Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the Iranian regime is the number one state sponsor of terror in the whole world, and they commit terrorist acts even against their own people.

I am proud to support H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage- Taking Accountability Act, introduced by my friend, Chairman McCaul.

The mullahs in Tehran are among the world's worst human rights abusers. This year, we have witnessed their brutality again on display as they continue to mercilessly crush dissent from their own people.

International attention has faded, but the Iranian people are still in the streets demanding their rights, whether they be economic opportunity, access to water, religious freedom, or gender equality. In response, the regime has murdered dozens and locked up thousands, as it has done so many times before, without punishment from the outside world.

This is nothing new for the Islamic Republic. Look no further than the 1988 massacre, where 30,000 of Iran's political prisoners were systematically murdered by the regime.

This barbaric mass execution occurred by public hangings, firing squads, and included teenagers and pregnant women who refused to announce their political affiliations, including many from the MEK, today's leading Iranian dissident group.

So horrific was the act that deputy to Iran's ruler at the time, Ayatollah Khomeini, called it: ``The greatest crime committed during the Islamic Republic for which history will condemn us.'' And, yes, history now condemns the regime for these acts of murder.

This bill will provide for that condemnation and call for investigation into this crime against humanity. It also urges our government to work with international partners and investigate other major human rights abuses, such as the dozens more killed during protests in 1999, 2009, and 2017, and sanction those responsible.

In all cases, the families of those murdered by the regime were never told what happened to their loved ones' remains. This important bill will pressure the Iranian Government to disclose the final resting place of the missing so their families may have a small bit of peace.

Mr. Speaker, now is the day of reckoning for the Iranian regime.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I also want to thank and express my support for Ranking Member Engel's bill, H.R. 4681, the No Assistance for Assad Act. As he said, Assad is a butcher, a butcher of his own people.

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad continues to murder the Syrians en masse and destroy what was once a great ancient land. Because of the world's inaction, he is close to victory. He has proven that evil triumphs when good men and women do nothing.

Now Syria is in ruins and it must be rebuilt, but in the lands that Assad and his thugs control, we should play no part in helping his regime look like the saviors of the country. He and his Russian and Iranian backers must foot the bill for the destruction they brought upon Syria. Assad and his murderous supporters will try to use any reconstruction to cover up for their crimes.

That is why it is important we pass H.R. 4681, to restrict any U.S.- funded reconstruction assistance to areas the Syrian regime controls.

The American people are kind; they are generous and will always help those in need. We always have--history proves it--but we will not pay for a propaganda win for brutal dictators like Assad.

Let Assad and his buddies, the Iranians and the Russians, rebuild Assad's territory. His regime has weaponized humanitarian aid throughout the war, and we can only expect him to continue to do so as he tries to retake territory.

So, for now, let Assad rule over the ruins of the old Syria, the Syria he destroyed, and no U.S. money should ever go to Assad. One day, the Assads will be gone, but until then, we should not provide a dime of American money to strengthen his rule and grip over that land.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, it is remarkable that Harris County, Texas, Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Christopher Gaines is alive.

On April 17, Deputy Gaines and three other officers responded to a domestic violence call in Atascocita, Texas, where we both live. Approaching the house, the officers were cautious, and rightfully so. After all, Mr. Speaker, 22 percent of police officers that are shot occur during domestic violence calls.

Suddenly, the outlaw dashed out of the house with his guns blazing. The deputies returned fire, but with little or no area to take cover, 2-year veteran of the force Deputy Constable Gaines was shot in the abdomen at point-blank range with a shotgun. Gaines' wife even heard the shots from their nearby home.

Gaines' fellow officers rushed him to the hospital and put him directly into surgery.

Gaines' only thoughts were of his wife and his 4-year-old daughter, Zoey. Thanks to the good Lord, and the medical professionals at Memorial Hermann, Zoey's dad is alive. After speaking with him, he told me he is in high spirits and expected to recover. He is already talking about returning to work.

Mr. Speaker, Deputy Christopher Gaines is one of the rare breed of American lawmen that always stand ready to protect and defend the rest of us from evildoers.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, this week Israelis celebrate 70 years of independence and success against all odds. In Israel, independence day is celebrated the day after the entire country solemnly remembers its fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, America's Peace Corps volunteers are our angels abroad. They represent the very best we have in America, but right now, we are not doing enough to protect them.

