Sexual Assault

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that has impacted millions of Americans from coast to coast, north to south, also an issue that has impacted my family personally. Mr. Speaker, I care deeply about the survivors of sexual assault and want to ensure that their voices are heard.

Every 2 minutes, Mr. Speaker, an American is sexually assaulted. That is 200,000 of our fellow American citizens that are impacted by this horrendous crime. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, less than half of those victims will report their attack to law enforcement, making sexual assault one of the most underreported crimes in America.

That is why I am proud to stand with my colleague from California, Jackie Speier, to introduce a resolution to recognize April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

As Members of Congress, we are in a unique position to raise awareness and speak out on behalf of sexual assault survivors. We must unite. When one in five women will be raped in her lifetime, we cannot afford to stand silent on this issue.

It is only right, Mr. Speaker, that we say enough is enough with sexual assault in America. Enough is enough to no longer speak about this issue because it is something that is difficult to speak publicly about.

That is why I am an ardent and active supporter of the NO MORE Campaign. The NO MORE Campaign has taken it upon itself to unite across the country, to stand in one voice, and many of us across America have seen the commercials on our TVs to say no more to sexual assault.

No more can we put up with excuses like: ``She deserved it.'' ``She was drunk.'' ``Of course she got what she was looking for.'' No more can we say: ``Well, that is what boys do. That is what young men do.''

We need to stand together as American citizens, men and women in this Chamber, to say: No more to sexual assault. It is unacceptable for us to stand silent any longer.

I ask my colleagues to join us in the effort to recognize April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and join us in one voice to send a clear message across America to say: No more.

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