House Passes Sessions Resolution to Protect At-Risk Children

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution sponsored by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, to urge states to make sure a child's safety is the first priority in child custody cases. Additionally, H. Con. Res. 72, states Congress' intention to use its oversight authority to protect at-risk children.

"Over the last 10 years, 657 children have been murdered by a parent involved in a divorce, separation, custody, visitation, or child support proceeding in the U.S.," said Congressman Sessions. "Even one death of a child is too many, and the fact that several of these were preventable had the family courts been better equipped to handle these extremely sensitive cases is sickening. A child's safety should always be top priority and this resolution will ensure state courts first handle this paramount issue when processing cases, helping to prevent despicable child abuse. We in Congress have a responsibility to ensure the safety of those we represent and I am glad to see the vast support for this commonsense fix to protect our children."

Congressman Sessions spoke from the House floor in support of this necessary legislation. Watch his full remarks here or by clicking on the image below.

Following passage, Congressman Sessions sat down with Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DV LEAP) and Center for Judicial Excellence members who have advocated for this resolution to protect at-risk children. Watch their sit-down with CBN News here or by clicking on the image below.

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H. Con. Res. 72 will:

Urge states to develop family court procedures to resolve claims of abuse and family violence before making any other determinations in the case, allowing courts to focus on these allegations affecting child safety independently.
Encourage states to implement minimum standards and qualifications that appointees and evaluators must meet in order to assess abuse and trauma in such adjudications.
Calls on states to prohibit the use of discredited, unscientific theories in their family courts.
Highlights the problems some litigants face regarding mandatory fees and expresses that Congress will continue to remain engaged in this important issue.

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