

gentleman, but I take great issue in calling a Member's amendment, or the analysis of that amendment, ridiculous, because it is not ridiculous. It is an extremely reasonable amendment. And unless he has some powers that I am not aware of, no one can predict when a prosecutor will determine that they will prosecute. We cannot. We pass criminal justice laws every day and cannot predict.

Whether or not it is based upon the Sessions memo, which as far as anyone who can read knows that we are going back to a stricter enforcement of everything criminal against everyone. That is clear.

The Jackson Lee amendment recognizes that not all sex offenses are the same. And currently, section 2251 is a one-size-fits-all sentencing scheme. It fits all, even a 19-year-old.

The Jackson Lee amendment would provide a better alternative. Punishment will be available involving offenses. When defendants are no more than 19 years old, they would have other alternatives. The judge would have discretion. That is simply what we are asking for.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record an article entitled, ``Keep Mandatory Minimums Out of the Juvenile Justice System.'' This bill does not do that; and I also include an article entitled, ``Teenage Sexting is Not Child Porn.''

[June 16, 2014]

OP-ED: Keep Mandatory Minimums Out of the Juvenile Justice System

(By Lizzie Buchen)

Across the country, mandatory minimum sentences are falling

out of favor. From Sen. Rand Paul to Attorney General Eric

Holder, people from both ends of the political spectrum are

blaming these harsh and punitive sentences for driving our

skyrocketing incarceration rates and exacerbating racial

disparities in the criminal justice system. But in this era

of smart sentencing reform--particularly toward young

people--a disturbing piece of legislation is coasting through

the California legislature, threatening to wrench the state

in the opposite direction. Senate Bill 838, authored by state

Sen. Jim Beall (D-Santa Clara), would break new ground by

establishing the first mandatory minimum sentences in the

state's juvenile justice system.

The juvenile justice system was founded on the

understanding that young people who commit offenses are often

struggling in situations outside of their control, are highly

amenable to rehabilitation and have the potential to lead

productive and law-abiding lives. Mandatory minimum sentences

automatic sentences of incarceration or confinement, meted

out regardless of the facts of the case are completely at

odds with these foundational principles. They are determined

not by the youth's past circumstances or potential life

ahead, but by what he or she has done. The only result is

punishment, a sharp contrast to the rehabilitative ideals of

the juvenile justice system.

Mandatory minimum sentences are completely incompatible

with how juvenile court works. When a youth has committed an

offense, juvenile court judges tailor sanctions to best meet

a youth's unique needs for rehabilitation by weighing a

comprehensive set of factors, including the severity of the

crime, the statement of the victims, and the circumstances of

the youth's life--including mental health issues and

experience with abuse, homelessness and extreme poverty. The

judge then chooses from a wide range of community-based and

residential options, allowing him or her to tailor the

sanction to best treat the youth and protect the community.

In line with this focus on rehabilitation, the sentences are

indeterminate, with terms based on the youth's progress.

Proponents of mandatory minimum sentences, including

supporters of California's youth mandatory minimum bill,

claim that these sentences deter crime. But the evidence

tells us this is a dubious notion at best. Although this bill

would introduce the first mandatory minimum sentences in

California's juvenile justice system, such sentences have

been in place in the adult system for decades--and are widely

recognized as failures. A large and growing body of research

has found that mandatory minimum sentences have come at

enormous social, financial and human costs, with little

benefit to public safety. There is no evidence that these

sentences have a significant deterrent effect. If anything,

these harsh punishments are counterproductive, putting the

public at risk by disrupting families, impoverishing

communities of human capital, making it more difficult for

people to return to law-abiding society and diverting

precious public resources away from social services and

toward costly incarceration.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about my amendment to H.R. 1761, ``Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act.''

As Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, I offer this amendment to help make H.R. 1761 a better bill to achieve its intended purpose.

Though troubled by any sexually explicit activity that may exploit and otherwise, harm our children, I believe that H.R. 1761, the ``Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act,'' is deadly and counterproductive to ensuring protection of our youth population in our new technology era.