One volunteer, Jennifer Mamola, her life was forever changed after an accident while she was serving in Uganda. Early one morning, Jennifer was walking with two friends to a bus stop. Out of nowhere, a drunk driver rammed into them; one volunteer was killed and Jennifer's legs were broken.

When she returned home to America, still bedridden and loaded on pain medication, she faced an uphill battle to get treatment because of bureaucracy. After months of fighting the system, she was finally approved for disability, but her nightmare didn't end there. Her case was regularly reopened, and she struggled to get the surgeries she needed and was not always approved. Still traumatized by her experience in Uganda, she reached out for mental health treatment, only to be ignored.

I have heard too many stories like Jennifer's, volunteers eager to make a difference in the world, return home to America, seem to be abandoned by an organization they gave so much for.

Others tell of their struggle to receive quality medical care and protection while they are overseas. A brave volunteer opened up to me about the daily sexual harassment she experienced while serving in a country overseas. During broad daylight, men would grope and threaten her as she walked home from school.

One afternoon at the market, the cashier threatened to break into her house in the middle of the night, come into her bedroom, and sexually assault her. When she reported this to the Peace Corps, they assured her that the men were ``simply joking.''

The harassment went on for months and months. Finally, she made the decision to return to the United States. She could no longer bear the harassment, and she was threatened and afraid.

Peace Corps recorded her reason for leaving as ``difficulty adapting to the culture.'' Are you kidding me? A culture of sexual assault in a foreign country? This meant she was not awarded the certificate of service or letter from the President of the United States that she earned.

Sexual assault and harassment should never be excused as ``joking.'' It should never be brushed off as a cultural norm. Peace Corps has fostered this belief for too long.

Between 2010 and 2014, there were over 900 reported cases of sexual assault and rape by Peace Corps volunteers overseas. This is unacceptable. Our volunteers deserve protection. They deserve basic protections from bad guys who seek to harm them. They deserve quality medical care, both in country and when they get back to the United States.

Now, the Peace Corps has made some changes, but as a former judge, I can tell you that it is our duty to do everything within our power to protect our angels abroad and do more.

Peace Corps volunteers are the face of our country in places where America's shining beacon of hope and liberty may not always shine so bright. They promote goodwill, a better understanding of the United States. They do so much for people overseas. This helps to secure an enduring partnership for our Nation. They change lives every day in the local communities that they serve. Their service to this country should not turn into a nightmare that interrupts or even ends their lives.

We must remember that these Peace Corps volunteers, many times, operate alone in remote areas of the world, doing the best they can to help other people.

Simple changes would greatly improve the safety and security of our Peace Corps ambassadors abroad. That is why the bill Representative Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts and I have introduced--the bipartisan Sam Farr Peace Corps Enhancement Act--is so important.

We must not continue to send our volunteers into remote areas of the globe without adequate protections against harm. They must have access to a qualified medical doctor and an effective healthcare system to take care of them when they come back to the United States.

There are some things that we can do and this bill will help. It is time to stand up and take action for our volunteers. They are some of the best that America has, representing America and the Peace Corps, and it is our responsibility to take care of them.

And that is just the way it is, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Alexander Hamilton was 21 years of age; Aaron Burr, 20 years of age; James Monroe, 18; James Madison, 25 years old. These young Founding Fathers, some of America's most notable names, were college age when they stood against an opposing British monarch and demanded life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

In fact, the right to freedom of speech was considered so important that James Madison, the author of the

Constitution, made it the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. However, it seems today that some of America's youngest minds of this generation have forgotten just what it is this great Nation stands for and what ideals it was built on.

A disturbing trend has begun cropping up on some college campuses around the country. The ideals that our Founding Fathers so painstakingly penned into life are at risk of disappearing from the sacred parchment of liberty. Freedom of speech is under attack. The left has perpetrated the idea that freedom of speech only applies to them but not to opposing views: free speech for me but not for thee.

Conservative thinkers are often banned from some universities. If they are invited, students are allowed the disrupt the events.

Mr. Speaker, since when does a war of words include physical violence against anyone who disagrees? Some universities and students claim that if speech is offensive, it must be banned; and who are we going to let decide what is offensive or hurtful? The listener? The elite academia? The government?

