Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization 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. President, nearly a year ago, I met with six gymnasts. All of these young women were world-class athletes. All of them had put their faith in USA Gymnastics. And all of them were sexually abused by an adult who had earned their trust.

It was one of the most difficult meetings I have held as a Senator. Listening to their stories of abuse and how the system let them down left me with equal parts sadness and rage.

These young women weren't telling me their stories to get legislation passed, but that afternoon, I promised them I would do all I could to make sure no one else ever experienced the agony that they had.

I am proud that the Senate will come together and pass the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act in order to send it to the President's desk.

This bill is intended to protect young athletes who participate in amateur sports from the sexual abuse that these gymnasts had to suffer.

In the House, Representative Susan Brooks from Indiana and Representative Lois Frankel from Florida, who cochair the Women's Caucus, partnered with us on this bill. They have been strong champions in protecting young women from abuse.

This bill wouldn't have been possible without the courageous survivors who shared their stories.

Some of the same women who I spoke with in February came back to Washington in March to speak about the bill. It was a very powerful hearing that touched many of us.

One of those brave women was Jamie Dantzscher, who won a bronze medal in 2000.

Jamie told the Judiciary Committee in moving testimony that she fell in love with gymnastics at a very young age. Her parents had to beg her to leave the gym after practice because gymnastics brought her such joy.

While she competed with the national team led by USA Gymnastics, team doctor Larry Nassar was assigned to provide her with medical treatment.

As any young woman would, Jamie put her faith in Nassar, who was employed by USA Gymnastics, but her faith was turned on its head in horrifying ways. In Jamie's words: ``What I have only recently come to understand is that the medical treatment he performed for my back pain and other injuries was sexual assault. Dr. Nassar abused me at the USA National Training Center in Texas. He abused me in California and at meets all over the world. Many times the abuse took place in my own room, in my own bed. Worse, he abused me in my hotel room in Sydney at the Olympic Games.''

Jamie went on: ``When I first spoke out about my abuse at the hands of Dr. Nassar, I thought I was the only one. I was disbelieved and even criticized by some in the gymnastics community for bringing this disturbing issue to light.''

It is impossible to imagine the horror that Jamie felt, but what we do know is that Jamie wasn't the only victim.

Jessica Howard was a 15-year-old rhythmic gymnast when Nassar began abusing her. She testified that her first few years of training were ``pure bliss.'' Eventually, she was sent to Nassar for hip problems. Nassar told her she shouldn't wear underwear for her treatments.

Jessica was confused, but she was fearful to say anything to anyone. She believed she would be prevented from pursuing her dreams if she said anything. This is how so much of this abuse was conducted, under a shroud of fear that the athletes' dreams would be quashed.

Later in her life, Jessica served on USA Gymnastics' board of directors. In Jessica's words: ``As an adult, I spent years serving on the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors with a mission of protecting children in my sport from the psychological abuse that I endured. But the meetings seemed to revolve around two things: money and medals. When a sexual abuse case came up during my time on the board, the concern was about the reputation of the coach, not the accusation of the athlete. As I have attempted to come to terms with what happened to me as a teenager, it has become glaringly obvious that USA Gymnastics has not done nearly enough to protect athletes from any form of abuse.''

Jessica and others like her were silenced by a culture of complicity where those in power refused to promote a safe environment and survivors could report abuse. That is what the bill we will pass aims to change.

Finally, I would like to talk about another gymnast we heard from more recently. Aly Raisman, one of the most decorated Olympic gymnasts ever, revealed that she, too, was sexually abused by Larry Nassar, starting when she was 15 years old.

As Aly said, ``I didn't know anything differently. We were told he is the best doctor.''

As a result, Nassar used this trust to manipulate hundreds of victims so they couldn't fully understand that they were being abused.

When telling her story, Aly asked, ``Why are we looking at why didn't the girls speak up? Why not look at what about the culture? What did USA Gymnastics do, and Larry Nassar do, to manipulate these girls so much that they are so afraid to speak up? I am angry.''

