The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PREVENTING CHILD SEX ABUSE ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the in the Senate section section on page S4207 on Aug. 6.
The Department is one of the oldest in the US, focused primarily on law enforcement and the federal prison system. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, detailed wasteful expenses such as $16 muffins at conferences and board meetings.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PREVENTING CHILD SEX ABUSE ACT
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I have long fought to protect victims of violent crime. Victims of sexual assault, especially children who are victimized by sexual predators, must be safeguarded. I have worked to ensure the Violence Against Women Act is funded. I steered through the Senate and into law the Survivor's Bill of Rights in the States Act. And I have introduced the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to support victims of human trafficking. I have fought and will continue to fight for victims of violent crime.
When I was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I convened the first congressional hearing on protecting young athletes from sexual abuse. I conducted aggressive oversight into the U.S. Olympic Committee's response following the scandal involving disgraced Olympic physician Larry Nassar. And I worked to ensure that the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act became law, which requires instructors, coaches, and others who work with young athletes to report cases of child sexual abuse to the authorities. But more needs to be done.
I continue to press the Department of Justice for more answers on the FBI's handling of the Nassar case and why Nassar wasn't federally charged for his heinous physical abuse against our Olympic gymnasts. My oversight in this area has brought to the surface more information about how our legal system fails victims of abuse, especially children. Our outdated laws aren't keeping pace with how predators develop new tricks and use new technology.
Children are a gift, but they are vulnerable. They must be protected--not taken advantage of. As a father and a grandfather, the safety and welfare of the next generation is a deeply personal issue to me.
Today, I am pleased to announce that I, along with Senator Ossoff, am introducing the Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Act. We are confident this bill will make children--both at home and around the world--safer from the predators who want to sexually abuse them.
I have worked extensively with the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section to get their feedback and hear about what legislative tools they need to protect children. I look forward to continuing this partnership with them as we improve this legislation.
Victims and advocacy groups focused on this issue endorse this bill, including: U.S. Olympic medalist Tasha Schwikert, the Army of Survivors, the National and International Centers for Missing and Exploited Children, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Stop Child Predators, Rights4Girls, the Keep Kids Safe Movement, the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, and the Iowa County Attorneys Association. I appreciate their contributions and suggestions in improving this bill and their tireless efforts to keep children safe from the scourge of this kind of abuse.
This bill gives prosecutors more tools in their toolbox to get child abusers away from children. One of the sections in my bill will now make it possible for Federal prosecutors to charge the likes of Larry Nassar with a Federal crime for his abuse of our gymnasts. Another section ensures that Americans who travel abroad under the guise of business or charitable work to abuse children will be held accountable. The final section of this bill modernizes our understanding of child sexual abuse in the digital age.
I wish legislation like this wasn't necessary, but it is. We have to crack down on violent crime against children, and we shouldn't wait another minute to act. I look forward to working with my fellow Senators to pass this legislation quickly and keep our children safe from predators.
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