This is a very dangerous philosophy that some of our universities are promoting and students are accepting. The British censored speech critical of the King. That is one reason the free flow of diverse ideas is protected in our country. The Bolsheviks and Lenin enforced censorship of ideas they opposed.

Lenin said, to paraphrase: We don't let our enemies have guns. Why should we let them have ideas that are calculated to criticize the government?

Speech control by universities, professors, students, or government is a violation of the 1776 movement. It seems as if our very founding document is at risk of fading into the abyss of history.

Have we forgotten the meaning of the First Amendment? The First Amendment protects all forms of speech, even those we don't personally agree with. Even those words that offend us personally are protected.

If our American public square or university becomes a place where only ideas that the speech police allow, then we have lost our way and have become nothing more than an echo chamber.

How can political ideas be challenged if people cannot be allowed the freedom to speak different opinions? In Terminiello v. Chicago, Supreme Court Justice Douglas stated: ``A function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger.''

I guess Justice Douglas would not be allowed on some of our university campuses today to have dialogue with students because he ruled controversial views are constitutionally protected.

Freedom of speech is one of the things that made this country different from the rest of the world.

We must remember that fact and reject the tendency to bruise the First Amendment by stamping out speech that is controversial.

In the famous words of Evelyn Beatrice Hall, who wrote under a pseudonym in the 1900s: ``I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.''

I don't see any university professors teaching this dedication to free speech. What is most disturbing is that often it is the public universities that are responsible for silencing speech that they don't agree with. This is clearly a violation of the philosophy of the First Amendment.

George Washington said it best: ``If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led like sheep to the slaughter.''

America must always remain a free and open public space where the marketplace of ideas, even those we may detest or disagree with, are always freely expressed.

Mr. Speaker, I leave you with the words of James Madison: ``The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.''

Our college youth of today should heed the words of American youth of 1776. But the elite academia of our university speech police may not allow controversial words--those words of Madison and Jefferson--to be taught on campus because it just might offend them.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the first board of her keel landed on the dockyard with a loud thump.

It was 107 years ago today, April 17, 1911. One year later, she sailed smoothly into Newport News, Virginia, harbor, christened the USS Texas, BB-35. She was commissioned and saw immediate action in World War I. The Texas made numerous voyages to the North Sea, serving the country and our State of Texas.

Upon formal entry into World War II, the battleship Texas escorted war convoys across the Atlantic, was the flagship on D-day, and saw action in the Pacific as well. She was decommissioned in 1948.

Texas schoolchildren saved their nickels to bring the ship home to Texas. She is now moored in La Porte, Texas. But now after serving our great Nation, Texas is in danger of being scrapped for parts, a fate unfitting for the majestic ship that served our country.

To prevent this, the State of Texas and Congress must band together and work to save the battleship Texas from sinking into the depths of history.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2905) to require the Attorney General to establish procedures for expedited review of the case of any person who unlawfully solicits personal information for purposes of committing identity theft, while purporting to be acting on behalf of the IRS, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2905, currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, identity theft is a problem across the United States. It affects millions of Americans each year. A recent study found that $16 billion was

stolen from more than 15 million American consumers in 2016.

In the last several years, sophisticated phone scams targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants and elderly persons, have been prevalent throughout the United States. Callers claim to be IRS employees using fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. The fraudsters sometimes know a lot of information about the targets, and they may even alter the caller I.D. to make it look like the real IRS is calling them.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and that it must be paid promptly through a gift card or wire transfers. Victims are threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of a business or driver's license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting. In an effort to trick victims into sharing private information, these thieves sometimes claim that the refunds are ready for deposit. If the phone isn't answered, the scammers leave an urgent callback request.

These crimes must be prosecuted in order to protect victims and bring scheming criminals to justice. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2905, the Justice for Victims of IRS Scams and Identity Theft Act, which will help Congress better understand how many identity theft crimes are being prosecuted, as well as ways to prevent these crimes, bolster assistance that is made available to victims, and go after the thieves.

I thank Congressman David Young for his work on this bill, which will protect American consumers, and I urge the Senate to take it up without delay.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Young), the author of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Young from Iowa and Ms. Sinema from Arizona for this bipartisan legislation; the chairman of the Judiciary Committee for bringing this to the floor; and my friend, Ms. Jackson Lee, from Houston, Texas, for supporting this legislation as well.