I think we should all be angry by what we have heard from these brave young women. When I heard these stories, I found a common theme: The very institutions tasked with protecting these athletes allowed this egregious conduct to occur.

In my view, these governing bodies were, at best, complicit in the devastation wrought on these young children

and their families. They did far too little to prevent abuse from happening in the first place, and when they saw signs of abuse, they did little to stop it.

In fact, USA Gymnastics, which oversees more than 3,000 gymnasiums nationwide, had bylaws that actually made it more difficult for survivors to report abuse.

For example, the only way for a member athlete to ``effectively'' make a complaint about a coach was through a signed, written complaint. Not only is this an ineffective way to prevent sexual abuse, it actually serves to protect the abusers by making it harder for child victims to come forward.

USA Gymnastics didn't even require that sexual abuse be reported to law enforcement when it was discovered. It was a disgusting abuse of power, to say the least.

After we introduced our legislation, USA Gymnastics hired former Federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels to conduct an independent review of USA Gymnastics' policies and procedures. Needless to say, they were found to be woefully ineffective and insufficient. After reviewing documents and interviewing nearly 160 individuals, Daniels recommended nearly 70 policy changes, including a recommendation that USA Gymnastics ``undergo a complete cultural change, permeating the entire organization and communicated to the field in all its actions.''

In one damning finding, Daniels stated, ``The overall impression received externally is that the athlete protection function is, at best, secondary to the primary focus: winning medals.'' That is completely unacceptable.

The legislation we will soon pass does three main things to help protect sex abuse victims and reform institutions like USA Gymnastics.

First, the bill makes it mandatory for anyone affiliated with USA Gymnastics, or any other national governing body or amateur sports organization that crosses State lines, to immediately report sexual abuse to local and Federal law enforcement or social services agencies. This requirement would apply to USA Gymnastics and each of the other 47 national governing bodies that oversee a variety of Olympic sports, including USA Taekwondo, USA Speed Skating, USA Swimming, and USA Cycling. It is absolutely imperative that a firm line be drawn for everyone working with national governing bodies and amateur sports organizations. Once there is suspicion of abuse, a report must be made as soon as possible to law enforcement. This bill mandates that.

Second, the bill strengthens the law that allows victims of sex abuse to file suits against those who abused them to commit crimes such as sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and child pornography. It clarifies, for example, that victims of child sex crimes are entitled to statutory damages of $150,000, as well as punitive damages, due to the heinous nature of the crimes.

The bill also extends the statute of limitations so that victims can sue their abusers 10 years after they become aware of their abuse. This is important because, tragically, survivors often do not fully become aware of their abuse until later in life. The statute of limitations extension is part of legislation that Senator Cornyn and I have worked on over the past couple of years, called the Extending Justice for Sex Crime Victims Act.

Third, the bill makes reforms to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which establishes ``national governing bodies'' like USA Gymnastics. When I first contacted USA Gymnastics about its poor handling of sexual abuse allegations, the group cited the Stevens Act as a shield, saying that it prevented them from doing more to protect athletes from sexual abuse. The bill we are passing is a direct response to that claim.

It requires the newly created U.S. Center for Safe Sport--championed by Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune and Ranking Member Bill Nelson--to establish strict policies and procedures for handling abuse allegations, as well as oversight procedures to make sure these policies are adhered to by every national governing body.

The reforms in the bill ensure that national governing bodies and amateur sports organizations will adopt five baseline policy prescriptions.

First, specific policies and procedures for mandatory reporting of sex abuse to law enforcement. Second, policies and procedures to keep track of coaches who leave one gym only to repeat the cycle of abuse at another gym. Third, policies to avoid circumstances where minors and adults are in one-on-one situations. Fourth, policies to facilitate reporting of sex abuse allegations to national governing bodies and other authorities. And fifth, stronger oversight and enforcement policies so that complaints are dealt with uniformly and with fairness and due process.

