Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2013

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees and as founder and co-chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus I rise in strong support of S. 1799, the Victims of Child Abuse Reauthorization Act 2014.

This bill authorizes the Children's Advocacy Program for FY 2014-18 and modifies the program to improve the fiscal accountability of those receiving grants under the program--including required audits, requirements for nonprofit organizations and limitations on conference expenditures. It also permits surplus amounts in the Crime Victims Fund to be used only for specific purposes: a victim notification system and the improvement of services for crime victims in the federal criminal justice system.

Throughout my tenure in Congress and as founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I have advocated on behalf of victims of abuse, especially children, who are the most vulnerable and innocent victims. There is no greater crime that an individual can commit than the crime of child molestation and child abuse. The perpetrators of this crime rob children of their innocence.

Moreover, victims of child molestation are profoundly affected for the rest of their lives. As parents, elected officials and concerned citizens, we have an obligation to condemn this violence, work for stronger enforcement of the law and provide adequate funding for programs to assist children who may have experienced such abuse.

Although child sexual abuse is reported almost 90,000 times a year, the numbers of unreported abuse is far greater because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened, and the legal procedure for validating an episode is difficult. It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will have experienced an episode of sexual abuse while younger than 18 years.

Protection from child sexual abuse in the United States is principally the responsibility of state and local governments. Each of the 50 states has enacted laws defining child sexual abuse and mistreatment, determining when outside intervention is required, and establishing administrative and judicial structures to deal with mistreatment when it is identified.

In my home city of Houston, child safety continues to be a top priority. Houston has the largest child population in Texas with more than 1 million children which presents unique challenges. In 2012, 52,000 children in Houston, Texas were victims of abuse and neglect.

This bill will provide the funding necessary for Child Advocacy Centers to continue serving child victims of violent crimes to the highest possible standard. An increase in funding will enable Child Advocacy centers to be better equipped in helping law enforcement hold perpetrators of these child abuse crimes accountable.

Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) are community based public-private partnerships dedicated to a team of professionals pursuing the truth in child abuse investigations.

A recently conducted cost-benefit analysis found that the use of a Children's Advocacy Center in a child abuse case saved, on average, more than $1,000 per case compared with non CAC communities due to the efficiencies gained through this tested evidence-supported model.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will make a difference and deserves the overwhelming support of this body.

The primary mission of a Children's Advocacy Center is to prevent further victimization by ensuring that investigations are comprehensive and meet the age appropriate needs of the child. Communities with Children's Advocacy Centers demonstrate increased successful prosecution of perpetrators, reduction in re-abuse rates for child victims, as well as better access to medical and mental health care for the victims.

The sheer volume of child abuse victims being served by these Centers warrants continued funding at a level which will maintain these programs and allow for future development in underserved areas.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in protecting our children and those suffering from abuse by supporting S. 1799.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source