Mr. Speaker, when the phone rings and a person answers it, if somebody on the other end says they are from the IRS, that brings fear and trepidation into the soul of whoever answers the phone. People fear the IRS for a multitude of reasons, so they become vulnerable to a thief who identifies themselves as an IRS agent and want to do the right thing. They don't want to go to jail for an IRS violation, so they cooperate with this criminal on the other end who is a smooth- talking criminal thief, who is trying to steal money from this person.

As Ms. Jackson Lee said, many times these are the elderly. These are people who have tried to save money over the years; and now the IRS, they think, is coming after them, and they want to cooperate because they want to follow the law.

These scammers are just, to me, some of the worst people in our society. As a former judge and prosecutor, I don't like thieves--people who steal from others--especially vulnerable people.

This legislation helps in a couple of ways, several ways. It helps the victims understand what their responsibility is, and is not, when somebody calls. But it also lets those thieves out there in our country, and other countries, know that we are going to go after them. I mean, $16 billion stolen in one year from 15 million Americans. That is a lot of money. That is a lot of money even for the government.

This legislation is vital, it is good legislation, it is bipartisan legislation, and it should pass quickly. The Senate, down the hallway, should take up this bill and pass it as well.

And that is just the way it is.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the Russians lied.

In 2013, the Russian bear entered into a sweeping agreement with the United States. The deal, Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons would be removed by the middle of 2014. Russia would guarantee this agreement. In return, the United States would indefinitely stall air strikes.

For months, we have watched in horror as defenseless men, women, and children were murdered by the rogue Syrian regime, intent on using chemical weapons against their own people. Friday evening, President Trump joined our allies, France and Britain, to authorize precision air strikes against chemical weapon production and storage in Syria. This decisive retaliation was an appropriate, targeted response to this horrific crime. No chemical weapons in Syria.

However, the United States' role in Syria must be focused. The U.S.' purpose in Syria is to eradicate the influence of ISIS. Any other U.S. military escalation of the Syrian war must be authorized by Congress. But meanwhile, Assad the butcher now knows from our President not to cross a red line and use chemical weapons on his people.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Judge Lisa Bloch Rodwin has dedicated her life defending individuals and families. Her extensive record in public policy on abuse, neglect, juvenile justice, custody and family violence has earned her national recognition. Lisa's unwavering support for victims is unparalleled and I am proud to honor her today.

During Lisa's storied career, she has worked with the Erie County District Attorney's office, served as Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit, and was most recently appointed by the New York State Governor as an Erie County Family Court Judge. She was unanimously confirmed by the New York Senate and was elected to a full term in 2008.

Lisa is just one of a few select judges chosen to serve on the New York State Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee, which is responsible for drafting and reviewing legislation on Family Law. She has also been appointed to the NYS Advisory Council on Immigration Issues in Family Court.

Before being appointed to the bench, Lisa was the founder of the New York State's first Domestic Violence Bureau outside New York City. She was responsible for the prosecution of more than 4,000 family and child abuse cases. Lisa helped develop protocols for the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence crimes for local police agencies and developed interview and investigation policies for child abuse investigations at the Child Advocacy Center in Buffalo.

Lisa's commitment to providing resources, services and protections for victims is unmatched. She has received numerous awards and acknowledgments for her efforts and there is no doubt she deserves every bit of that recognition.

Lisa continues to stand up for what is right and her efforts to promote respect and services for crime victims will no doubt stand the test of time.

Each year the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts supporting and empowering survivors of crime. Co-chaired and co-founded by Jim Costa (D-CA) and myself, the bipartisan caucus advocates for crime victims and protects programs that provide critical support for related services.

I am proud to announce Judge Lisa Bloch Rodwin as the recipient of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Lois Haight Award of Excellence and Innovation. The Lois Haight award pays tribute to California Judge Lois Haight who, as an appointee of President Ronald Reagan and Chair of his 1982 President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, led pioneering efforts on behalf of crime victims that resulted in significant public policy advances to promote crime victims' rights and services. Judge Lisa Bloch Rodwin's efforts have had a significant impact on local, state, and national public policy development and implementation that promote dignity, respect, rights and services for victims of crime.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the Safety, Advocacy, Growth, and Empowerment (SAGE) program in Wenatchee Valley, Washington works to aid individuals who have experienced domestic abuse.

