Bobby Scott

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 285, the SAVE Act. While I support the underlying goal of ensuring that those who facilitate sex trafficking through advertising are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, I am opposed to the bill's mandatory minimum sentencing provisions. Mandatory minimum sentences have been studied extensively and have been found to distort rational sentencing systems, discriminate against minorities, waste money, and often require a judge to impose sentences that violate common sense. To add insult to injury, studies have shown that mandatory minimum sentences fail to reduce crime. Under this bill, the advertising of sex trafficking will result in a mandatory penalty of 10 or 15 years, depending on the circumstances of the crime. There is no doubt that many of these individuals prosecuted under this bill should receive long prison sentences, but in some cases a mandatory sentence of 10 or 15 years may not be justified. This is particularly troublesome when you consider the possible scope of defendants who could be prosecuted under the bill. Notably, the prohibition on advertising does not only apply to the sex trafficker who places the ad, or the employee who accepted the ad, but also includes those who benefit financially from the ad. That is all of the employees, including the receptionist or the computer guy, everybody on the payroll who might have seen the ads or read in the paper that the company publishes some illegal ads but decided to look the other way; they should be held responsible under the provisions of the bill. And many of them would certainly warrant a sentence of 15 years or even more, but not all of them. Madam Speaker, mandatory minimum sentences didn't get into the criminal code at all once but one at a time, each one part of an otherwise good bill. If we expect to get rid of mandatory minimums, we have to first stop passing new ones like this. Madam Speaker, if people ask why a judge in Florida had to sentence Marissa Alexander to 20 years for firing a warning shot at her abusive boyfriend, or why some drug dealer's girlfriend got 25 years when she had no meaningful role in his drug dealing, or why the United States has 5 percent of the world's population but 25 percent of the world's prisoners, they would not understand why anybody said they had to vote for a bill that further expands mandatory minimum sentences. Fifteen years in prison, mandatory for everybody on the payroll that gets caught up in this bill--that is what is in this bill. There is no discretion afforded to the judge. The sentence would have to be imposed, whether it makes any sense or not. Madam Speaker, if we expect to repeal mandatory minimum sentences, the first order of business is to stop passing new ones. This bill contains a new mandatory minimum that someday will require a judge to impose a sentence that violates common sense. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 468, the Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act of 2015. I am honored to join my colleagues, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heck), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), and the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Kline, and appreciate their leadership on this important issue. Our bill makes important changes in the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, so that victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking can get more of the help that they need. We know that trafficking and youth homelessness are often affecting the same populations. Young people that have run away or are homeless are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking, and programs targeted towards the runaway and homeless youth should be simultaneously equipped to support victims of trafficking when there is such an overlap. Research consistently confirms the correlation between running away and becoming exploited through prostitution. For example, according to a 2006 FBI Uniform Crime Report, girls who run away from their homes, group homes, foster homes, or treatment centers are at high risk of being targeted by a trafficker or becoming exploited. Street outreach programs were created to provide services to runaway and homeless and street youth who have been subjected to or are at risk of being subjected to sexual abuse. Every year, 25,000 of these young people find shelter as a result of these programs. The legislation being considered today ensures that street outreach programs can rely on funding already available through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. This allows the Department of Health and Human Services to provide street-based services such as individual assessments, treatment, counseling, or other shelter for runaway and homeless youth who are also victims of trafficking. Additionally, the bill authorizes States, organizations, and other entities to use runaway and homeless youth research grants for staff training to work with these young victims. Such additional training will allow service providers to successfully address the behavioral and emotional effects of the abuse and assault that these victims endure. Our bill also enhances training programs so that staff will be able to recognize and respond to the unique needs of trafficking victims. This is a small but important change, one necessary to improve services available. Updating the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act with this legislation is an important first step, but it is also important for Congress to consider reauthorizing the entire act, which expired last year. In the 113th Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bipartisan reauthorization bill that would provide other critical support to runaway and homeless youth, including extending time for safe and appropriate shelter, establishing performance standards for assistance programs, strengthening data collection, and ensuring that adequate resources for all runaway and homeless youths are available. It is my hope that the House can continue the spirit of bipartisanship and comprehensively update the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Our Nation's most vulnerable youth need us to come together and work together on their behalf. Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, how much time is available on this side?

