Ted Poe

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year started with thousands of Iranians, including many young people, taking to the streets in opposition to the corrupt regime of the mullahs in Iran. Iranians face brutality, imprisonment, and execution simply because they want freedom of expression and disagree with the Iranian Government. Protests in over 100 cities have been silenced by the IRGC thugs as the rogue regime continues its crackdown on human rights. The government has shut down the internet and social media. The United States should stand with the Iranian people by seeing to it that the Iranians have access to social media through satellite communication. If we help the Iranians have freedom of expression through speech and press, the world will know how the illegitimate regime persecutes its own people. Hopefully, the people will remove this dictatorship and have a government that they, the people, put in power. After all, isn't that what freedom is all about? And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have a letter here from one of my grandkids, 7-year-old Olivia. ``January 28th. ``Dear Congressman Poe, ``I am writing to tell you that the environment is very important to me. ``We need to make sure that enough money is spent on keeping the world clene. ``I love seeing all the beauty in the world. ``I know that you agree with me that trees, flowers and lakes are worth protecting. ``I planted broccoli last year and I want every kid to have that opportunity at their school too. ``Please do your best! ``Sincerely, Olivia. #8, Dallas, Texas.'' Mr. Speaker, No. 8 is my granddaughter Olivia. I call my 12 grandkids by their birth number. Well, Olivia, Mr. Cicilline and I are introducing legislation to protect trees on government easements of interstate highways. Sometimes trees are cleared at taxpayer expense so that billboards on adjacent property can be seen. Olivia is right, ``Trees are worth protecting.'' We should preserve the trees on the interstates because, as No. 8 says, ``The environment is important.'' And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, throughout his law enforcement career, fellow Texas officers called him ``Officer Friendly.'' He spent his entire life in service to America. Richard Zipp was born in Florida in 1949. He spent his youth in Albany, New York, with his mom, three younger brothers, and aunt and uncle. He moved to Ingleside, Texas, in 1966 and lived with the Harvey Family. He graduated from Ingleside High School in 1968. Richard served America in combat in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War (1968-1972). He was a platoon sniper and was shot in the shoulder on April 11, 1969. He was later awarded the Purple Heart. Richard was never bitter about the war, but he was proud to serve as a United States Marine. While in the Marines, he also played TAPS for burials at sea for Marines and sailors on U.S. Naval Ships. When he was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1972, he had already graduated from the International Chief of Police Academy at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Richard joined the Houston Police Department, where he served 20 years in the Houston Police Department Honor Guard continuing to play TAPS for fallen Texas Peace Officers. Richard marched in the Honor Guard for the inauguration of President George Bush Sr., carrying the Texas flag. He participated in the Honor Guard ceremonies for National Police week in Washington, D.C. and Texas. It was while Richard was on patrol for HPD that he met his wife Nelda. Richard also found time to be Director of Security for Houston Theater Under the Stars. After leaving the Houston Police Department, Richard joined the Harris County Texas Sheriff Department where he continued his service in the Honor Guard. He also served as bailiff in the courts, including my court when I was a judge. This is where ``Officer Friendly'' took care of court security and looked after the jury during trials. His demeanor with juries made them at ease and made them realize their importance to our justice system. Richard retired in 2003 and he and Nelda moved to Georgetown, Texas. He joined the Williamson County Sheriff's Department and was Sergeant over courthouse safety and security. Finally, he retired in 2003 after 35 years in law enforcement. Somewhere along the way, he volunteered to be in charge of security at the weddings of my four children. Richard and Nelda were active members of the Georgetown Church of Christ, always taking time to visit seniors. He also had a special fondness for the Cherokee Home for Children. Officer Friendly spent a lot of time helping veterans. He was a member of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and the American Legion. Late last year, Richard was diagnosed with cancer. He knew his days were numbered, but had an amazing attitude about it all. He said, ``I can wear pain but I'd rather wear peace.'' When I talked to Richard, he was always the positive guy. He let me know that since he was a Christian, he was anxious to see the Lord. Officer Zipp died last week. Last Saturday was Richard's funeral. His neighbors decorated his front lawn with numerous American flags in his honor. Both the Houston Police Department, Honor Guard and the Harris County Sheriff's Department Honor Guard helped to conduct the very moving ceremony. Richard was proud of his service as a Marine. Richard was proud to be married to Nelda. He was proud to wear the several badges of a Texas Peace Officer. He was proud to be an American. Richard was the true patriot. TAPS has been played for the final time. This time it was for ``Officer Friendly.'' Semper Fi, Richard Zipp, Semper Fi. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a wave of terrorist attacks have rocked the Afghan capital over the last few weeks killing over 130 people and leaving hundreds more injured. These horrific assaults in Kabul were specifically designed to demonstrate Afghanistan's vulnerability and instability. By attacking in the heart of the young Afghan democracy, terrorist are attempting to show the world that our efforts have failed and that they can murder with impunity. We must not accept this. Terrorism is designed for this purpose, to terrorize, to kill with the intention of coercing people to form political opinions or decisions that they would otherwise not make if they were not living in fear. But a future with the Taliban and al-Qaeda returning to power in Afghanistan is to accept that terrorism works and that millions who now live free, must again be subjected to the oppression of Taliban rule. We committed ourselves to the cause of defeating terrorism in Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, and we must hold to this course. However, after sixteen years of war, there has always been one fundamental flaw with our strategy. It has assumed that Afghanistan's neighbor, Pakistan, shared our goals. The recent attacks in Kabul present more evidence that Pakistan is not our ally in this cause. In the investigation of the attacks, the Afghan government