Bobby Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), as well as the chief sponsor of the resolution, the gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin), for their hard work on the issue of sexual assault. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time, and I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank the gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin), as well as the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), for introducing this important resolution, and I rise in support to acknowledge the impact that sexual assault has on its victims and to promote education about and prevention of sexual assault. This resolution highlights the immense problem of sexual assault in the United States. A person is sexually assaulted in the United States every 2\1/2\ minutes. Almost 18 million women, 1 in 6, have been victims of rape or attempted rape, and almost 3 million men, 1 in 33, have also been victims. Sexual assault also harms the society. Medical expenses, lost productivity, treatment of psychological trauma and pain and suffering cost victims roughly $127 billion per year. It can also lead to long-term health problems such as chronic pain and headaches and stomach problems and sexually transmitted diseases, and can leave victims with emotional issues which can lead to depression and even suicide. Designating April to be Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is an important step in recognizing the problem. Highlighting and focusing on this issue gives us the opportunity to educate the public and allows us to praise the survivors, as well as the volunteers and professionals who have dedicated their lives to combating sexual assault. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California, the gentleman from Texas, as well as the gentleman from Michigan, for their work on behalf of victims of crime, and I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam 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. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to a strong supporter of victims, a former law enforcement officer, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the chief sponsor of the legislation who, along with Mr. Poe, introduced this important resolution, the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. House Res. 109 supports the goals and mission of National Crime Victims' Rights week, which is being celebrated this week, April 26 through May 2, 2009. The 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights week theme is ``25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act.'' Mr. Speaker, each year for the last 25 years, the Office of Victims of Crime in the Department of Justice has observed National Crime Victims' Rights week along with individuals and communities across the country. Victims' rights and crime victims are honored with rallies, candlelight vigils, and other commemorative events. This week in April is an important time to increase public awareness about the needs and concerns of the 25 million victims and survivors of crime each year, of which over 6 million are victims of violent crimes. During National Crime Victims' Rights week, people are asked to take time out to acknowledge the impact that crime has on families, individuals, and communities by ensuring that resources and services are available to help crime victims rebuild their lives. We would also like to acknowledge the 25 years of contributions that the Office of Victims of Crime has made to supporting victims of both violent and nonviolent crime. A major aspect of the office's work has been the creation and supervision of the Crime Victims Fund. This fund is paid for by criminal fines and penalties and supplemented with general tax revenue as needed. Over the last 25 years, the Crime Victims Fund has collected more than $9 billion from offender fines and penalties, which is used solely to assist crime victims. Each year these funds support direct services and financial compensation to more than 4 million victims of crime. This week is also a time to make a commitment to providing more resources and services to crime victims who live in underserved areas such as urban and rural areas. This is also time to pay special attention to victims of crime who suffer from physical and mental disabilities in addition to child and senior citizens who may be victims of crime. Mr. Speaker, we should be doing more to invest in crime prevention and therefore reducing the number of victims, but meanwhile this resolution gives us the opportunity to celebrate victims' rights and their dignity. We should ensure that victims are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and doing that will promote a fair and just criminal justice system. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 204, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I'm prepared to close. Does the gentleman want to proceed?

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Chair, the Congressional Black Caucus budget is based on the budget of 1990-1993 that worked. It rejects the budget of 2001 that didn't. It saves money and invests in our priorities. It is a good budget. The base budget is good, but the CBC budget is better. Madam Chair, I ask that we adopt the CBC budget, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I will yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Waters).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I would inquire to the gentleman from Florida if he has additional speakers?

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah). (Mr. FATTAH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlelady from Maryland (Ms. Edwards).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to a member of the Budget Committee, the gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).