Ken Buck

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 352 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Nearly 30 years ago, I held my son, Cody, for the first time. A couple of years later, I held my daughter, Kaitlin. I knew right then that these two children were the most important and cherished things in my life. They deserve the happiest childhood and the brightest future and the safest world. I imagine anyone who holds their child for the first time has the same thought. Until you become a parent, it is hard to describe the love you have for your children. Mr. Speaker, that someone would hurt a child simply perplexes me. Children are the most vulnerable, the most innocent in our society. They, most of all, don't deserve the trauma and pain that accompany abuse. They don't deserve to have their trust in adults or their trust in the world shattered at such a young age. They don't deserve the ghosts of suffering that accompany abuse victims for the rest of their lives. Mr. Speaker, to commit a crime against children is to engage in the greatest of evils. It is to violate our moral order in the most egregious of ways. Our job in Congress is to debate and maintain that moral order. Thankfully, everyone in this Chamber can agree on the moral imperative to protect children. Our job today is to uphold our values through well-crafted legislation. We are here today to pass laws that uphold our belief in the sanctity of innocence. We are here today for our children. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1973, the first bill in this rule resolution, strengthens the laws protecting child athletes. The bill requires coaches and adults involved with amateur sports organizations overseen by the U.S. Olympic Committee to report suspected child abuse to local and Federal authorities. Unfortunately, reporting isn't always the standard under current law. Over the past 20 years, around 368 individuals affiliated with USA Gymnastics faced sexual abuse by adults affiliated with the organization, according to The Indianapolis Star. Sadly, some of the victims never saw justice. Their allegations remained unresolved, sometimes because coaches moved from State to State to avoid investigation. H.R. 1973 pulls additional adults into the mandatory reporting category, ensuring that those adults working with minors under the U.S. Olympic Committee's jurisdiction must report instances of child abuse to local and Federal authorities. It further clarifies the sexual abuse reporting duties of national governing bodies, or NGBs. These organizations, supervised by the U.S. Olympic Committee, manage amateur athletic competitions. We need to promote a culture of reporting sexual assault among youth athletes. That culture needs to overflow into all parts of our society. We are not suggesting we toss out due process for the accused. The legislation at hand only requires the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse of children. Additionally, H.R. 1973 makes stronger the civil remedies that victims of sexual abuse may pursue. Mr. Speaker, the other legislation under this rule, H.R. 1761, goes after those who create child pornography. Just to utter those words is unbearable, but our job in Congress is to stop the unbearable. Under current law and due to the impact of the court ruling in United States v. Palomino-Coronado, perpetrators of child pornography can sometimes evade prosecution for child pornography under a loophole. Under the precedent set in the case, even if perpetrators memorialize the sexual abuse of a child through images and video, they do not necessarily possess the intent or purpose to sexually abuse children in order to take a picture. In other words, they didn't intend to violate title 18 of the U.S. Code, section 2251, which prohibits child pornography. We need to close this loophole. If evildoers are sexually abusing our children and photographing or filming it, they should be going to prison for a long time. This loophole was carved out by the judicial branch. It is time for the legislative branch to step in and tighten the statutory language to prevent the exploitation of this loophole and to prevent the exploitation of our children. The bills under consideration today serve two purposes. First and foremost, they provide a deterrent to criminals who would consider harming a child. We can't preemptively stop everyone who plans to commit a crime against a child, which is why we must deter them with the threat of discovery, conviction, and jail time. These bills very practically make the exploitation of a child harder to get away with. They commission more well-meaning adults to be on guard against the occurrence of sexual abuse. They allow victims to pursue even stronger civil penalties that will, hopefully, deter future criminals, and they strengthen the law itself to ensure that child pornographers face prosecution and appropriate punishment for their heinous crimes. The second purpose achieved today is to send a message. These bills signal to all of America that our society is serious about protecting children and that we are serious about catching child predators. H.R. 1973 specifically directs coaches and others to report sexual abuse. But these bills send a broader message: everyone in this Nation should join the fight against child exploitation. We have too many examples of well-meaning adults remaining silent in the face of child abuse. This legislation is meant to push Americans to do what is right, even if it is not easy. We are all the guardians of our Nation's youth. We all are responsible for their childhood. We are all proponents of their future. These are our children, our pride and joy. We must offer them the same vigilance and protection we offer our own children. The rule before us gives this House a chance to do just that. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important rule and the underlying legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), a former special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Brooks).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, the rule before the House today is simple. It provides for the consideration of the Thin Blue Line Act. We often talk of how resolute our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders are in the face of immense danger. These heroic individuals charge into burning buildings, face down violence, and stand ready to jump into the fray at a moment's notice. Simply putting on a uniform should not be one of those dangers. It is our duty to ensure that law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders have every tool at their disposal to do their job safely and effectively and to ensure they return home to their families. Countless spouses and children kiss their loved ones good-bye as they head to work, praying that it will not be their last day. We must never forget this as we work to ensure our police officers, firefighters, and first responders have every possible protection. There is no greater deterrent than the threat of losing one's life. It is my hope that this legislation makes individuals who would consider taking the life of an officer stop to consider the consequences before going through with an attack; that we one day reach a point where our Nation's finest can go to work without worrying about being targeted because of the uniform on their back; that one day our officers' families have one less reason to worry. But until that day, we must continue standing resolutely against this evil. I ask my colleagues in the House to support our law enforcement community, firefighters, and first responders. Protect them from the heinous acts of violence. Give their families some assurance that we have their backs. Vote ``yes'' on the resolution, vote ``yes'' on the underlying bill, vote ``yes'' to give our law enforcement officers the protections they so desperately need. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman Sessions for bringing this bill before us.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Knight) to get this debate back on track and to protect local law enforcement officials.