[Pages H9927-H9931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

RESPECT FOR CHILD SURVIVORS ACT

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 4926) to amend chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, to
require appropriate use of multidisciplinary teams for investigations
of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the production of child sexual
abuse material, or child trafficking conducted by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

S. 4926

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Respect for Child Survivors
Act''.

SEC. 2. MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS.

(a) Amendment.--Chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``Sec. 540D. Multidisciplinary teams

``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `child sexual abuse material' means a visual
depiction described in section 2256(8)(A) of title 18;
``(2) the term `covered investigation' means any
investigation of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the
production of child sexual abuse material, or child
trafficking conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
``(3) the term `Director' means the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation;
``(4) the term `multidisciplinary team' means a
multidisciplinary team established or used under subsection
(b)(2);
``(5) the term `relevant children's advocacy center
personnel' means children's advocacy center staff that
regularly participate in multidisciplinary child support
settings, including the director of the children's advocacy
center, the coordinator of a multidisciplinary team, forensic
interviewers, victim advocates, forensic medical evaluators,
physicians, sexual assault nurse examiners, and mental health
clinicians; and
``(6) the term `victim advocate' means a person, whether
paid or serving as a volunteer, who provides services to
victims under the auspices or supervision of a victim
services program.
``(b) FBI Victim Support Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--To carry out the functions described in
subsection (c) in connection with each covered investigation
conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Director shall, unless unavailable or otherwise inconsistent
with applicable Federal law--
``(A) use a multidisciplinary team; and
``(B) in accordance with paragraph (3), use--
``(i) a trained Federal Bureau of Investigation child
adolescent forensic interviewer; or
``(ii) in the absence of a trained Federal Bureau of
Investigation child adolescent forensic interviewer, a
trained forensic interviewer at a children's advocacy center.
``(2) Use and coordination.--The Director shall use and
coordinate with children's advocacy center-based
multidisciplinary teams as necessary to carry out paragraph
(1).
``(3) Children's advocacy centers.--The Director--
``(A) may work with children's advocacy centers to
implement a multidisciplinary team approaches for purposes of
covered investigations; and
``(B) shall allow, facilitate, and encourage
multidisciplinary teams to collaborate with a children's
advocacy center with regard to availability, provision, and
use of services to and by victims and families that are
participants in or affected by the actions at issue in a
covered investigation.
``(4) Report.--The Director shall submit to the Attorney
General an annual report identifying any interview of a
victim reporting child sexual abuse material or child
trafficking that took place--
``(A) without the use of--
``(i) a multidisciplinary approach;
``(ii) a trained forensic interviewer; or
``(iii) either the use of a multidisciplinary approach or a
trained forensic interviewer; and
``(B) for each interview identified under subparagraph (A),
describing the exigent circumstances that existed with
respect to the interview, in accordance with paragraph (1).
``(5) Memoranda of understanding.--The Director shall seek
to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a reputable
national accrediting organization for children's advocacy
centers--
``(A) under which--
``(i) the children's advocacy services of the national
organization are made available to field offices of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States; and
``(ii) special agents and other employees of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation are made aware of the existence of
such memoranda and its purposes; and
``(B) which shall reflect a trauma-informed, victim-
centered approach and provide for case review.
``(c) Functions.--The functions described in this
subsection are the following:
``(1) To provide for the sharing of information among the
members of a multidisciplinary team, when such a team is
used, and with other appropriate personnel regarding the
progress of a covered investigation by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
``(2) To provide for and enhance collaborative efforts
among the members of a multidisciplinary team, when such a
team is used, and other appropriate personnel regarding a
covered investigation.
``(3) To enhance the social services available to victims
in connection with a covered investigation, including through
the enhancement of cooperation among specialists and other
personnel providing such services in connection with a
covered investigation.
``(4) To carry out other duties regarding the response to
investigations of child sexual abuse or trafficking.
``(d) Personnel.--
``(1) In general.--Each multidisciplinary team shall be
composed of the following:
``(A) Appropriate investigative personnel.
``(B) Appropriate mental health professionals.
``(C) Appropriate medical personnel.
``(D) Victim advocates or victim specialists.
``(E) Relevant children's advocacy center personnel, with
respect to covered investigations in which the children's
advocacy center or personnel of the children's advocacy
center were used in the course of the covered investigation.
``(F) Prosecutors, as appropriate.
``(2) Expertise and training.--
``(A) In general.--Any individual assigned to a
multidisciplinary team shall possess such expertise, and
shall undertake such training as is required to maintain such
expertise, in order to ensure that members of the team remain
appropriately qualified to carry out the functions of the
team under this section.
``(B) Requirement.--The training and expertise required
under subparagraph (A) shall include training and expertise
on special victims' crimes, including child sexual abuse.
``(e) Sharing of Information.--
``(1) Access to information.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C),
relevant children's advocacy center personnel who are
assigned to work on a covered investigation under this
section shall be granted access to the case information
necessary to perform their role conducting forensic
interviews and providing mental health treatment, medical
care, and victim advocacy for Federal Bureau of Investigation
cases.
``(B) Included information.--The case information described
in subparagraph (A) to which relevant children's advocacy
center personnel shall be granted access includes--
``(i) case outcome of forensic interviews;
``(ii) medical evaluation outcomes;
``(iii) mental health treatment referrals and treatment
completion;
``(iv) safety planning and child protection issues;
``(v) victim service needs and referrals addressed by the
victim advocate;
``(vi) case disposition;
``(vii) case outcomes; and
``(viii) any other information required for a children's
advocacy centers as a part of the standards of practice of
the children's advocacy center; and
``(C) Exempt information.--The case information described
in subparagraph (A) does not include--