This bill will exacerbate overwhelming concerns with the unfair and unjust mandatory minimum sentencing that contributes to the over- criminalization of juveniles and mass incarceration generally.

Simply put, this bill will add to the already tragic realities of many juveniles. Rather than proceeding with the caution befitting an expansion of the mandatory sentencing penalty, H.R. 1761 is being rushed to the House Floor, without a single hearing and without the opportunity to consider amendments directly relevant to whether our system of criminalizing juveniles for sexting is fair, just, and sound policy.

Though presented as a proposal to protect children, H.R. 1761 excessively penalizes juveniles and creates life altering criminal charges when engaged in `sexting'.

Rather, it raises new constitutional concerns; and it does not address documented and systemic unfairness and racial disparity in the imposition of mandatory sentencing and its overbroad sweep of criminalizing juveniles.

My amendment fixes that problem. It creates an alternative punishment (not more than one year of imprisonment) under section 2251 for teenagers who participate in ``sexting'' and might otherwise be subject to mandatory minimum sentences of at least 15 years in prison.

The Jackson Lee is a thoughtful, narrowly-drawn provision that provides judges with a sensible sentencing option for teenagers no more than 19 years old who participate in sexting that may be applied in the judges' discretion, in appropriate cases.

The Jackson Lee amendment is a reasonable approach to treatment of adolescent behavior that should not be left to prosecutors. The pervasiveness of personal technology, such as cellphones and tablets, has given rise to teenage ``sexting.'' Research has shown that teenage sexting is widespread, even among middle school-aged youth. Under section 2251, teenagers prosecuted for taking and sending such messages would be subject to mandatory prison sentences of at least 15 years and sex offender registration. In light of the recent troubling statements made by Attorney General Sessions, Congress should provide an alternative to existing mandatory minimum penalties in ``sexting'' cases.

A study conducted by Drexel University found that more than half of the undergraduate students who took part in an online survey said that they sexted when they were teenagers. Thirty percent said they included photos in their messages and 61 percent did not know that sending nude photos via text could be considered child pornography. Another online survey published in 2008 found that almost 40 percent of teenagers between ages 13 and 19 had sent ``sext'' messages, almost 50 percent had received a sext message, and 20 percent posted nude or semi-nude content online.

The Jackson Lee amendment recognizes that not all sex offenses are the same. Currently, section 2251 employs a one-size-fits-all sentencing scheme. Under section 2251, a 19 year-old, who engages in ``sexting'' (sending or receiving a sexually explicit photo or video of a minor) with a willing, 17 year-old girlfriend or boyfriend, would be subject to the same mandatory minimum sentence as a 50 year-old man, who engages in the same conduct with a 17 year-old.

The Jackson Lee amendment would provide a better alternative. The alternative punishment would be available in prosecutions involving offenses under section 2251(a)(2) or 2251(a)(3), when the defendant is no more than 19 years old, the difference in age between the defendant and victim is no more than four years, and the sexually explicit conduct depicted in the photo or video was consensual. Judges would not be required to sentence teenagers pursuant to the alternative punishment.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers).

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy) for the purpose of the majority leader telling us in-depth the schedule for the weeks to come.

(Mr. McCARTHY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for those remarks.

I want to join him in thanking our colleague, Brian Cooper. I am not sure, Brian, that I adopt the sentiments of the majority leader with respect to what Mr. Thomas could and could not do. Apparently he chose not to, and that is good.

But, Brian Cooper, we want to thank you for three and a half decades of service to this House; three and a half decades of service to this House in a role that most people, including Members of this House, would not recognize, but that is critically important to the good management and flow of the people's business through this House.

As the majority leader referenced, he will continue to root for the Baltimore Orioles because he is from Baltimore. He is a Marylander, and we are very proud of him. I want to thank him for his service and wish him the very best in the days ahead.