has determined that their source was in the safe havens of Pakistan. And why should we be surprised, when it was Pakistan's intelligence service which created the Taliban and fostered a partnership with al-Qaeda decades ago? For years, we have attempted to pursue terrorists living across the Afghan border in Pakistan, including operations that killed Osama bin Laden and dozens of other senior terrorist leaders. But Pakistan pretends they were never there. It claims it has removed the safe havens but we know the Taliban leadership is still in places like Quetta and Peshawar--beyond the reach of U.S. and Afghan forces. We know that thousands are radicalized at Pakistani school and madrassas every year. And despite its bluster about being tough on terrorism, it frequently releases the terrorists it holds. Just last month it released a renown militant leader who recruited thousands of fighters for the Taliban and in December freed the leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba from house arrest. These terrorists walk free, direct attacks, and incite generations of young Pakistanis and Afghans, all while the Pakistani government collects billions of dollars in U.S. aid. This can no longer stand if we are to ever bring the war in Afghanistan to an acceptable conclusion. I applaud the President's decision to suspend security assistance to Pakistan and to publicly shame it for its role in harboring terrorism. The peace and security of South Asia should not be held hostage by the reckless policies of Pakistan. Until it can forgo its sponsorship of this extremist ideology and joins the responsible nations of the world in actively combatting groups like al-Qaeda and the Taliban, we should cease our partnership with the government of Pakistan. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the State Department has announced that it is adding Pakistan to a special watch list for severe violations of religious freedom. The long overdue decision recognizes that Pakistan's shameful policies target and encourage violence against religious minorities, primarily Christians. Pakistan's blasphemy laws declare open season for attacks on these already persecuted communities. Pakistan also lets radical Islamic terrorist groups like the Afghanistan Taliban Network, Haqqani Network, and al-Qaida go unchallenged in Pakistan. This makes Pakistan one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians. Just last month, ISIS suicide bombers struck a densely packed church in Pakistan, killing nine and wounding dozens. I applaud the President's decision to reexamine our relationship with Pakistan and freeze military aid. Pakistan has played the United States for too long. We cannot continue to provide billions of dollars to a country that fosters terrorism and hate. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, his voice is heard by more than 60 million people across the country each year, but to us in Houston, Mr. Bob Tallman has been known as ``The Voice'' of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo since 1982. Tallman's hometown is Winnemucca, Nevada, where he announced his first rodeo in 1970, but he says his heart and soul belong to Texas. Tallman enjoys anything involving the western lifestyle. He and his wife, Kristen, raise cattle on their ranch in Weatherford, Texas. Bob and Kristen have one daughter, Nicole, and are grandparents to boy and girl twins, who were actually born in Fort Worth during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. In a typical year, Tallman is on the road for 270 days of year. For more than four decades, Tallman has entertained audiences at some of the top rodeos in the country. His ability to educate people about the professional rodeo has earned this 6 time Announcer of the Year the distinguished honor of being inducted into the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, The National Cowboy Hall of Fame and The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 2000, he established what he considers his greatest honor, Bob Tallman's Charities. He holds his annual golf tournament in Houston and benefits the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Pediatric Programs and the J. Pat Evans Research Foundation. Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo has committed more than $450 million to the youth of Texas through scholarship and grants. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's mission statement is ``to promote agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the community.'' And I can't think of anyone better that Houston could have as the voice of Rodeo Houston. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we know that Houston is ``Houston strong'', but what makes us so strong is the faithful and determined volunteers in our community. I wanted to commend the Prince of Peace Catholic Community for their efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Over 1,500 volunteers were utilized through the Mercy Ministry's relief efforts, which included distributing flood buckets, clothing, gift cards, and food. Over 3,200 hot meals and 2,000 lunches were served to 12 different neighborhoods over a span of 7 days. They collaborated with Champions Forest Baptist Church to work together to assist in the demolition and clean-up process. The Mercy Ministry not only provided physical assistance, but emotional support. They have talked with over 160 families and assisted in prayer. In hard times like the one Houston experienced, emotional encouragement to those suffering is better than offering a mop and bucket. Weeks after Harvey, the Mercy Ministry was contacted from churches all over the Nation in hopes of getting some help to Houston. From Louisiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. These churches sent tractor trailers full of donations from cleaning supplies, to handmade quilts and care packages for kids. Now, more than ever, our city needs the spiritual nourishment and support that our local churches can provide. Houston still has a long recovery to go, but what will pull us through are our faith driven volunteers, and the power of prayer. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Harvey hammered the great State of Texas in August. It devastated over 300,000 homes in the Houston area, not including businesses. Last year, the House passed a crucial $81 billion disaster relief bill. This funding will not only help repair the devastation caused by the hurricane, but it will also go toward disaster prevention in the future. But Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico are still waiting to see this hurricane relief money. Why? Because the ``Siesta Senate'' still hasn't taken any action. And the reason they haven't is because the Senate still uses an archaic, outdated 60-vote rule to pass simple legislation. The people of Texas are still suffering in their wait. The Senate needs to change the 60-vote rule and go back to 51. The Gulf Coast is in Hurricane Alley. Maybe the Senate doesn't realize hurricanes come around every year. Mr. Speaker, there are also over 401 House bills awaiting Senate action, and this bill is one of them. The Siesta Senate must vote. Nap time is over. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, Tonya was 13 years old when she met Eddie. They struck up a relationship and the two moved in together in Dallas, Texas. But what seemed to be a ``normal'' relationship turned out not to be. Eddie turned Tonya into a sex slave. Eddie sold Tonya to men for money. She was the victim of sex trafficking. Night after night, Tonya was forced to be with potential suitors. With her body being used for profit and no escape in sight, Tonya had almost given up hope. But help arrived when Homeland Security Special Agent Keith Owens receive a tip and the outlaw was arrested. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Tonya was freed from her shackles of modern-day slavery. This is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Madam Speaker, and our fight for Tonya and others is not over. We must remain vigilant. Society has to rescue their victims, restore them, and put the slave masters in the jailhouse. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 49

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the United States has long maintained an important and strategic partnership with Taiwan. As our tenth largest trading partner and a critical geopolitical counterbalance to Chinese expansionism, Taiwan deserves the full attention of our government. On January 4, 2018, China's civil aviation authority unilaterally announced that it would activate four air routes along its southeast coast near Taiwan, consisting of the M503 route and three east-west extension routes. These new air routes endanger aviation safety and threaten the delicate cross-strait status quo between China and Taiwan. China's newly declared air routes also violate International Civil Aviation Organization regulations and international norms. This unilateral action risks stoking instability in an already tense region and demonstrates China's bullying behavior towards its smaller neighbors. Our relationship with Taiwan is crucial for preserving Taipei's independence and maintaining the beacon of liberty in East Asia. We are Taiwan's largest foreign investor and third largest trading partner. Over the years, the United States has provided Taiwan with billions of dollars in defense equipment to deter repeated Chinese aggression. Let us not forget that China is not a free society and has for decades aspired to subjugate Taiwan to its communist rule. If we do not challenge Chinese unilateral action at each juncture, Beijing's influence, military power, and economic might are sure to dominate the region--dimming the prospect of freedom for millions. Our allies in the region and our strategic interests are threatened by China's campaign of expansion. Right now, Taiwan and the greater region look to the United States to check the aggressive, communist regime in China. China's incursion on Taiwanese air routes echoes its seizure of international waters in the South China Sea as well as its territorial disputes with our Indian and Japanese allies. The United States should act to restore consultations between Chinese and Taiwanese authorities regarding aviation routes. We should target a rollback of China's aviation routes to the status quo and allow Taiwan to negotiate for an agreement on this controversial airspace. Small and subtle incursions on Taiwan by China should not be mistaken as insignificant. They represent a larger Chinese strategy to intimidate neighbors and bend international order towards its will. We must stand firm with our allies and block Beijing's efforts to dominate the region. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is a menace to our society and should be eradicated as soon as possible. Fortunately, we have outstanding organizations brave enough to stand up for those who have been subjected to the horror of modern day slavery. I am honored to recognize one of those great organizations today. Creativity Shell is a nonprofit located in Houston, Texas whose mission is to use creative trades to educate and inspire the next generation of makers. The organization teaches valuable skills like sewing and textile arts to students in public libraries, schools and shelters that rescue children from human trafficking. Creativity Shell is now launching ``Hearts for a Fresh Start'' to give back and raise awareness for trafficked victims. The program invites Houston kids to help sew hearts on washcloths. The washcloths will be delivered to children in shelters who have been rescued from human trafficking. This great program was launched on January 14th and will run until Valentine's Day. Creativity Shell's goal is to make and deliver over 5,000 washcloths to shelters all over the country. As a longtime advocate of combatting human trafficking, I applaud Creativity Shell for their passion, dedication and unwavering support of trafficked victims. It's time for us to stand together. End this scourge on society and support and protect those who have fallen prey to human trafficking. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, recorded conversations, warrantless surveillance of citizens, and government invasion of privacy--it sounds like a page out of George Orwell's novel ``1984.'' I don't know if you read this in high school or not, but my generation did. We never thought that this would ever take place in America. It is a book about Big Brother government. To quote Orwell, here is what he says about government: Always eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. Asleep or awake, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or bed--no escape. It talks about government eyes watching America. But it is happening here in America, Mr. Speaker, behind the closed doors of government intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Big Brother, in my opinion, is watching. How? Through a piece of legislation called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. FISA allows our government to spy on foreign agents, including terrorists, primarily overseas. The government collects all of this information and puts it into a database. If government wants to use or search the database, they go to a secret FISA court, and that court issues a secret warrant to search the database. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade and a former judge and a prosecutor, I want government to go after terrorists overseas who seek to harm Americans; nab them, lock them up, and get rid of them. What is of disturbing concern, Mr. Speaker, is government uses these database communications, texts, and emails of Americans to gain information on them and spy on them without a real probable cause warrant. That is one reason I did not vote to reauthorize FISA. This is a direct violation of Americans' Fourth Amendment rights. For years, I have worked to rein in FISA's abuse of Americans' constitutional rights, and now we are learning more about FISA. And it is not good news. Recently, Members of Congress were given access to a top secret memo by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence regarding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The memo outlines improper conduct of government, and its contents are extremely disturbing. The Justice Department and the FBI oppose the release of this memo without their permission. The Justice Department wants to black out, or redact, portions of it even though they haven't even seen the memo. They don't want the public to know what is in it. They think that the American people ``can't handle the truth,'' to give a quote from Jack Nicholson. The reality is these agencies would prefer to continue operating in secret, behind the closed, locked doors of intrigue and surveillance. Mr. Speaker, this is exactly why the memo should be released. A transparent government, Mr. Speaker, is a good thing. That revolutionary idea sounds to me like something our Founders envisioned when they drafted the Fourth Amendment. Remember, the Bill of Rights was intended to protect us from government. Despite the protests of those who wish to offer up our privacy on the altar of national security, keeping this memo secret does not make us any safer. It is clear, Mr. Speaker: Release the memo to the press and to the public. Let the public and the media know what is happening by our government behind the dingy, dark rooms of secrecy. The memo is proof evident that government cannot be trusted. Ironically, the new FISA bill signed into law attempts to protect Americans from foreign terrorists but denies Americans the right to have their privacy protected in our homeland. This is not the America our Founders envisioned. The memo speaks for itself. Let the American people see the memo. Government has been watching America's conduct. Now it is time we watched the conduct of government. As George Orwell said in his book ``1984,'' in the eyes of Big Brother government, ``Ignorance is strength.'' Well, government may think so, but, Mr. Speaker, ignorance of the people is not a strength; it is a weakness. The spying eyes and improper acts of Big Brother need to be revealed. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. POE of Texas

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 534) to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 534, currently under consideration.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today we are voting on S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017. This important legislation protects child athletes from both sexual and physical abuse. Over the past year, the Nation was horrified to learn of the decades of abuse that occurred within USA Gymnastics by Dr. Larry ``Lecherous'' Nassar. The middle name was added by me, Mr. Speaker. Last week, Nassar was sentenced to between 40 and 175 years' incarceration after pleading guilty to several counts of sexual assault. Over 150 women and girls gave victim impact statements. How a serial predator like Dr. Nassar could have preyed on so many young girls for such a long time in such a flagrant fashion is appalling. Our amateur gymnasts were failed. They were failed by the very people who are supposed to protect them and do no harm, as doctors are supposed to do. In the past weeks, we have not only seen Dr. Nassar brought to justice, but we have also seen many others held accountable for their roles of commission and omission associated with these atrocities. Though we are glad to see justice finally served in this case, we must take appropriate measures to prevent this from occurring again. This bill will do that. Under current law, the Victims of Child Abuse Act requires persons engaged in certain activities and professions on Federal lands or in Federal facilities to report child abuse. Failure to report could subject such persons to criminal penalties. This bill expands these mandatory reporting requirements to adults working at national governing boards, that is, amateur sports organizations recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, such as USA Gymnastics or USA Tennis, or at sanctioned events. The bill also charters a new organization called Safe Sport, tasked with preventing child abuse within the national governing bodies through education and handling reports of misconduct. Safe Sport will assure these national governing bodies abide by such policies and procedures to assure that predators like Dr. Nassar will never again be permitted to terrorize young athletes with impunity. I would like to thank Mrs. Brooks of Indiana for her hard work on this issue and for assembling a bipartisan team of cosponsors. Protecting our young people, including those who have sacrificed so much to represent the United States, such as Olympic athletes, is and should be a bipartisan undertaking. I commend my colleagues for their support, and I urge them to vote in favor of S. 534. Mr. Speaker, I have 133 victim impact statements of young women that were made at this sentencing, and I want to read just a few phrases from some of these strong athletes who had the courage to come forward and tell what Dr. Nassar did to them. The first one is from Donna Markham. Donna's daughter Chelsey was an athlete under the supervision of Nassar. She could not give a victim impact statement, and here is why, according to her mother, Donna: ``In 2009, she took her own life. She couldn't deal with the pain anymore. Every day I miss her. It all started with him.'' Danielle Moore: ``I hope being reduced to a prison number''--she is talking to Nassar--``will define you as it defined me for so many years. I will no longer be known as a number, and I will be Dr. Danielle Moore.'' Megan Halicek: ``As I stand here, I still flash back to the feelings of fear, laying frozen in his office, my sweating, shaking body, adrenaline pumping, painfully clutching the sides of the table, waiting for the sick treatment to be over.'' Gwen Anderson: ``I still remember him saying, `It's okay. I know you're not used to being touched there, but it will feel better.'' And here is what Gwen's coach had to say, Thomas Brennan: ``For the record, go to hell. . . . What you did to everyone else who trusted you and sent girls your way is disgusting, reprehensible, unforgivable.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of my friend from Texas. Just so it is clear, I agree with her on the money. It should have been funded, but it was ruled an earmark, and we can't do earmarks anymore. We have to go through another process to get that funding. A good reason why we ought to have earmarks. Mr. Speaker, Amanda Barterian said this at the sentencing hearing: ``I refuse to let Larry Nassar take anything more from here. He has already taken enough.'' Nicole Walker said this at the sentencing hearing: ``I have anxiety and sleep disorders all because of what you''--Nassar--``did to me.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), a former U.S. attorney.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Katherine Gordon said this at the sentencing: ``Sexual assault is distant until you realize each girl in the news is a broken mirror.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen).