[[Page H9928]]

``(i) classified information;
``(ii) the identity of confidential informants; or
``(iii) other investigative information not included as a
part of the standards of practice of the children's advocacy
center.
``(2) Sharing information with fbi.--Children's advocacy
centers shall provide the Federal Bureau of Investigation
with forensic interview recordings and documentation, medical
reports, and other case information on Federal Bureau of
Investigation-related cases.
``(3) Security clearances.--
``(A) In general.--The Federal Bureau of Investigation may
provide security clearances to relevant children's advocacy
center personnel for purposes of case review by
multidisciplinary teams, if it is determined that those
personnel are eligible and possess a need-to-know specific
classified information to perform or assist in a lawful and
authorized government function.
``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out
subparagraph (A).
``(f) Use of Teams.--Multidisciplinary teams used under
this section shall be made available to victims reporting
child sexual abuse or child trafficking in covered
investigations, regardless of the age of the victim making
the report.
``(g) Case Review by Multidisciplinary Team.--Throughout a
covered investigation, a multidisciplinary team supporting an
investigation under this section shall, at regularly
scheduled times, convene to--
``(1) share information about case progress;
``(2) address any investigative or prosecutorial barriers;
and
``(3) ensure that victims receive support and needed
treatment.
``(h) Availability of Advocates.--The Director shall make
advocates available to each victim who reports child sexual
abuse or child trafficking in connection with an
investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
``(i) Rules of Construction.--
``(1) Investigative authority.--Nothing in this section
shall be construed to augment any existing investigative
authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or to expand
the jurisdiction of any Federal law enforcement agency.
``(2) Protecting investigations.--Nothing in this section
shall be construed to limit the legal obligations of the
Director under any other provision of law, including section
552a of title 5 (commonly known as the `Privacy Act of
1974'), or require the sharing of classified information with
unauthorized persons.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of
sections for chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 540C
the following:

``540D. Multidisciplinary teams.''.

SEC. 3. IMPROVING INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD
ABUSE CASES.