I now will go to the schedule.

By law, under the Budget Control Act, a budget is supposed to be brought to this floor on April 15. The majority leader would quickly observe that neither Democrats nor Republicans have always met that deadline. However, we are unusually late in the budget process, in my view, and despite months of promising to return to regular order, we have not yet done so as it relates to the budget, and the budget has not been marked up in committee, Mr. Speaker.

Monday marked the statutory date by which the Appropriations Committee no longer has to wait to bring bills to the floor of the House because the majority has failed to meet its obligation to pass a budget on time.

Now, again, I want to quickly note that both parties have failed to meet that deadline in times past, but I cannot remember us being as late in the session in getting to the appropriations process, because there really has been no direction from the administration as to what their budget priorities should be, would be, other than the so-called ``skinny budget'' that was sent down, which, in my view, almost every Member of Congress thought was a totally unrealistic, unadoptable, and unworthy budget priority document; and if it were to be adopted, the security of the United States, both abroad and at home, would be put at substantial risk.

So, Mr. Majority Leader, can you provide some indication? I know it is not on the floor next week.

And I want to say that I join with the majority leader. The issue of human trafficking is one of the critical issues that confronts us, as a country, and the global community. It puts millions of young women and young men at risk--and not so young men and women at risk--on a daily basis. It is appropriate that we deal with this issue. Hopefully, we will deal with it, as the majority leader said, in a bipartisan fashion and that we will produce more effective ways to stop and to hold accountable those who put human beings at risk by human slavery.

But can the gentleman tell me when the Budget Committee will mark up a budget and when we will have such a budget considered on the floor?

I yield to my friend.

I thank the gentleman.

With respect to the appropriations process, as the gentleman knows, there are 12 discrete appropriation bills dealing with national security and domestic spending. Can the gentleman tell

me whether or not we still intend to consider, on a timely basis, discretely, that is, one at a time, the 12 appropriation bills?

I don't think any of them have been marked up as of this point in time. Obviously, not having a budget would preclude that from happening. I understand that. But, as the gentleman knows and I know from experience of serving on the appropriations process, frankly, it was at the beginning of this month, historically, that we would start to mark up appropriation bills, with the intent to use much of June and July for the purposes of passing appropriations bills so that we might send them to the Senate for consideration and have some chance of getting them done prior to the expiration of the fiscal year on September 30.

Does the gentleman anticipate that we will be considering separately the 12 appropriation bills between now and the August break?

I yield to my friend.

Well, I hope that we do, in fact, get that done.

Now, Mr. Leader, I was shocked yesterday to learn that the process that, from my perspective and our side's perspective, was extraordinarily accelerated, undermining the opportunity for careful and thorough consideration, the bill that is known as the American Health Care Act, or otherwise known as the bill to attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. That bill, as the gentleman knows, was introduced on March 6. It had not a single hearing and was marked up less than 2 full days later in the Ways and Means Committee, on March 8. It was marked up on March 8 and 9 in the Energy and Commerce Committee, in the Budget Committee on March 16, in the Rules Committee on March 22, and brought to the floor with a CBO score on March 23. In other words, in my view, Mr. Speaker, it moved so quickly that no one could have given it thoughtful consideration. In fact, Mr. Speaker, on March 24, that bill was brought to the floor, was subjected to some debate, and then was pulled. The judgment was made that, apparently, it was not ready for prime time.

That bill was then brought back to the floor some 2-plus weeks, about 2 weeks later, on Thursday, May 4 of this year. It was passed on a Thursday, notwithstanding the fact it had not been noted for consideration on Thursday at the beginning of the week or in the week prior. It passed on a vote of 217-213, with a significant number of Republicans voting against it and a significant number of Republicans who voted for it saying ``no, I haven't read the bill'' in response to inquiries from the press.

That afternoon, Mr. Speaker, there were buses out in front of the Capitol to take my Republican colleagues down to the White House to cheer its passage, an accomplishment of what our Republican colleagues had pledged for 6 years.