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), who has worked on all of the bills we have considered today.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 246, a bill to improve the response to victims of child sex trafficking. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), would amend the Missing Children's Assistance Act by adding the term ``child sex trafficking'' to the list of items which may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline. Under the act, the center operates the CyberTipline to allow online users and electronic service providers a way of reporting Internet- related child sexual exploitation, including child prostitution. The term ``trafficking'' more accurately describes the circumstances by which children are sexually exploited and reinforces the notion that they are victims, not criminals. Adding trafficking to the list of items that may be reported to the center will not only help the center continue its outstanding work of finding and helping victims, but it will also help experts in the field of missing and exploited children better understand the nature and extent of the problem. I am grateful to the gentlewoman from Ohio for introducing this important legislation, and I appreciate her partnership with the majority, including the chairman of the full Committee on Education and the Workforce, Chairman Kline; the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg); and other sponsors. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time. I want to thank all of the sponsors of the legislation for bringing it forward, this and the other two bills that we have also considered. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2015, sponsored by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass). This bill will support victims of child sex trafficking by helping them find services they need, by training child protective services workers to identify cases of child sex trafficking, and by improving data collection on the number of child sex trafficking victims. This legislation would also require the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress that describes the type and prevalence of severe forms of trafficking to which identified victims are subjected. This bill also summarizes State practices to identify and serve trafficking victims and those at risk of trafficking and describes Federal statutory or regulatory barriers that may prevent child trafficking victims from getting the services they need, including an evaluation of the State's capacity to address such victim's needs. The bill would also allow the State welfare agencies to include child labor trafficking in their provisions of staff training. Under the bill, if a State includes child labor trafficking in those responsibilities, the States must also collect data on the number of those victims. The bill is a product of good bipartisan work and diligent negotiations by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass) and her staff and Democratic and Republican staffs in the Education and the Workforce Committee. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, which has the backing of child welfare advocates and will improve services and responses to child trafficking victims. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), the sponsor of the bill and a strong supporter and advocate for foster children.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would like to thank the chief sponsor and other supporters of the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise against the underlying bill. Mr. Chairman, we have heard a lot about job growth. We just want to remind people that our economy has experienced job growth in excess of 200,000 for 11 consecutive months, a record that hadn't been seen since the Clinton administration, and 58 consecutive months of private sector job growth, a string that hasn't been seen in recorded history. So, continued economic growth and strong regulatory protections are not mutually exclusive. In fact, regulations are often necessary to protect the investments the American taxpayer makes in our economy and to ensure stability, order, and safety inside and outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, this legislation will impose unnecessary burdens and delays on agencies seeking to issue or improve rules and regulations, burdensome delays that can threaten taxpayer dollars and the lives and health of workers. Mr. Chairman, I offered two amendments that would have improved the bill, but neither was accepted by the Rules Committee. The first would have insured that inspector general recommendations would not be subject to the potentially dangerous delays and extra hurdles found in the bill. Inspectors general are taxpayers' independent watchdogs who investigate and seek out problems and inefficiencies in our government. For example, two alarming audits issued last year by the Department of Education's inspector general found that criminal fraud rings were preying on money available through distance learning programs and that expensive, bank-sponsored debit cards were used to perpetuate waste, fraud, and abuse in the financial aid program. Fortunately, in both of these situations the inspector general urged the Department of Education to quickly issue new rules to ensure that billions of dollars aren't wasted. Unfortunately, without my amendment, this bill would deeply impair the ability of the Department of Education and other agencies to address similar known abuses of taxpayers' funds. Delays in inspector general recommendations can also threaten the lives and health of workers. For example, the Department of Labor's inspector general found that the Mine Safety and Health Administration had a regulatory gap that allowed mine operators who habitually violated mine safety standards to easily avoid sanctions and continue to operate unsafe mines. The unfortunate consequence of these loopholes was seen at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, where 29 mine workers were killed in the largest coal mine disaster in the United States in 40 years. Following that disaster, the inspector general recommended fixes that would close these loopholes, and the administration quickly adopted new regulations that are estimated to prevent about 1,800 miner injuries every 10 years. Had this bill been in effect, these regulations might not have ever been adopted in a timely manner. My second amendment, Mr. Chairman, would have also strengthened protections of workers' health and safety. The amendment would have exempted regulations or guidance proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to prevent health care workers from contracting infectious diseases. As it stands, the legislation could possibly delay OSHA's workforce protections and make it far more difficult for OSHA to prevent health care workers from contracting lethal infectious diseases. Under current regulations that govern OSHA's rulemaking, it takes OSHA an average of 7 years to issue standards, and this bill could add another 3 years, possibly delaying and essentially shutting down OSHA's ability to issue rules altogether. Mr. Chairman, this legislation will seriously compromise the ability of agencies to protect both taxpayers and workers, so I urge my colleagues to oppose the legislation.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Section 6: ``The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.''