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas, not only for her support of the legislation, but also for her long-time working on these issues of victims of crime, and her involvement in legislation in the past and in the future on matters such as this. This is not a happy event, Mr. Speaker. This legislation, as Mr. Bishop said, it is unfortunate that Congress had to get involved in this issue. Congress is going to get involved, and we are going to try to rectify the problems of the past and hold people accountable for crimes in the future. We are talking about the symbol of everything that is good, and right, and beautiful about America: these Olympics, the Olympians, and particularly the gymnasts who represent America; the training they go through; the zeal for which they represent our country and work. Yet, while all of that was going on, bad things were happening to them. Our gymnasts who just participated in the last Olympics, who won medals, gold medals, they endured abuse, yet they went forward to represent our country in the United States Olympics. People who harm those girls and other athletes, male and female, they need to be held accountable, not just Larry Nassar, but other people need to be held accountable. This is where law enforcement needs to be involved. Mr. Speaker, I am a former judge, and I want to commend the judge in this case, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, for allowing all of these victims to testify in open court. They had the courage to come forward and tell very difficult things, things that are difficult for us to even listen to here on the House floor. They said it, and they wanted the criminal to know what he had done to them impacted them. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the judge for allowing that, but also the sentence that she imposed. I want to read a few more of the statements, Mr. Speaker: Jessica Rodriguez: ``USA Gymnastics should be held accountable for each and every one of these acts of abuse they allowed to happen.'' Taryn Look: ``I was still a child. . . . I wanted to end my life.'' Mattie Larson: ``I was at the height of my career at 19, and the Olympics were just a year away, and I just couldn't take any more of the abuse. I was broken. Larry, my coaches, and USA Gymnastics turned a sport I fell in love with as a kid to my personal living hell.'' Mr. Speaker, all of these brave Americans came forward and testified about what had happened to them. And we should--they are all Olympians for that. They all deserve the gold medal for what they did representing our country and their strength and their courage to testify in open court about what happened to them. The defendant, the convicted criminal, wrote a letter to the judge, Mr. Speaker, saying he couldn't take all of this abuse against him for having to listen to all of the statements by the victims. Are you kidding me? He is not the victim. He is the criminal, and he belongs in jail. He belongs in jail, as these victims have said, for the rest of his life, to keep him away from little girls. And I am glad that that is where he is going, but he is not a victim. Because of the mental abuse that he caused on victims of crime, he needs to remember what he has done. And I am glad that we have finally got this legislation passed in such a quick method. It is proof, Mr. Speaker, that we can work pretty fast, we also can work in a bipartisan manner, and we can also work with the Senate getting legislation that is important to America passed. Mr. Speaker, I want to read one last statement, and I include in the Record the 133 written statements that I have, subject to length limitation in the Record. Statements by 133 people Kyle Stephens: ``Little girls don't stay little forever, they grow into strong women that return to destroy your world.'' Jessica Thomashow: ``What you did to me was twisted. You manipulated me and my family. How dare you. Donna Markham (Speaking on behalf of her daughter, Chelsey, who killed herself 10 years ago.): ``In 2009, she took her own life. She couldn't deal with the pain anymore. Every day I miss her, every day. It all started with him.'' Jade Capua: ``I am no longer broken by you. Every day I grow a new strength and look into the mirror to see a strong, unbreakable person. Nothing will ever take away what you've done to me or to the others that started behind me. However, we can walk free and radiate the strength that we've gained from your horrific acts, something you will never be able to do.'' Alexis Moore: ``I don't like the word victim. I am a survivor, but more so I am me. Those 10 years are a part of my story. They have helped define who I am today.'' Olivia Cowan: On Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics: ``If they would have taken action when it was first reported, they would have saved me.'' Nicole Soos: ``I thought he was a famous doctor. There was no way he would do anything inappropriately in front of my mom. I was wrong.'' Ashley Erickson: ``Today I can say I'm finally ready to face you . . . Why did you do this? You were the adult, you were the doctor.'' Rebecca Mark: ``He molested me and he molested me with my mom in the room.'' Bethany Bauman: ``I am 100% confident, that if he had not been caught, he would have continued to do this for the rest of his life.'' Kate Mahon: ``By publicly speaking out against Larry Nassar, I'm not just speaking out for myself. I'm speaking out for all the girls and women of the past, present, and future that have been or will be affected by sexual assault.'' Danielle Moore; ``I hope being reduced to a (prison) number will define you as it defined me for so many years. I will no longer be known as a number, and I will be Dr. Danielle Moore.'' Melissa Imrie: ``Everybody's story that I listened to today is just an echo of everything that I've went through. They're just speaking like it's my voice.'' Megan Halicek: ``As I stand here, I still