These new provisions give national governing bodies like USA Gymnastics no excuse not to prevent abuse or to report it when it occurs.

All over the country, survivors of sexual abuse are coming forward to tell their stories of abuse and exploitation. Multiple survivors from around the country have contacted my office and described with great courage their pain and anguish. Each of these stories represents an untold amount of pain and suffering that has generational ripple effects. It is absolutely devastating.

This is why I am so encouraged that my colleagues in this body will soon pass this important legislation to protect abuse victims.

I would also like to acknowledge the list of 270 organizations and individuals who have contributed to and supported this bill. Their names are listed on our website.

I would also like to recognize my staff who have worked on this bill, including Peter Hyun, Ashley Schapitl, Sarah Chang, Matthew Halek, Jennifer Duck, and Tom Mentzer.

I would also like to thank Peter Feldman and Ashok Pinto from Senator Thune's staff, Christian Fjeld and Ioana Gorecki from Senator Nelson's staff, Evelyn Fortier and Kyle McCollum from Senator Grassley's staff, Rob Hicks from Representative Susan Brooks' staff, Meg Barr from House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte's office, and Yana Mayayeva from Representative Lois Frankel's staff

Finally, I would like to recognize two individuals who recently passed away. Both were fierce advocates on behalf of survivors of abuse.

Barbara Blaine, who founded SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, passed away in Utah, and Kristine Ward, the cofounder of National Survivor Advocates Coalition, passed away in Ohio. Both of these extraordinary women spent much of their lives giving a powerful voice to those who have been sexually abused.

This bill attempts to do what both women so powerfully advocated for throughout their lives: speak for the voiceless and demand the change necessary to protect our children, our most precious resource.

Thank you very much.

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for February 2018. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the amounts the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2018, H. Con. Res. 71. This information is necessary for the Senate Budget Committee to determine whether budget points of order lie against pending legislation. The Republican staff of the Senate Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, prepared this report pursuant to section 308(b) of the Congressional Budget Act, CBA.

The enforceable levels included in this report reflect all of the numerical adjustments made to the resolution since its passage. The information contained in this report captures legislative activity from the passage of the budget resolution through February 26, 2018.

Republican Budget Committee staff prepared tables 1-4 of this report.

Table 1 gives the amount by which each Senate authorizing committee exceeds or is below its allocation for budget authority and outlays under the most recently adopted budget resolution. This information is used for enforcing committee allocations pursuant to section 302 of the CBA. For this reporting period, 11 of the 16 authorizing committees are in compliance with their allocations. As previously reported, the Senate Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Natural Resources, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees remain in breach of their allocations. Since my last report on January 18, 2018, both the Finance and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committees have increased spending beyond allowable levels. Through the enactment of both the fourth continuing resolution, H.R. 195, P.L. 115-120, and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, BBA18, H.R. 1892, P.L. 115-123, which contained packages of healthcare extenders, the Finance Committee breached its allocation by $76.9 billion in budget authority and $7.8 billion in outlays over 10 years. Enactment of the BBA18 also produced the Agriculture Committee breach. That law changed the treatment of seed cotton, dairy, and livestock under Federal farm programs, increasing both budget authority and outlays by $1.2 billion over the 2018-2027 period.

Table 2 gives the amount by which the Senate Committee on Appropriations is below or exceeds the statutory spending limits. This information is used to determine points of order related to the spending caps found in section 312 and section 314 of the CBA. While no full-year appropriations bills have been enacted for fiscal year 2018, subcommittees are charged with permanent and advanced appropriations that first become available in that year and any full-year standalone provisions included in continuing resolutions. This table reflects one change from my January report. The continuing resolution portion of the BBA18 included full-year authority for the Secretary of Energy to draw down and sell oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, reducing budget authority and outlays by $315 million in 2018.