The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (34 U.S.C. 20301 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 211 (34 U.S.C. 20301)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``3,300,000'' and inserting ``3,400,000'';
and
(ii) by striking ``, and drug abuse is associated with a
significant portion of these'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (8) as
paragraphs (4) through (9), respectively;
(C) by inserting afer paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) a key to a child victim healing from abuse is access
to supportive and healthy families and communities;''; and
(D) in paragraph (9)(B), as so redesignated, by inserting
``, and operations of centers'' before the period at the end;
(2) in section 212 (34 U.S.C. 20302)--
(A) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``coordinated team''
before ``response''; and
(B) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``organizational
capacity'' before ``support'';
(3) in section 213 (34 U.S.C. 20303)--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in the heading, by inserting ``and Maintenance'' after
``Establishment'';
(ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--

(I) by striking ``, in coordination with the Director of
the Office of Victims of Crime,''; and
(II) by inserting ``and maintain'' after ``establish'';

(iii) in paragraph (3)--

(I) by striking ``and victim advocates'' and inserting
``victim advocates, multidisciplinary team leadership, and
children's advocacy center staff''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' at the end;

(iv) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5);
(v) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) provide technical assistance, training, coordination,
and organizational capacity support for State chapters;
and''; and
(vi) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking
``and oversight to'' and inserting ``organizational capacity
support, and oversight of'';
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--

(I) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and maintain''
after ``establish''; and
(II) in the matter following subparagraph (B), by striking
``and technical assistance to aid communities in
establishing'' and inserting ``training and technical
assistance to aid communities in establishing and
maintaining''; and

(ii) in paragraph (2)--

(I) in subparagraph (A)--

(aa) in clause (ii), by inserting ``Center'' after
``Advocacy''; and
(bb) in clause (iii), by striking ``of, assessment of, and
intervention in'' and inserting ``and intervention in
child''; and

(II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``centers and
interested communities'' and inserting ``centers, interested
communities, and chapters''; and

(I) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``evaluation,
intervention, evidence gathering, and counseling'' and
inserting ``investigation and intervention in child abuse'';
and
(II) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``judicial handling
of child abuse and neglect'' and inserting
``multidisciplinary response to child abuse'';

(ii) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking ``so that
communities can establish multidisciplinary programs that
respond to child abuse'' and inserting ``and chapters so that
communities can establish and maintain multidisciplinary
programs that respond to child abuse and chapters can
establish and maintain children's advocacy centers in their
State'';
(iii) in paragraph (4)(B)--

(I) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(II) in by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and
(III) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:

``(iv) best result in supporting chapters in each State;
and''; and
(iv) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``under this Act''
after ``recipients'';
(4) in section 214 (34 U.S.C. 20304)--
(A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall make grants to--
``(1) establish and maintain a network of care for child
abuse victims where investigation, prosecutions, and
interventions are continually occurring and coordinating
activities within local children's advocacy centers and
multidisciplinary teams;
``(2) develop, enhance, and coordinate multidisciplinary
child abuse investigations, intervention, and prosecution
activities;
``(3) promote the effective delivery of the evidence-based,
trauma-informed Children's Advocacy Center Model and the
multidisciplinary response to child abuse; and
``(4) develop and disseminate practice standards for care
and best practices in programmatic evaluation, and support
State chapter organizational capacity and local children's
advocacy center organizational capacity and operations in
order to meet such practice standards and best practices.'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``, in coordination with
the Director of the Office of Victims of Crime,'';
(C) in subsection (c)(2)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``to the greatest
extent practicable, but in no case later than 72 hours,''
after ``hours''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (D) through (I) and
inserting the following:
``(D) Forensic interviews of child victims by trained
personnel that are used by law enforcement, health, and child
protective service agencies to interview suspected abuse
victims about allegations of abuse.
``(E) Provision of needed follow up services such as
medical care, mental healthcare, and victims advocacy
services.
``(F) A requirement that, to the extent practicable, all
interviews and meetings with a child victim occur at the
children's advocacy center or an agency with which there is a
linkage agreement regarding the delivery of multidisciplinary
child abuse investigation, prosecution, and intervention
services.
``(G) Coordination of each step of the investigation
process to eliminate duplicative forensic interviews with a
child victim.
``(H) Designation of a director for the children's advocacy
center.
``(I) Designation of a multidisciplinary team coordinator.
``(J) Assignment of a volunteer or staff advocate to each
child in order to assist the child and, when appropriate, the
child's family, throughout each step of intervention and
judicial proceedings.
``(K) Coordination with State chapters to assist and
provide oversight, and organizational capacity that supports
local children's advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams,
and communities working to implement a multidisciplinary
response to child abuse in the provision of evidence-informed
initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic
interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim
advocacy.
``(L) Such other criteria as the Administrator shall
establish by regulation.''; and
(D) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
``(f) Grants to State Chapters for Assistance to Local
Children's Advocacy Centers.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Administrator shall ensure that a portion of the
grants is distributed to State chapters to enable State
chapters to provide oversight, training, and technical
assistance to local centers on evidence-informed initiatives
including mental health, counseling, forensic interviewing,
multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim advocacy.'';
(5) in section 214A (34 U.S.C. 20305)--
(A) in subsection (a)--