Mr. Speaker, you can imagine my shock, chagrin, and surprise when I learned yesterday that bill has not gone to the Senate. Apparently, it has gone from one chair to maybe the other chair in the desks before me. It has been held, Mr. Speaker. It has been held because there was no CBO score to ensure that, in fact, it complied with the rules.

A lot of talk about regular order, Mr. Speaker.

So the bill that was cheered at the White House and the President saying ``I'm so glad this passed,'' apparently, may not have passed this House in a form that is consistent with the rules. And so, my colleagues, I want you to know that you may think you have passed the bill, but it is still here 2 weeks later.

I am not sure, Mr. Speaker, why we couldn't have waited for a CBO score, other than the political imperative of going home and having Members be able to say, ``We passed the bill.''

Well, it is still here, folks. It is still within the bosom of the House, warmly embraced, aging, unfortunately, not to perfection.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the majority leader: When might we pass this bill? Is the bill going to have another hearing? Are we going to wait for the CBO score? And will another vote be necessary to, again, confirm the 217-213 votes?

I will not ask you whether or not you think you still have 217 votes, but let me ask you: When might this bill be considered again on this floor? And when might this bill go to the United States Senate, as everybody thought it had on the 4th of May?

I yield to my friend, the majority leader, Mr. Speaker.

But he got the point, I am sure.

Mr. Speaker, we have had a similar conversation before, and the majority leader would love to rely on the hearings that were held before this bill that we passed was introduced. The 113 hearings were on the repeal. This bill, as surely the majority leader knows and Members who voted on it know, was not repealed. It does not repeal.

Now, it is said that the gentleman is correct that the insurance industry has been very badly roiled, and confidence in the marketplace has been very badly undermined by this administration since its first day in office, and badly undermined by the Republicans' continued attempts to repeal, and passage of repeal legislation that didn't become law, and so insurers have, in fact, lost confidence that the marketplace will be stable, an absolutely critical component of pricing their product correctly.

The administration continues, as does the House itself and the Republican leadership in the Senate, to undermine the confidence that there will be a market. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, the majority leader is correct. The insurance market is not as stable. But almost everybody who speaks to that--and there is a Los Angeles Times story today, relatively lengthy on that--in terms of what steps the administration has taken from the very beginning, starting with the IRS, don't worry about the mandate. Don't worry about the fact you have insurance.

It is like the automobile people saying, don't worry about having automobile insurance; there is going to be no penalty. Well, if that was the case, I bet you a lot of people would not have automobile insurance, and if they hit you, you would be exposed to the expense yourself.

Now, Mr. Speaker, the majority leader says he wants to follow the rules. They want to follow regular order, and, of course, they will do that. My, my, my.

Mr. Speaker, on May 4 of this month, why did we not have such a CBO score?

He says we didn't send it because the rule will not allow us unless we have a CBO score.

Frankly, I think there are some additional reasons because they are not sure that they are complying with the Byrd rule in the United States Senate, and they have got to see. So they may have to pass this again, to which the majority leader did not address himself.

But there was no reason not to wait other than politics, other than to have those buses go down to the Capitol and cheer one another. They had no idea what CBO is going to come up with next week. So they did not wait, consistent with the rules. We should have had a score when we passed the bill. But that was not convenient for the politics of repeal.

Now, the majority leader, Mr. Speaker, has not told me when we are going to consider that bill again or if we are going to need to consider that bill again. And perhaps the honest answer is the majority leader does not have that knowledge as to whether he is going to have to bring that bill to the floor again because he is going to need the CBO score to make that determination. I understand that. And we should have waited, Mr. Speaker, not rushed to judgment.

He talks about hearings. There were no hearings on this bill. One reason there were no hearings on these bills is because my Republican colleagues have been having town meetings, and they are hearing about the public's thoughts about their bill. And some of them are not having town meetings because they don't want to hear any more than they wanted to have hearings here in the House to hear what the public thought.