The budget resolution contains two points of order limiting the use of changes in mandatory programs in appropriations bills, CHIMPS. Tables 3 and 4 show compliance with fiscal year 2018 limits for overall CHIMPS and the Crime Victims Fund CHIMP, respectively. This information is used for determining points of order under sections 4102 and 4103 of H. Con. Res. 71, respectively. Notably, there have not been any full- year bills enacted thus far for fiscal year 2018 that include CHIMPS.

In addition to the tables provided by Budget Committee Republican staff, I am submitting CBO tables, which I will use to enforce budget totals approved by the Congress.

CBO provided a spending and revenue report for fiscal year 2018, which helps enforce aggregate spending levels in budget resolutions under CBA section 311. In its report, CBO annualizes the temporary effects of the latest continuing resolution, which provides funding through March 23, 2018. For the enforcement of budgetary aggregates, the Budget Committee excludes this temporary funding. As such, the committee views current-law levels as being $814.6 billion and $463.7 billion below budget resolution levels for budget authority and outlays, respectively. Details on fiscal year 2018 levels can be found in CBO's second table.

Current-law revenues continue to be in excess of the levels assumed by the budget resolution. On-budget revenue levels currently exceed assumed levels by $3.5 billion in fiscal year 2018, $41.9

billion over the fiscal year 2018-2022 period, and $98.4 billion over the fiscal year 2018-2027 period. Since my last filing both the fourth continuing resolution and BBA18 contained provisions that reduced revenues compared with current law. The fourth continuing resolution included $25.4 billion in on-budget revenue loss over 10 years related to delays in several health-related taxes. The BBA18 contained an $11.6 billion revenue loss largely as a consequence of a package of tax extenders. This BBA18 figure omits $1.8 billion in revenue increases attributable to language related to Federal Reserve Surplus Funds, which are required to be omitted under current scorekeeping rules.

Social Security outlay levels are consistent with the budget resolution's figures for all enforceable periods. Social Security revenues, however, are $446 million below levels assumed for fiscal year 2018, $1.9 billion greater over the next 5 years, and $28.8 billion greater than assumed over the next 10 years. These revenue effects are attributable to the tax provisions from the fourth continuing resolution, BBA18, and the tax reconciliation bill enacted in December 2017.

CBO's report also provides information needed to enforce the Senate pay-as-you-go, PAYGO, rule. The Senate's PAYGO scorecard currently shows deficit reduction of $24 million in fiscal year 2018, $14 million over the fiscal year 2017-2022, and $13 million over fiscal year 2017- 2027 periods. For fiscal year 2018, legislation has been enacted that would reduce outlays by $24 million. Over the fiscal year 2017-2022 period, legislation has been enacted that CBO estimates will decrease outlays by $13 million and increase revenues by $1 million. Over the fiscal year 2017-2027 period, legislation has been enacted that CBO estimates will decrease outlays by $11 million and increase revenues by $2 million. Notably absent from these amounts are the direct spending and revenue effects from the fourth continuing resolution and BBA18. This is due to provisions in those measures that mandated the exclusion of those budgetary effects both from the Senate and statutory PAYGO scorecards. The Senate's PAYGO rule is enforced by section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71.

Also included in this submission is a table tracking the Senate's budget enforcement activity on the floor since Congress adopted the budget resolution. No points of order have been raised on the floor since my last filing.

All years in the accompanying tables are fiscal years.

I ask unanimous consent that the accompanying tables be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate the budget scorekeeping report for April 2018. The report compares current-law levels of spending and revenues with the amounts the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2018, H. Con. Res. 71. This information is necessary for the Senate Budget Committee to determine whether budget points of order lie against pending legislation. The Republican staff of the Senate Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, prepared this report pursuant to section

308(b) of the Congressional Budget Act, CBA.

The enforceable levels included in this report reflect all of the numerical adjustments made to the resolution since its passage. The information contained in this report captures legislative activity from passage of the budget resolution through April 9, 2018. The only law enacted with significant budgetary effects since my last filing, on February 28, 2018, was the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, P.L. 115-141.

Republican Budget Committee staff prepared tables 1 to 4 of this report.