[[Page H9929]]

(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``attorneys and other
allied'' and inserting ``prosecutors and other attorneys and
allied''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``Center'' after
``Advocacy''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) a significant connection to prosecutors who handle
child abuse cases in State courts, such as a membership
organization or support service providers; and''; and
(6) by striking 214B (34 U.S.C. 20306) and inserting the
following:

``SEC. 214B. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
sections 213, 214, and 214A, $40,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2028.''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Nadler) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.

General Leave

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on S. 4926.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, how many people are necessary to stand up to
get a roll call vote?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The yeas and nays can be supported by one-
fifth of those Members present.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 4926, the Respect for Child Survivors Act is
bipartisan legislation that responds to the testimony of Olympian
McKayla Maroney, who bravely shared her story with Congress, alongside
her fellow gymnasts, Simone Biles, Maggie Nichols, and Aly Raisman.
They told Congress about the abuse they faced at the hands of Larry
Nassar, and the failures of so many people to stop that abuse sooner.
Maroney testified that she was interviewed by an FBI agent in 2015.
She testified that she spoke to the agent over the phone for nearly 3
hours, recounting numerous molestations and answering every question,
trusting that sharing this information would lead to action and to
protecting other young women.
``I began crying at the memory over the phone, and there was just
dead silence,'' Maroney testified. She said, ``I was so shocked at the
agent's silence and disregard for my trauma.'' Unfortunately, it was
not until 17 months later that the agent even documented the interview.
Unsurprisingly, it did not accurately describe Maroney's account of the
abuse that she experienced.
The Respect for Child Survivors Act seeks to ensure that no one will
experience what McKayla Maroney experienced when she trusted the FBI
with her most personal traumatic memories.
This legislation requires the FBI to use multidisciplinary teams of
experts when investigating cases of child sexual abuse, the production
of child sexual abuse material, and child trafficking. These experts
must receive training on special victims' crimes, including child
sexual abuse, and they must provide trauma-informed care. The use of
these multidisciplinary teams would prevent the re-traumatization of
victims who come forward seeking justice.
The bill also requires the director of the FBI to annually report to
the Attorney General about any interview of a victim reporting child
sexual abuse material or child trafficking that took place without the
use of a multidisciplinary approach or a trained forensic interviewer.
The bill also encourages the FBI to work with multidisciplinary teams
at existing Children's Advocacy Centers, as established by the Victims
of Child Abuse Act. The bill ensures that the FBI gives Children's
Advocacy Center personnel access to critical case information so
victims can get the medical, mental health, and advocacy services they
need.
Finally, the bill requires that child sexual abuse and child
trafficking cases are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team at regularly
scheduled times so that the team can share information about case
progress, address any investigative or prosecutorial barriers, and
ensure that victims receive support and needed treatment.
This provision would ensure that none of these serious cases is
neglected and that children are not endangered by a failure to
investigate.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Senators Cornyn, Coons, Grassley, and Klobuchar
for introducing this important legislation in the Senate. I thank
Congressmen Costa and Gonzales for championing it in the House. I hope
my colleagues will join me in supporting this bipartisan, bicameral
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 4926, the Respect for Child Survivors Act requires
the FBI to use multidisciplinary teams when investigating certain
crimes involving children.
This requirement includes, for example, situations where the
interviewed victim is no longer a child, but was the victim of a crime
as a child. The multidisciplinary teams would consist of a variety of
professionals trained to work with children who had been victims of a
crime. The goal of using these multidisciplinary teams is to prevent
re-traumatizing victims.
S. 4926 also contains provisions related to information-sharing and
case review for crimes involving children. These provisions would
hopefully ensure that these cases are not forgotten or simply dropped
without review.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a member of the Judiciary
Committee.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the manager of
this bill.
I display this picture for everyone to see because a picture is worth
a thousand words. This is McKayla and a constituent of mine, Simone
Biles. As indicated, these women have spent years investing in their
sport and rising to the level of excellence, and they are victims that
should not have been victimized.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Respect for Child Survivors Act.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the article titled: ``Senators
Propose New Bill Following USA Gymnastics Scandal.''