flash back to the feelings of fear, laying frozen in his office, my sweating shaking body, adrenaline pumping, painfully clutching the sides of the table, waiting for the sick treatment to be over.'' Jamie Dantzscher: ``There is no therapy, no cure for monsters like you. You are pure evil.'' Brianne Randall: ``I was a 17-year-old that reported your abuse to police in 2004. You used my vulnerability at the time to sexually abuse me. I reported you to police immediately and had a rape kit done . . . you had the audacity to tell [police] I misunderstood the treatment because I wasn't comfortable with my body. How dare you? Sadly they took your word instead of mine.'' Anna Ludes (video statement): ``I felt so special and lucky that Larry Nassar would take the time to help me. But it turned out that he was a molester.'' Lindsey Schuett (video statement): ``If anyone deserves to never see the light of day again it is this man.'' Marion Siebert: ``You hindered the trajectories of our lives that we and our parents worked so very hard for, and changed the rest of our lives in ways that we're still realizing and dealing with every day. This is what makes this crime so heinous.'' Katelyn Skrabis (statement read on her behalf): ``Nothing can change what Larry Nassar did to me.'' Taylor Stevens (statement read on her behalf): ``Because of you my life has been forever changed. I have to live with the fact that I am a victim of sexual assault.'' Breanne Rata (statement read on her behalf): ``My only relief is knowing my picture is no longer on the wall of your Michigan State office.'' Erin McCann: ``I was told over and over again how honored I should feel for seeing Dr. Nassar . . . It was no honor. It was disgust. It took more than it should have from me.'' Jennifer Rood-Bedford: ``The road to healing looks steep from where I am standing now, but I am a warrior.'' Gina Nichols (on behalf of her daughter, Olympic hopeful Maggie Nichols): ``You are not a real doctor. You are a serial child molester, a pedophile.'' Tiffany Lopez Thomas: ``I imagine hitting you if I ever had the opportunity to see you again. Instead I will allow my thoughts and my feelings to hit your heart.'' Jeanette Antolin: ``You made me believe you were my friend. I truly believe you are the spawn of Satan. There's no therapy that will fix the evil that's deep inside you.'' Kayla Spicher: ``I was sexually assaulted, but I was unaware, not because I was naive, but because I was a child.'' Gwen Anderson: ``I still remember him saying, ``It's OK. I know you're not used to being touched there, but it will feel better.'' Thomas Brennan (Gwen's coach): ``For the record, go to hell . . . What you did to everyone else who trusted you and sent girls your way is disgusting, reprehensible, unforgivable.'' Amanda Thomashow; ``Larry, the thing you didn't realize when you were sexually assaulting me . . . was that you were building an army of survivors who would ultimately expose you for who you are. From this rubble we will rise as an army of female warriors.'' Jaime Doski: ``I want to show my family how strong I am and that I'm a survivor.'' Jenelle Moul: ``I hope you are never able to walk outside those [prison] walls as a free man. Most importantly I hope all of the survivors you hurt are able to heal from the damage you have done.'' Madeline Jones: ``Before every appointment, I cried in the bathroom. After every appointment, I couldn't wait to get home and shower.'' Amanda Barterian: ``I refuse to let Larry Nassar take anything more from here. He's already taken enough.'' Jennifer Hayes: ``You parted my legs and forcefully pushed your dry fingers in my vagina . . . You had created a secure world where you brainwashed everyone around you.'' Nicole Walker: ``I have anxiety and sleep disorders all because of what you did to me.'' Chelsea Williams: ``He manipulated me with such ease, with such finesse. This is perhaps what scares me the most about him.'' Stephanie Robinson: ``While I came to this stand as a victim, I leave as victor.'' Carrie Hogan: ``I am broken, I'm tired, I feel like life has been desperately sucked out of me.'' Helena Weick: ``This is not my shame anymore. It's yours.'' Amanda Cormier: ``These things happened to me in his office long ago were not short lived and uncomfortable moments. They were lifelong traumas that changed the way I walk in the world.'' McKayla Maroney (statement read on her behalf): ``He abused my trust. He abused my body and he left scars on my psyche that will never go away. It all started when I was 13 or 14 years old. It didn't end until I left the sport.'' Annette Hill: ``As your former patient, I trusted you, Larry. You sexually abused me.'' Aly Raisman: ``I will not rest until every last trace of your influence on this sport has been destroyed like the cancer it is.'' Lyndsy Carr Gamet: ``I was a carefree silly little girl until this happened and afterwards there was a cloud and the cloud has followed me into every relationship in my life, especially the most important ones.'' Taylor Cole: ``This man has broken my world.'' Jessica Smith: ``I'm mortified that I didn't understand exactly what that meant at that time.'' Arianna Guerrero: ``I am only 16. I should not even know what an impact statement is. I shouldn't know what the inside of a courtroom looks like. You have a hard time looking at me now. But you didn't seem to have a problem when I was half naked on your table.'' Nicole Reeb: ``[Michigan State University's] response has compounded my pain. I am frustrated and outraged at the administration's inability to take responsibility for handing over children and girls to a predator for almost 20 years. I no longer bleed green.'' Christine Harrison: ``You knew what you were doing was wrong and you only asked for forgiveness because you got caught.'' Jessica Tarrant (recorded video): ``I wasn't even alive yet the first time he sexually assaulted someone and I was only one when he was