So, Mr. Speaker, I am hoping that the majority leader will be able to, perhaps at some point in time in the relatively near future, give us a clear picture as to when we may either consider this bill again or when we are going to send it to the United States Senate; flawed, though, it may be.

Mr. Speaker, I will be glad to yield to my friend, the majority leader, if he would like to say something further. If not, I will yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I listened to his comments with interest. I want to touch on a number of comments he made, however.

First of all, in a very partisan vote from 3 a.m. in the morning until 6 a.m. in the morning, my Republican colleagues passed a bill in a partisan fashion--there were a few Democrats; not many--that passed part D prescription drugs for seniors.

We voted against that. And then we took the majority. And what did we do, Mr. Speaker? We acted in a way to ensure that the part D prescription drug package that the Republicans had passed in the previous Congress did, in fact, work; and it is a success today because we did that.

That is exactly the opposite of what our Republican colleagues did, Mr. Speaker, with respect to the Affordable Care Act. In fact, the Affordable Care Act, as my friend knows and polling now shows that over 55 percent of Americans believe that the Affordable Care Act ought to be kept; and 75 percent of them, three out of four Americans, believe we ought to fix the Affordable Care Act, not repeal it.

That has not changed, however, the Republicans' attempt and rhetoric to repeal. Now, there were a number of things that the Republicans did, contrary to what we did with respect to the prescription drug bill for seniors, to undermine and create this situation of which the majority leader speaks where there are some insurance companies that have pulled out, that are not doing as well as they should have and we wanted them to have.

One thing, many Republican Governors refuse to join the Medicaid expansion program, adversely affecting millions of Americans.

Secondly, they did not find the risk corridors. We knew when we established this problem that there was going to be a very tough time in making valid judgments on what costs were going to be two years into this program. We did not fund it. The CO-OPs also did not receive the support that was contemplated by the statute.

The cost-sharing subsidies the administration has put at risk. Now, we were assured just before the bill passed that: Oh, no, we are going to pay for the cost-sharing subsidies.

But the Republicans, Mr. Speaker, filed suit, and the court said: Oh, no, you have to appropriate those moneys on the cost-sharing subsidies.

The majority leader knows--certainly everybody on the Energy and Commerce knows, and every Member ought to know--without those subsidies, the insurance companies will have mispriced their product, for deductibles and copays, in particular.

That, Mr. Speaker, is what I speak of, in terms of the actions that have been taken over the last 6 years to undermine the confidence of the marketplace. Everybody knows that confidence is an important factor in any marketplace.

I am sure we are going to debate this again. Mr. Speaker, again, I would simply ask: Is this bill coming back to the House? Will we expect another vote on it?

The CBO report is due next week. I believe that if, in fact, we are going to schedule that, we ought to at least be given notice that that either is or may be a piece of legislation that will be on the floor next week, prior to our break for Memorial Day.

I yield to my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business today. This list will include a series of bills to honor our Nation's veterans.

With Memorial Day around the corner, it is important for this House to show our appreciation to those who have defended our freedoms, especially the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, next week in the House is Combating Human Trafficking and Child Protection Week.

In addition to a series of suspensions, the House will consider H.R. 1973, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act, sponsored by Representative Susan Brooks. This bill would require prompt reporting of suspected cases of abuse, as well as implementation of procedures for addressing such allegations.

We will also consider H.R. 1761, the Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act, sponsored by Representative Mike Johnson. This bill would protect victims of sexual abuse by ensuring that predators who send explicit content are subject to appropriate punishment.

Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is an incredibly serious issue in our Nation. With the passage of these bipartisan bills, we will show our continued commitment to ending this modern-day form of slavery, while supporting and assisting all survivors.

Now, lastly, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider H.R. 953, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, sponsored by Representative Bob Gibbs. My district is home to many hardworking farmers, so I know this issue quite well. This bill will reduce red tape that makes it more costly for farmers to protect their crops and our Nation's food supply.