For the past 12 years, Jessica Johnson has gone above and beyond, serving SAGE to the best of her ability. Her hard work and dedication paid off. In 2016, Jessica was promoted to Executive Director, propelling Jessica to even greater heights. Her work with SAGE has helped to provide a safe-haven for those who faced sexual abuse, domestic violence, stalking, poverty, and sex trafficking in Central Washington.

During her time at SAGE, Jessica has overseen the creation of a 24- hour crisis line, a Crime Victim Service Center, and a Domestic Violence advocacy program. Each of these programs has been instrumental in providing aid to crime victims.

Jessica has not only focused her efforts on the larger central communities, but has implemented outreach to rural areas as well. This outreach has expanded opportunities for those who need assistance the most and helped victims reach the resources they desperately need. Jessica has also established group counseling programs in high schools and worked with schools to ensure faculty and staff are given adequate training on spotting the signs of domestic abuse.

Perhaps some of the most important services SAGE and Jessica have provided is through the Child Advocacy Center. In the Child Advocacy Center, law enforcement agents conduct forensic interviews with children who have been victims of sexual and domestic abuse. This service has been an invaluable resource and helped create a safe environment to interview and assist vulnerable children.

Each year the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts supporting and empowering survivors of crime. Co-chaired and co-founded by Jim Costa (D-CA) and myself, the bipartisan caucus advocates for crime victims and protects programs that provide critical support for related services.

I am proud to announce Jessica Johnson as the recipient of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy. The Stout Memorial Award is in memory of Ed Stout, the Director of Aid for Victims of Crime in St. Louis. The Honoree is a professional or volunteer whose efforts have directly benefited victims and survivors of crime.

I am honored to recognize Jessica and her relentless fight in advocating for crime victims. With the help of Jessica and SAGE, victims from all over Washington have access to resources needed to help rebuild their lives.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Arien Pauls was excited for her graduation from Bullard High School in 2007 and even more excited to head off to Fresno City College. A hard worker, she took a part time job at Taco Bell to help pay her bills and tuition. After posting online about her lack of funds, she was contacted by her soon to be trafficker. She thought he wanted a simple relationship. However, when she finally agreed to meet him in person, he forced her into modern day slavery.

He moved her to Los Angeles and cut off all contact with her family and friends. For four years, Arien lived out of hotels and suitcases, her body being abused by strangers. After being forced to have an illegal abortion, she managed to escape with another trafficking victim. Luckily, her dastardly trafficker was charged with domestic violence.

Arien has faced many challenges throughout her life. She witnessed her mother use drugs and then, in her narcotic induced state, abuse her. She was molested by several male family members as a child, but she was determined to create a better life for her and her younger brother.

Arien refused to let her tragic past dictate her future. She became an advocate for human trafficking victims, using her experiences to relate to and help others. She volunteered with Breaking the Chains and the Central Valley Justice Coalition, where she shares her story with hundreds of young women. Through this group, she is able to educate students about the dangers of human trafficking.

Arien is an unpaid volunteer and works as an assistant catering manager to support her 3-year-old daughter. Her dream is to one day earn a law degree and use her legal skills to further advocate for crime victims.

Arien's story is one of triumph. She may have endured horrific hardships, but she came out the other side stronger and more resilient.

Each year the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts supporting and empowering survivors of crime. Co-chaired and co-founded by Jim Costa (D-CA) and myself, the bipartisan caucus advocates for crime victims and protects programs that provide critical support for related services.

I am honored to announce Arien Pauls as the recipient of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award. The Unsung Hero Award is in memorial of Eva Murillo, a prominent crime victim advocate from California. Arien has utilized her experiences to promote public education and awareness, public policy development and greater awareness about crime victims' rights and needs, as well as her stunning achievements and passion for victims' advocacy here today.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Julie Nauman had dedicated her life to improving the lives of victims. Julie has been a tireless advocate for those who are less fortunate.

Her work on the Executive Office of the California Crime Compensation Board has led

vital victim compensation in California. Julie has strived to help crime victims sort through complicated legal matters and help them cope with the financial aftermath of the crimes in which they were involved. Julie has also been committed to conducting multi-lingual victim outreach and public awareness efforts to reach crime survivors in California.

After the mass shooting in Las Vegas in October of 2017, it was no surprise, Julie was right ready to help. With her assistance, along with the CCCB, they were able to reach across state lines to provide information, assistance and guidance regarding victim compensation to hundreds of survivors who call California home.