Table 1 gives the amount by which each Senate authorizing committee exceeds or is below its allocation for budget authority and outlays under the most recently adopted budget resolution. This information is used for enforcing committee allocations pursuant to section 302 of the CBA. For this reporting period, 10 of the 16 authorizing committees are in compliance with their allocations. As previously reported, the Senate Veterans' Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Finance; and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committees are in breach of their allocations. Since my last report, several committees' allocations were affected by changes in the nonappropriations provisions included in the omnibus appropriations bill. Still, the only new committee creating a breach was the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which spent $100 million more in both budget authority and outlays through Division P of the omnibus, Ray Baum's Act of 2018, than allowed under the budget resolution.

Table 2 gives the amount by which the Senate Committee on Appropriations is below or exceeds the statutory spending limits. This information is used to determine points of order related to the spending caps found in sections 312 and 314 of the CBA. Appropriations for 2018 are consistent with the statutory limits as modified by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

The budget resolution contains two points of order limiting the use of changes in mandatory programs in appropriations bills, CHIMPS. Tables 3 and 4 show compliance with fiscal year 2018 limits for overall CHIMPS $17 billion, and the crime victims fund CHIMP, $11.2 billion, respectively. This information is used for determining points of order under sections 4102 and 4103 of H. Con. Res. 71, respectively. CHIMPS included in the 2018 omnibus comply with the existing limits.

In addition to the tables provided by Budget Committee Republican staff, I am submitting CBO tables, which I will use to enforce budget totals approved by Congress.

CBO provided a spending and revenue report for fiscal year 2018, which helps enforce aggregate spending levels in budget resolutions under CBA section 311. CBO's estimates, which now include the full effects of appropriations for this year, show that current-law levels of spending for fiscal year 2018 are above the amounts assumed in the budget resolution by $152.2 billion in budget authority and $105.5 billion in outlays. For fiscal year 2018, Social Security outlay levels remain consistent with the budget resolution's assumption

Current-law revenues continue to be in excess of the levels assumed by the budget resolution. On-budget revenue levels currently exceed assumed levels by $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2018, $39.8 billion over the fiscal year 2018-2022 period, and $94.2 billion over the fiscal year 2018-2027 period. For fiscal year 2018, Social Security revenues are $446 million below levels assumed in the budget resolution.

CBO's report also provides information needed to enforce the Senate pay-as-you-go, PAYGO, rule. The Senate's PAYGO scorecard currently shows deficit reduction of $24 million in fiscal year 2018, but deficit increases of $10 million over the fiscal year 2017-2022 period and $11 million over the fiscal year 2017-2027 period. For fiscal year 2018, legislation has been enacted that would reduce outlays by $24 million. Over the fiscal year 2017-2022 period, legislation has been enacted that CBO estimates will decrease outlays by $13 million and decrease revenues by $23 million. Over the fiscal year 2017-2027 period, legislation has been enacted that CBO estimates will decrease outlays by $11 million and decrease revenues by $22 million. Consistent with recent congressional practice, the direct spending and revenue provisions included in the non-Appropriations Committee portion of the fiscal year 2018 omnibus, which increased deficits by $2.8 billion over 10 years are being excluded from PAYGO calculations. This is due to provisions in the omnibus that mandated the exclusion of those budgetary effects both from the Senate and statutory PAYGO scorecards. The Senate's PAYGO rule is enforced by section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71.

Also included in this submission is a table tracking the Senate's budget enforcement activity on the floor since Congress adopted the budget resolution. Two points of order were raised since my last filing. On March 14, 2018, Senator Sanders raised a PAYGO point of order against S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. This point of order was waived by a vote of 67 to 31. On March 21, 2018, Leader McConnell raised a PAYGO point of order against Senator Wyden's amendment, S. Amdt. 2213, to H.R. 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017. This point of order was sustained with a vote of 21 to 78 on Senator Wyden's waiver motion.

All years in the accompanying tables are fiscal years.

I ask unanimous consent that the accompanying tables be printed in the Record.