first reported.'' Brian Tarrant (Jessica's father): ``I just want to say, Larry, you did nothing to defeat her.'' Mary Fisher-Follmer (on behalf of her two daughters, Katherine Payne and Maureen Payne): ``As you deteriorate in prison, I want you to remember you lost.'' Katie Rasmussen: ``No one did anything because no one believed me. They didn't understand how such a respectable doctor would do something like that. And I don't understand how a 14-year-old could make that up.'' Madeline Johnson: ``I realized the only way I could get him to stop was if I lied and told him pain was all gone.'' Chelsea Zerfas: ``I avoided going to practice when I knew I had to see him . . . I felt like I couldn't breathe and I'd tremble in fear.'' Samantha Ursch: ``I'm not pretending it didn't happen anymore. I'm just moving past it.'' Kara Johnson: ``The framed photos of patients on his wall told an incredible story of a doctor who could heal anyone.'' Clasina Syrovy: ``When girls came forward and told an adult the adults didn't listen. Why didn't they listen? What good is it to teach children to tell an adult if the grown-up doesn't listen, doesn't take action?'' Brad Johnson (Kara and Madeline's father): ``Your story is dark, sinister, and pure evil.'' William Michell (Larissa's father): ``You sowed a destructive black seed in my daughter's innocent mind and body.'' Amy Labadie: ``Come hell or high water we'll take every last one of you down that could have stopped this monster.'' Ashley Yost: ``That's something a 25-year-old shouldn't have to do . . . sleep in their parents' bed because they're afraid of a monster.'' Marie Anderson: ``While his fingers were inside of me, he would apply pressure to the outside of my lower abdomen and massage the inside of my vaginal area.'' Kassie Powell: ``You hid for years behind Olympic rings and a Spartan [Michigan State University's mascot] head, but now there is nowhere left for you to hide.'' Doug Powell (Kassie's father): ``I want you to fear and cry, and no one to listen. I want you to remain alive for your eternal life in those [prison] walls.'' Megan Ginter: ``I am done being ashamed of something that was out of my control.'' Katherine Gordon: ``Sexual assault is distant until you realize each girl in the news is a broken mirror.'' Katelynne Hall: ``What if someone would have taken the abuse seriously?'' Anya Gillengarten: ``I thought the things that Larry Nassar did to me would send me to Hell.'' Amanda McGeachie: ``MSU has failed to represent us; failed to respect us; failed to take accountability for our safety. After being a proud Spartum alum . . . I now feel ashamed to have represented a school who will not take accountability.'' Lindsay Woolever: ``You were in the best position to help people but you chose to do the opposite.'' Hannah Morrow: ``Life's handed me lemons, and you'd best believe that I am well prepared to make lemonade.'' Jordyn Wieber: ``Even though I am a victim, I won't live my life as one. I am an Olympian. Alexis Alvarado: ``I was only a child when this abuse started. I didn't know what he was doing was wrong.'' Morgan McCaul: ``You violated the very principle of your calling: Do no harm.'' Trinea Gonczar: ``It's time for me to stand up for these little girls and not stand behind you anymore. Goodbye, Larry. May god bless your dark broken soul.'' Larissa Michell Boyce: ``Today is a new day. Today I am claiming my freedom from you. Today I am breaking free from the chains you put me in 20 years ago. Today I am finally free. I am standing here reclaiming the voice that you stole from me. I am reclaiming my confidence. I am reclaiming the power you took from me. I am reclaiming Larissa Michell, that innocent girl you abused. I am no longer that little girl. I am taking her back, I have the control now.'' Bayle Pickel: ``How could you do something so horrible to an innocent young girl?'' Adam Boyce (Larissa's husband): ``It was and still is very real for us.'' Bailey Lorencen: ``While my mind heals and filters out the evil sickness that you unwillingly bestowed upon my body your mind will get darker and darker and you will hate yourself almost as much as everyone hates you in this room right now.'' Valerie Webb: ``To all my sisters, we need to stand, fight back and not rest until this mess is up mopped up; each and every crumb.'' Whitney Mergens: ``All I want is for this darkness to go away. I don't want to look in the mirror and have to convince myself that I'm okay. I want to stand there and see a strong woman other than a damaged one. Standing here today I know the light is near.'' Marta Stern: ``I will no longer carry the weight of what you did to me so long ago. The burden is yours.'' Melody Posthuma-Vanderveen: ``We need to call out the deeper issue at hand. We live in a society where action is not taken when it's most needed.'' Emma Ann Miller: ``[Michigan State University] is still sending bills to my mom for appointments where I was sexually assaulted.'' Amanda Smith: ``I will not stop speaking until I am heard, until we are heard, until things are changed.'' Taylor Livingston: ``Everyone who continued to allow this man, knowing full well what he was doing, is to blame.'' Lindsey Lemke: ``Larry, I hope you . . . and all others realize you've pissed off the wrong army of women.'' Christy Lemke-Akeo (mother of gymnast Lindsey Lemke): ``These girls had no idea this wasn't a medical procedure.'' Krista Wakeman: ``You're a sick man, Larry. I hope you rot in prison because that's where you belong.'' Paula Daniels (on behalf of daughter Samantha Daniels): ``When you lay down to sleep at night I want you to see every little girl's face that you've abused. Hundreds of girls Larry, innocent girls who trusted you--and know these little girls are all grown-up now and I pray that they haunt you every single day.'' Alliree Gingerich (statement read on her behalf): ``Not one day goes by where I don't replay the abuse my head.''