In addition, the CDC reports that there are still 119 cases of individuals with Zika in the United States and 495 cases in U.S. territories. With the summer season approaching, this bill will ensure we can use pesticides to control mosquitos.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to thank a true public servant. Next week, Brian Cooper will retire from the House Parliamentarian's Office after 35 years on Capitol Hill.

Brian is a professional in every sense of the word. Much of his work is done behind the scenes, but it has not gone unnoticed. From timekeeping to processing bills, to preparing for joint sessions, Brian has made sure this body works in an orderly and fair way. It is my understanding that even my predecessor, Bill Thomas, could not challenge Brian's timekeeping.

On behalf of all those on this side of the aisle, we wish you well in your retirement, Brian, and from a very grateful nation for your service. I am sure you are ready to trade late nights on this floor for late nights watching the Orioles play baseball.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

As my friend knows, we do expect to receive the formal budget request from the President next week, which, as my friend also knows, is common for the first year of a new administration.

Now, as the gentleman said, maybe this is later, but this is the latest in the history of America that any President has had to wait for a Cabinet, which is always helpful. He still has many more positions to be filled and confirmed, and as that progresses, I think actions will be able to move forward even faster.

But, as is tradition, the Budget Committee has announced its intention to host OMB Director Mick Mulvaney, as the gentleman knows, a former colleague here, to answer questions Members may have about the President's budget request following its release. This will kick off the regular order process of the committee work on crafting an FY 2018 budget resolution.

Likewise, with appropriations, the committee is looking forward to marking up bills through regular order. Now, as soon as action is scheduled for the floor, the gentleman will know that I will notify all Members.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

The gentleman will be happy to know that Appropriations has already held 47 hearings dealing with FY 2018, so, as we receive the President's budget and are able to ask questions of the OMB Director, we will continue to move forward. But it is our intention always to go through regular order and, in all cases, if possible, individually, down onto the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I thank him for his long question.

Let me first answer the number of points you have made because I want history to be written correctly.

First of all, you were shocked. I don't know why you were shocked. I thought you were going to say you were shocked that that exact same week, when you read the paper, 94 counties out of 99 in Iowa would have no healthcare if ObamaCare continued to go forward. I thought that would have shocked you.

Then, when you wanted to put dates down and talk about hearings, we had more than 113 hearings. That is more than the number of hearings you had for ObamaCare.

Our bill is less than 150 pages. That is thousands of pages less than ObamaCare.

You talk of CBO. You know that CBO scored this bill, but those eight pages of amendments you were shocked by. You shouldn't be shocked to know the rules of the House, that you do not move a bill until the CBO score of those eight pages is done. That will be done next week, and we will move it right along.

But let's go on further because I do want history to be written correctly.

We marked up this bill in three separate committees, with over 18 hours of debate in Ways and Means and over 27 hours of debate in Energy and Commerce. We debated countless amendments in committees, from both Republicans and Democrats, even the ones where the Democrats asked that they change the name to have some hashtag. We spent hours on that, but we did that because we believed that was important to you.

Now, our bill eliminates the many taxes and mandates of ObamaCare. It gives patients enhanced tools to take control of their own healthcare decisions, and it expands choice for Americans.

So, yes, I am shocked every day I read the paper that more Americans are going to lose their healthcare if ObamaCare stays where it is or that people will even pay more, because I remember the promise the President made that our premiums would go down or we could keep our own doctor, which so many thousands of Americans found out to be a lie.

So, Mr. Speaker, I understand politics. I understand the phrases and the adjectives people can use, but there is no reason to be shocked that we kept our word of what we would do for the last 6 years. There is no reason to be shocked that the American public put a majority in the House and the Senate and the Presidency which, I would argue for the main purpose, that they want greater choice in their healthcare system.

So, yes, if I go to Iowa, I go to Tennessee, those 16 counties there that will no longer have healthcare--or what about Aetna? You didn't even mention them pulling out of Virginia. You weren't shocked by that either.