When there was a mass shooting in April of 2017 in Fresno County, Julie personally helped to provide compensation funding for funerals for the murdered victims. She also aided the Fresno Police Department providing resources to better fund future victim assistance services for Fresno County.

As a past member of the Board of Directors and a current member of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Board, Julie has vocalized the need to ensure violent crime victims are aware of the financial support and services available to them.

Julie's persistent support of crime victims is unparalleled. Julie is a superb leader and a truly compassionate person, who is committed to improving the lives of crime victims everywhere.

Each year the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts supporting and empowering survivors of crime. Co-chaired and co-founded by Jim Costa (D-CA) and myself, the bipartisan caucus advocates for crime victims and protects programs that provide critical support for related services.

I am proud to announce Julie Nauman as the recipient of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus the Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award for Public Awareness. The Public Awareness Award is in memory of Susanne McDaniel, one of the first prosecutor-based victim advocates in Texas and the nation. There is no doubt, Julie has used her voice to promote and to bring about change at the National level for crime victims.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Megan Rondini was a young college student at the University of Alabama. She was a bright young woman with her whole life ahead of her. What happened next should have never transpired. Megan was raped by a man from a rich family in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After Megan managed to escape Bunn by fleeing outside a second story window, she headed to a hospital for a rape kit. She did everything a victim should do.

But it was here the system began to fail her. The hospital did not have a sexual assault forensic examiner or SAFE on staff, so they had nobody trained to properly deal with a sexual assault victim or trained to properly collect DNA evidence.

When she went to the police station, she was treated with disdain and disbelief, dismissed and ignored. The police didn't believe her, and treated her like a criminal. They even read her--the victim--her Miranda Rights.

Megan was failed by the system at every turn. Feeling like she had no other option, she tragically took her own life.

The injustices she endured started a national dialogue about campus sexual assault, an issue that is extremely pervasive in our society, but one that very few people wanted to

talk about. The outrage generated forced many universities to re- evaluate and change how they handle victims of sexual assault. Legislators on both sides of the isle came together on local, state and federal levels to try to come up with new laws and real solutions.

Many hospitals and university infirmaries have begun hiring and recruiting staff trained. specifically to handle sexual assault cases. Countless future victims will benefit from the changes that have been implemented because of Megan Rondini. And those changes have only just begun. We will all continue to fight in her name to make the system better for victims.

Each year the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts supporting and empowering survivors of crime. Co-chaired and co-founded by Jim Costa (D-CA) and myself, the bipartisan caucus advocates for crime victims and protects programs that provide critical support for related services. Today, I am proud to announce Megan Rondini as the recipient of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award for Public Awareness. The Public Awareness Award is in memory of Susanne McDaniel, one of the first prosecutor-based victim advocates in Texas and the nation. There is no doubt, Megan's story has overwhelmingly brought change at the National level for crime victims.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Center for SafeSport is an outstanding organization that helps prevent child abuse within the governing bodies of the United States Olympic Committee. SafeSport was launched in March of 2017 and aims to empower athletes by developing a national sport culture of respect and safety.

SafeSport has a team of professionals specifically focused on developing best practices, policies, and programs to protect our children from predators and promote education and awareness about abuse.

Additionally, the Center's Response and Resolution Office is tasked with investigating and resolving policy violations of the SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement's 47 member National Governing Bodies. This will aid in investigations to identify trends and patterns across sport, which will help to strengthen prevention efforts.

Congress has recently recognized the need for keeping our young athletes safe, and SafeSport is committed to fighting alongside us to end the exploitation of young women and men in this country. SafeSport not only is committed to preventing sexual abuse but any form of emotional and physical misconduct. This also extends to bullying, hazing, and harassment.

With these policies put into place, SafeSport is effectively eradicating abuse from our sports programs. The organization is a shining beacon that empowers our youth to stand up for what is right.

Each year the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts supporting and empowering survivors of crime. Co-chaired and co-founded by Jim Costa (D-CA) and myself, the bipartisan caucus advocates for crime victims and protects programs that provide critical support for related services.

I am proud to award this amazing organization with the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Allied Professional Award, recognizing the efforts of SafeSport and their leadership, creativity, and commitment in linking allied professionals to improve the plight of crime victims in our Nation.

And that's just the way it is.