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, here is what Natalie Woodland said: ``I am strong, and I am beautiful, and I am bold, and no one, especially you''--Nassar--``can take that away from me. . . . While standing up here, I'm finally realizing that I'm not alone.'' And she is not alone. We are on her side. We should be on the side of victims of crime, and this legislation will promote a better atmosphere: a lawful, good atmosphere for our gymnasts and other athletes to work in. The people who committed these crimes need to be held accountable, and society has started with the first culprit, Larry ``Lecherous'' Nassar, and there should be more to follow. And that is just the way it is, Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following statements from the Nassar trial: Megan Farnsworth (statement read on her behalf): ``He took away something I can't get back. He took it 18 years ago when he did his procedures, and again when I was adult and learned what he had been doing.'' Kourtney Weidner (statement read on her behalf): ``Through these years I've experienced increase in anxiety and stress.'' Charla Burill (statement read on her behalf): ``You were the doctor who would give me a hug, who seemed to understand.'' Lauren Michalak (statement read on her behalf): ``It makes me feel disgusted that a man that was so respected in the community could take advantage of a girl who was only in 8th grade.'' Sherry Bradley (mother of Vanasia Bradley): ``I am sick to my stomach with disgust and betrayal.'' Presley Allison: ``I was abused while my own mother was in the room.'' Kamerin Moore: ``You molested a little girl who had just lost her father . . . you used my father's death as another opportunity to manipulate the trust I put in you.'' Catherine Hannum: ``What he did to me . . . is disgusting, vile, and wrong. I am going to find my sense of self again and it starts with this letter.'' Jessica Chedler Rodriguez: ``USA Gymnastics should be held accountable for each and every one of these acts of abuse they allowed to happen.'' Taryn Look: ``I was still a child . . . . I wanted to end my life.'' Mattie Larson: ``I was at the height of my career at 19 and the Olympics were just a year away and I just couldn't take any more of the abuse. I was broken. Larry, my coaches, and USA Gymnastics turned the sport I fell in love with as a kid to my personal living hell.'' Whitney Burns: ``As this man's hands were touching places I had never let any man touch, I told myself I could make it one more second without the anger exploding inside me. `One more second, Whitney, you can make it one more second.' '' Isabell Hutchins (statement read on her behalf): ``I couldn't accept the fact that it happened to me and I was in denial for a long time.'' Natalie Woodland: ``I am strong, and I am beautiful, and I am bold, and no one, especially not you can take that away from me . . . While standing up here I'm finally realizing that I'm not alone.'' Jillian Swinehart: ``You have to be the most sick and twisted person ever to do that to young girls.'' Anne Swinehart (Jillian's mother): ``To think, I let this happen to my child while I was sitting right there.'' Alison Chauvette: ``He was in no way treating my body. He was, however using his position, manipulating me as a person changing the person I was, preying on me, a young girl, to fulfil his sick fantasies.'' Anna Dayton: ``You were supposed to be the good guy. Instead you used your power and your authority to take advantage of me, to take away my trust, and strip me of my innocence.'' Olivia Venuto (statement read on her behalf): ``I know that we will overcome this.'' Sarah (no last name provided): ``By coming forward, we victims of Larry Nassar can help see that justice is served.'' Kristen Thelen: ``In that moment of terror and confusion, I completely froze.'' Alexandra Romano (statement read by her sister Danielle Romano): ``The pain is just beginning for you. You disgust me and everyone else in this world and like many other girls said, today is the last day you are anything to me. You are a sad excuse for a human being and from now on you're dead to us.'' Jessica Howard (statement read on her behalf): ``My mother blames herself.'' Arianna Castillo: ``He told me I had to go through pain in order to be successful in the sport.'' Selena Brennan: ``Today is your time to face me. I want you to continue to look at me while I speak because that is the attention I deserve . . . I want you to know you have not defeated me.'' Kaylee McDowell: ``My body is scarred by you . . . You covered me with your illness and I will be contaminated by you for the rest of my life.'' Emily Morales: ``He would rub one hand up and down my leg and butt as the other ungloved hand penetrated me . . . He talked about how my muscles were so tight.'' Abigail Mealy: ``The final level of your horrible pyramid of lies is when I had to lie on a table in your basement next to your lit fireplace and your children's toys surrounding me while you 'treated' me for my back problems.'' Ashley Bremer: ``He was only acting as my friend to gain my trust.'' Brooke Hylek: ``All I ever wanted to do was feel better and go back to the sport I loved without any pain.'' Abigayle Bergeron: ``I was a victim of Larry Nassar but I will not let that define me.'' Emily Meinke: ``My initial gut reaction was to question the technique . . . I couldn't help but wonder how inserting his bare fingers in my vagina was supposed to make my pain disappear. Since I hadn't even had my period yet I assumed it was my vagina but I really didn't know for sure.'' Morgan Valley (statement read by her mother, Dawn Valley): ``This so-called doctor took advantage of my pain and my innocence.'' Marty Valley (father of Morgan Valley): ``We're overcome by anger and guilt for not protecting our beautiful, precious daughter. As difficult as it is for us as parents, we know it's nothing compared to what these young women are going through.'' Christina Barba: ``We know that a single candle can light a dark room. Imagine what all these flames can do. We will not live in darkness. We will burn brightly. To all the abuses and predators and harassers and enablers, we will burn your pedestals and hiding places to the ground. All your darkest secrets will be brought to light. We are strong and will not let you snuff out our light. We will burn brightly and not with hate but with hope.'' Makayla Thrush: ``Nobody should ever have to question their doctor, especially one who was the doctor for the US Olympic team.'' Sterling Riethman: ``Larry did not violate Jane Doe. He did not sexually assault Jane Doe . . . he violated real girls and real women. Well, those little girls are here today and we said it before and we'll say it again, time's up. The truth will come out.'' Kaylee Lorincz: ``You made a critical mistake. You underestimated the mind, power, and will of your victims, these accomplished athletes.'' Rachael Denhollander (Her testimony to the IndyStar began the legal case): ``I can call what you did evil and wicked because it was . . . I can call it evil because I know what goodness is. And this is why I pity you.''