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, we are here because we are making sure that local police officers, sheriff's deputies, prosecutors, first responders, and firefighters have the same protections that those in the Federal system have. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. As a former Federal and State prosecutor, I often hear how Americans value and respect our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders. We talk about their heroism, their selflessness, their willingness to protect and serve no matter the cost. These fearless individuals truly are the fabric that holds our communities together. However, in recent years, a violent and disturbing trend has developed. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders are increasingly being targeted for violence and cruelty based solely on the uniform they wear. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, there were 64 police shooting deaths in 2016. That number is 56 percent higher than the previous year. The National Association of Police Organizations also notes that ambush-style killings of law enforcement officers increased by 167 percent in 2016. Allowing this appalling trend to continue unchecked is not only unacceptable, it is indefensible. Congress must take concrete steps to address this deadly problem. Current Federal law provides 16 aggravating factors that a jury must consider when deciding whether a death sentence is warranted. These factors include whether the defendant acted in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner; whether the defendant engaged in substantial planning and premeditation; whether the victim was particularly vulnerable; whether the victim was a high public official, which includes high-ranking public persons, from the President to a foreign head of state, to a judge or a Federal law enforcement officer. However, State and local police officers, firefighters, prosecutors, and first responders are excluded from these protections. In response, my friend, Mr. Buchanan, introduced H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act. This legislation amends Federal law to include murdering, attempting to murder, or targeting of State and local law enforcement officers, firefighters, prosecutors, and first responders as an aggravating factor a jury must consider when determining whether a death sentence is justified. Furthermore, these protections extend to all public safety officers who are murdered or targeted while engaging in their official duties, because of the performance of their duties, or because of their status as a public official or employee. This bill sends a clear message: Those who target our police officers, firefighters, or first responders with violence will be met with an equally harsh punishment. We offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of our fallen officers, but we must do more to protect these brave individuals. We can't stand idly by as the individuals who protect our homes and communities are targeted because of the uniform they wear. We must act to ensure those individuals who would commit an act of violence against our public safety officers know they will face the gravest of sentences if they go through with their heinous plot. We must send the message that Congress stands with those fearless individuals who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities, no matter the cost. We can't continue allowing them to suffer the price of our inaction. I support this effort and thank Chairman Goodlatte and the Committee on the Judiciary for bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 323 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I include in the Record four letters which I will briefly describe: The first is from the Major County Sheriffs of America, supporting the Thin Blue Line Act; the second is from the National Association of Police Organizations, Inc., again, supporting the Thin Blue Line Act; the third is from the National Fraternal Order of Police, supporting H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act; and then finally, from the Sergeants Benevolent Association in strong support of H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act. Major County Sheriffs of America, April 25, 2017. Hon. Vern Buchanan, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Buchanan: I write to you today on a matter of significant importance to the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) and all of America's law enforcement professionals. MCSA is an association of elected Sheriffs representing the Nation's largest counties with populations of 500,000 or more. Collectively, we represent more than 100 million Americans. As Vice President in charge of Government Affairs for the MCSA, I am pleased to express our association's support of your legislation, the Thin Blue Line Act. This legislation would make the murder of law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders an aggravating factor in capital punishment determinations. In 2016, one hundred forty-four officers died in the line of duty and to date, line of duty deaths are up 10 percent. The targeting of law enforcement officers is unconscionable and those who commit such heinous acts should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Law enforcement officers and other first responders have the right to go home to their families at the end of their shifts. The Thin Blue Line Act is a step in the right direction and your work on this legislation is sincerely appreciated. We value your support and look forward to working with you in the future. Michael J. Bouchard, Sheriff, Oakland County (MI), Vice President--Government Affairs.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aminah Al-Jaber for her hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Fourth District as an intern in my Washington, D.C. office for the Spring of 2017. The work of this young woman has been exemplary, and I know she has a bright future. She served as a tour guide, interacted with constituents, and learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity, and look forward to seeing her build her career in public service. Aminah plans to continue pursuing her degree at the end of this internship. I wish her the best as she pursues her career path. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Aminah Al-Jaber for her service the last several months to the people of Colorado's 4th district.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Adam Blanks for his hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Fourth District as an intern in my Washington, D.C. office for the Spring of 2017. The work of this young man has been exemplary, and I know he has a bright future. He served as a tour guide, interacted with constituents, and learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity, and look forward to seeing him build his career in public service. Adam plans to continue pursuing his degree at the end of this internship. I wish him the best as he pursues his career path. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Adam Blanks for his service the last several months to the people of Colorado's 4th district.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of an old Western movie, ``The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,'' and a line in that movie: ``When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.'' It turns out, Mr. Speaker, that this bill was marked up without any amendments on March 9, 2017, in the Senate Banking Committee and was favorably reported unanimously and without any amendments offered. It was also marked up on March 9, 2017, in the Financial Services Committee and was reported out with a 54-2 vote. There were no amendments offered on this particular legislation, Mr. Speaker, in the Rules Committee; and, as a matter of practice, it is considered a closed rule because there were no amendments offered. So the idea that somehow this legislation has been hidden and that we are engaging in some sort of subterfuge is not accurate. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren), my good friend.

Mr. BUCK. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. BUCK. That is all right, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate it. I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), my friend.