[From NBC Los Angeles, September 22, 2022]

Senators Propose New Bill Following USA Gymnastics Scandal

(By Kristen Conti)

A group of senators have decided to roll out a bill to
adjust the intricacies of the USA Gymnastics scandal with the
implementation of The Respect for Child Survivors Act,
following the Larry Nassar incident.
The intentions of the act are to improve the way the FBI
interacts with underage witnesses and victims in sex abuse
and human trafficking cases.
The catalyst for this endeavor surrounds the FBl's previous
failures in handling the Nassar investigation from 2015.
Nassar is currently facing decades in prison for abusing
underage athletes on the USA Gymnastics team.
The FBI failed to act, despite being notified of the
allegations in 2015. It took them over a year to take action,
leaving Nassar many more months to prey on the girls.
Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Maroney are
among the over 100 alleged victims of Nassar.

What is the Respect for Child Survivors Act?

The Respect for Child Survivors Act, which primarily aims
to handle the interactions between the FBI and abuse victims,
is a parallel to two other acts--The Adult Survivors Act and
The Child Victims Act (CVA).
The act, which has officially been introduced as a bill,
will soon be assigned to a committee whose members will
discuss and implement the necessary and proper changes to the
bill. Next, the bill will be put before the chamber and be
voted on, which will determine whether it will become a law.
The timeline for this process has yet to be determined.

When will the Adult Survivors Act go into effect?

The Adult Survivors Act will go into effect in November
2022. The bill, which is sponsored by Senate Judiciary
Committee Chair Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Linda B.
Rosenthal, was framed to resemble The Child Victims Act.
The CVA, previously passed in 2019 and extended in 2021,
only covers abuse that happened to people under 18.

[[Page H9930]]

Who does the Adult Survivors Act serve?

The victims in the Nassar case were under 18 when the
crimes were committed and reported in 2015. However, it
wasn't until 2016 that the FBI began to investigate and truly
ignite action. And at this point, the young athletes
surpassed the age limit the CVA covers.
The Adult Survivors Act allows a one-year windows for
survivors of adult sexual abuse in New York to file a civil
lawsuit. Claims will be eligible even when the statute of
limitations has already expired.

What does the Respect for Child Survivors Act require the FBI to do?

The new legislation will require the FBI to use
multidisciplinary teams with trauma expertise when
investigating these types of cases, even in cases where the
victim is no longer a child.
The bill aims to make sure cases like this are not
prolonged like the Nassar investigation had been.
``It takes tremendous courage for young victims of sexual
assault to tell their story and overcome the fear that they
may not be taken seriously, may be ignored, or may be
wrongfully blamed,'' said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, one of
the bill's sponsors.
``To avoid re-traumatizing victims during the investigation
process, it's imperative we give these individuals the
support they need to ensure survivors feel respected during
the interview process and abusers are prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law.''
The bill was directly inspired by the testimony of former
Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, who was wrongfully treated
during FBI interviews about the scandal.
``They had legal, legitimate evidence of child abuse and
did nothing,'' said Maroney at a Senate Judiciary Committee
hearing in Sept. 2021.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this bill was inspired by the heroic
testimony of gymnast and survivor McKayla Maroney, who came before
Congress to share a story of the abuse she and more than 100 others
faced at the hands of Larry Nassar.
McKayla told Congress that when she was asked to speak to the FBI
about Nassar's abuse, she told them everything, she poured her heart
out to them. She spoke to FBI agents over the phone for 3 hours. Can
you imagine how painful that was, as she sat on the floor of her
bedroom recounting details of molestation--information she had not
shared with her mother?
She wanted to make a difference. She wanted to protect others. She
said it was the most uncomfortable conversation that she ever had in
her life. But she thought as uncomfortable as it was, she was making a
difference and, hopefully, protecting others from the same abuse. She
thought and trusted that they would act quickly for the sake of the
other girls. She waited and waited and waited and heard nothing. They
did nothing.