But you know what? Eight pages of amendments that stayed out there for everybody to read--not more than 2,000--yes, we will wait until the CBO finishes scoring the amendments and send it to the Senate. Yes, we know what is in those amendments, just as everybody else had the opportunity to read them, just as we went through the Rules Committee.

So there are lots of things to be shocked by, but don't ever be shocked by: We go by the rules of the House. I

think you should be shocked by the number of faces, the number of families that will not have healthcare if we did not act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I am actually shocked. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but did you actually make the argument that those 94 counties out of 99 in Iowa pulled out just because we were bringing a bill up?

Did you actually believe the 18 out of 23 CO-OPs that were given more than $2 billion pulled out because somehow they knew we would probably capture the White House, too, and keep the Senate and the House? So that is why it failed?

Or maybe those 16 counties in Tennessee that were told almost a year ago that they wouldn't have healthcare the next year; somehow people could look into the future, and just because a Republican took office, that is who we are going to blame?

I know President Bush is no longer here, but do we have to continue to put blame on others instead of having the facts?

So let's talk about a few things. Now, let's be clear of what you asked me earlier because, I apologize, I got off--you had a lot of adjectives out there. I wanted to make sure that I had answered them all. But I am very confident that this bill will hit the mark for reconciliation and it will move across the aisle over to the other Chambers.

Now, you talk about the House, and you are going to blame us for everything. Let's go to facts. They are not my facts. There is a recent report from Quorum, which is a data analysis company in D.C. These are bright, young people; a lot of them are Stanford grads. Here are the facts, because they just went and analyzed the first 100 days:

In the first 100 days, President Trump signed 30 pieces of legislation into law. Now, that is more than President Obama, Bush, Clinton, or H.W. Bush signed in their first 100 days.

Only once before in history has a Congressional Review Act been signed into law, only one. Now we have 14 overturned regulations through the Congressional Review Act, saving Americans $3.7 billion in regulatory cost, and 4.2 million hours in filling out paperwork.

Now, my favorite quote of this report, this House, the one we stand in today, passed 103 bills out of this Chamber, edging out former Speaker Pelosi's House as the most productive during the first 100 days of a Presidency since H.W. Bush.

Now, just this week we passed the Modernizing Government Technology Act, and I do thank my friend for his hard work on this. It is going to upgrade government IT to better serve our constituents. So if we are shocked, maybe that shocked you. Maybe we ought to stop playing politics. Maybe we ought to stop blaming things that just aren't even there. Maybe we ought to just take responsibility for where we currently are, understand that this is the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth, and it was ``. . . conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.''

No, we are not going to blame others for our problems. And if you want to go along that line, I can go into all of the things that were promised in the more than 2,000 pages of ObamaCare.

But you know what?

Today I live currently, and what I currently see is that 18 of the 23 CO-OPs have collapsed. And the current law says we are going to penalize the people who actually paid the CO-OPs to get their healthcare, but they have no healthcare to get.

I want to read the facts where more Americans took the penalty or the exemption than actually signed up for ObamaCare; that prior to a bill even passing on this floor--something we promised for 6 years--that a number of companies pulled out because it was not working. But the biggest shock I had all week is that somehow it is our fault.

I could not look an American in the eye knowing the knowledge that we all have. I don't care what party you are in; you don't sit on a carpet that has red on one side and blue on the other. This is the American House. You know people are hurting. You know people have lost their doctors. You know they are pulling out of these counties. Don't make up some political spin to make yourself feel better for some vote.

We promised we would repeal ObamaCare and give people greater choice. That is what we did. You disagree with it, then disagree with it, but don't lay blame where it is not true.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

As I said earlier, this is a technical issue. I have all the confidence in the world the CBO score will come back, we will meet the reconciliation number, and we will move it to the Senate.

If my colleague wants to schedule something, I will schedule with you. We can walk the bill over there together. I believe the American people are waiting for it.