{time} 1445

We know now that the FBI's failure to listen to McKayla and other
survivors allowed Nassar to continue his abuse, his torture of these
young, beautiful women and continue to molest them. Our outstanding
athletes who we cheer and are so proud when we are looking at the
Olympics, look what they had to suffer.
These young women made great sacrifices to pursue their sport and
represent the best of their country. They put their safety in the hands
of their coaches and their doctors and ultimately, the FBI, the people
who were all supposed to protect them but failed.
I am very grateful to Congressmen Costa and Gonzales and all the
sponsors in the Senate. As the chair of the Subcommittee on Crime,
Terrorism, and Homeland Security, we had a hearing dealing with the
human trafficking issues.
This is a mighty powerful bill. We hope that we will pass the no
trafficking zone bill in the other body that complements this because I
don't know if anybody realizes, this is a scourge, it is an epidemic.
This bill will provide for wraparound services so that whatever is said
by a child, that this can now be utilized to protect others. That is
what the no trafficking zone is about, and that is what we are trying
to protect.
As I close, Mr. Speaker, I want everybody to realize that just in the
last 24 hours they talked about a sextortion campaign against young
boys--where do they do it? Online. Where are children online? At
schools, among other places--to extort from children who are asked to
take pictures of themselves.
This legislation is crucial. The no trafficking zone legislation is
crucial. We hope that it will pass as well, and we are grateful for the
work that has been done.
Finally, let me say that I congratulate those who supported the Equal
Pay for Team USA Act for 2022. I couldn't support it even more.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4926, the ``Respect for Child
Survivors Act.''
This bill was inspired by the heroic testimony of gymnast and
survivor McKayla Maroney, who came before Congress to share her story
of the abuse she and more than 100 others faced at the hands of Larry
Nassar.
McKayla told Congress that when she was asked to speak to the FBI
about Nassar's abuse, she told them everything. She spoke to FBI agents
over the phone for three hours as she sat on the floor of her bedroom,
recounting details of her molestation--information she had not even
shared with her mother.
She said, ``it was the most uncomfortable conversation I had ever had
in my life, but I thought as uncomfortable as it was, I was making a
difference, and hopefully protecting others from the same abuse . . . I
thought and trusted that they would act quickly for the sake of other
girls. I waited, and I waited and heard nothing.''
We know now that the FBI's failure to listen to McKayla and other
survivors allowed Nassar to continue his abuse and to molest more young
women.
These young women made great sacrifices to pursue their sport and
represent the best of their country. They put their safety in the hands
of their coaches, their doctors, and ultimately, the FBI--people who
were all supposed to protect them but failed.
McKayla is not alone in coming forward to bravely share her story so
that Congress can do better to protect victims and survivors of abuse.
In April, I convened the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security for a hearing on federal
efforts to combat human trafficking.
At this hearing, we heard from survivors who explained the many
hurdles faced by those who are trafficked. These individuals came from
different parts of the country; they were different ages, ethnicities,
and genders; and they experienced different types of abuse and
trafficking, including both labor and sexual exploitation--but they
nonetheless had a great deal in common.
They often put their trust in an adult who was supposed to protect
them. They often told multiple people about their abuse before finding
someone who would help them escape. And they experienced significant
obstacles as they sought freedom, justice, and healing.
We must do more to make sure that the FBI is never an obstacle. The
treatment that McKayla and other survivors experienced at the hands of
the FBI never should have happened, and with this legislation, Congress
can ensure that it will not ever happen again.
The Respect for Child Survivors Act directs the FBI to use
multidisciplinary teams of trained experts to interview victims of
child sexual abuse or child trafficking. This is critical to providing
trauma-informed care and preventing further harm.
The bill also requires that victims are connected with advocates and
that critical information is shared with these advocates to support
victims' needs.
The bill encourages coordination with Children's Advocacy Centers,
which already have significant expertise in supporting the diverse
needs of child victims.
Lastly, the bill creates a case review process to ensure no victim or
investigation is forgotten.
This legislation is supported by the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National
Network; the National District Attorneys Association; Army of
Survivors; and the National Children's Alliance.
I thank Senators Cornyn, Coons, Grassley, and Klobuchar for their
leadership in bringing forth this bipartisan legislation in the Senate,
and I thank Congressman Costa and Congressman Gonzales for championing
the House companion.
While I hope that we continue to make progress in the fight to combat
human trafficking in the 118th Congress, it is my hope that the Senate
will pass my No Trafficking Zones Act, which already passed the House
this year with bipartisan support.
There is much more that we can and should do to support victims of
child abuse and human trafficking, and to prevent these horrible crimes
from occurring, but I am pleased that we are taking this important step
today.
Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I simply urge Members to support this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is endorsed by the Rape,
Abuse & Incest National Network; the National District Attorneys
Association; Army of Survivors; and the National Children's Alliance.
We must do better in helping survivors seek justice.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H9931]]

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the
Respect for Child Survivors Act. As Co-Founder and Chairman of the
Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to put
forward legislation that helps protect the most vulnerable in our
communities. This important legislation was brought about, in part, by
the failings of the FBI during its handling of the Larry Nassar sexual
abuse cases. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General
found that the FBI did not properly handle or document evidence
gathering with USA Gymnastics or the victims and did not notify state
or local authorities of the sexual assault allegations. This bill is
intended to prevent similar situations from happening with future
investigations. The legislation will require the FBI to utilize
multidisciplinary teams, made up of trauma-informed experts, when
interviewing a victim who reports child abuse or trafficking. The use
of these teams would prevent further traumatizing victims. In addition,
the bill's information sharing and case review provisions would ensure
accountability so cases are not mishandled in the future.
This legislation also includes another bill I am proud to lead, the
Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA) Reauthorization Act of 2021. This
legislation will reauthorize funding for Children's Advocacy Centers
through the Victims of Child Abuse Act through 2028. Victims and
survivors of child abuse must have access to the resources and care
provided by Children's Advocacy Centers to heal from their trauma. This
legislation will put the authorized level in line with the increased
Fiscal Year 2023 funding level set by appropriators. I worked to
reauthorize VOCAA in both 2013 and 2018 and will continue to ensure
that VOCAA is reauthorized and fully funded.
I want to thank the bipartisan group of legislators that have helped
champion this legislation. In the House, Representatives Tony Gonzales
and Brian Fitzpatrick are the Republican Leads on the Respect for Child
Survivors Act and Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act,
respectively. I also would like to thank Senators Coons, Cornyn,
Klobuchar, and Graham, who have championed this through the Senate.
Finally, thank you to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the respective
committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate for helping to get
these important pieces of legislation to the floor.
The Respect for Child Survivors Act is endorsed by Rape Abuse &
Incest National Network, the National District Attorneys Association,
Army of Survivors, the National Children's Alliance, Keep Kids Safe,
Together for Girls, Darkness to Light, the Monique Bun Foundation for
Children, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and
the Brave Movement. The VOCAA Reauthorization Act is endorsed by
National Children's Alliance, National Children's Advocacy Center,
Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center, Midwest Regional
Children's Advocacy Center. Western Regional Children's Advocacy
Center, Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center, Fraternal Order
of Police, National District Attorneys Association, National
Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs'
Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Sergeants
Benevolent Association NYPD. I thank these groups for their support of
these bills and for their advocacy.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 4926--the Respect for
Child Survivors Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 4926.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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