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the gentlemen from the other side of the aisle have already voted over 50 times to roll back the Affordable Care Act. This is one more attempt. More than 150 million Americans get their health coverage through their jobs or through a family member's job. As for the Affordable Care Act, when we passed it, at that time, 96 percent of all businesses with over 50 employees provided health insurance for their full-time employees. So that we wouldn't dismantle the President's system--rather, that we would build on it--we established a mandate. Those employers--those businesses--with over 50 employees would be mandated to provide insurance for their full-time employees. Ninety-six percent were already doing it without a mandate, and those with under 50 employees weren't subject to the mandate. This bill would change the ACA's definition of ``full-time employee'' for somebody who works 30 hours a week to 40 hours a week. That puts a lot of Americans at risk of having their hours cut to just under the 40-hour threshold, so that a few employers--just a few, as 96 percent were already doing it--can escape their responsibility of providing the insurance. They are less likely to suffer a job loss today because most people work a 40-hour week. Cutting below 30 is very unlikely because people would start quitting. Ninety-six percent were already being provided their insurance. Now, if you are working from 9 to 5, with an hour off for lunch, suddenly, you are no longer a full-time employee. That is only 35 hours. If the employer sends everybody home at 4 on Fridays, that is 39 hours. You are no longer a full-time employee. As a result, many people--those currently working between 30 and 40 and those who will have their hours cut--will suddenly be part-time employees, not entitled to employer-provided health insurance. According to the Congressional Budget Office, that is about a million people who will lose their employer-based health coverage. Mr. Speaker, this is just another attack on the health security of American families. It is an attack that families do not want, but it will help that handful of businesses that just wants to deny hardworking employees their health insurance. I want to put one thing on the record. We have had more consecutive months of 200,000-plus job growth than anytime in recent history, so the job-killing aspect of it can't be doing too badly--a lot more than there were under the previous administration. We ought to be building on the ACA, not diminishing it. We ought to be working to strengthen it, including fully expanding Medicaid to all 50 States. We can do better. This hurts families. It might help a few businesses that want to deny hardworking Americans their health coverage that has been mandated, although 96 percent of businesses already were doing it.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a continuing legacy of faith and community in Virginia's Third Congressional District. This year, First Church of Newport News (Baptist) in Newport News, Virginia is celebrating its sesquicentennial, and I would like to take a moment to reflect on the history of this esteemed institution and its contributions to the greater Newport News community. First Church of Newport News (Baptist) holds the distinction of being the first form of organized religion located within the original city limits of Newport News. In fact, it predates the city by 32 years, having been originally organized in 1864 as First Baptist Church by the Reverend Thomas Poole of Isle of Wight County. The small wood framed church located under what is now the 28th Street Bridge was a spiritual home for many slaves, freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, whose only exposure to Christianity had come from their previous masters. Under Reverends Carr and Cooley, the church moved its location to 23rd Street and Jefferson Avenue and continued to grow. Under Reverend William H. Dixon in 1897, planning and construction began on the new church building that would house the church for most of the 20th century. The impressive structure would include a steeple that was believed to be the highest in Newport News and was a landmark on the city skyline for decades. A church is more than its building, and First Baptist's ministry in Newport News continued to expand under Reverends Harris, Taylor and Henderson. In 1919, Dr. A. A. Galvin became Pastor and many ministries and facets of parochial life at First Church that still exist were founded during his tenure, including the Benevolent Fund and the Men's Star Bible Class. Under the next pastor, Dr. John F. Williams, the church formed both a Gospel Choir and a Deaf and Blind Ministry. In 1961, Dr. Fred J. Boddie, Jr. succeeded Dr. Williams and began his 39-year tenure, the longest of any pastor in the church's history. It was under Dr. Boddie that the church moved to its current location on Wickham Avenue and changed its name from First Baptist Church to First Church of Newport News (Baptist) to reflect its historic roots. Dr. Boddie led First Church into the 21st century, retiring in 2001. Under his leadership, the church truly lived up to its motto becoming, ``the friendly church on the corner where everybody is somebody and Christ is all''. In 2005, Dr. Reginald Dawkins was called to be pastor. In 2011, Rodney Johnson was installed as the twelfth leader of First Church and the church continues to grow in its outreach to the community under his stewardship. This dedication to service is reflected in the theme for First Church's Sesquicentennial, ``Renewing Minds and Transforming Lives with a Legacy of Hope and Charity''. As First Church gathers to celebrate this historic milestone, the church can truly remember its past, celebrate its present, and focus on its future. I would like to congratulate all of the members of First Church of Newport News (Baptist) on the occasion of its 150th Anniversary, and I wish them many more years of dedicated service to the community.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Congressman Dave Brat to the people's House and to the Virginia delegation. Our congressional delegation has a long history of working together. Our former longtime dean, Senator John Warner, set the standard for working together in a constructive manner. While we may not always agree on every issue, we will always try to work together for what is best for Virginia and our Nation. It is the Virginia way. Dave will be replacing Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and at the end of this Congress, our delegation will also lose two of its more senior Members, Frank Wolf and Jim Moran. With their departure, our delegation's clout may wane a bit, but I know it will be reinvigorated by new Members like Congressman Brat, committed to working together for our Commonwealth. Mr. Speaker, Dave comes to Congress after a career as an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College. He has been appointed to State boards and commissions by several Virginia Governors, including the Joint Advisory Board of Economists. I know he will put these experiences to good use. I welcome Dave and his family to Congress, and I look forward to working with him on issues critical to the Richmond region and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to pass S. 1086, as amended. This bill represents a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG, which is the largest funding source for child care programs. It has been almost 20 years since this CCDBG was reauthorized, and working families and young children should not have to wait any longer. This block grant provides Federal resources to States to help low- income families pay for child care while a parent works or is in an educational or job training program. This program supports self- sufficiency and promotes workforce stability. Just as important, this funding offers children vital early learning experiences that set them on a path toward success in school, in the workforce, and the rest of their lives. However, the current law, besides being outdated, has some limitations in ensuring low-income children access to this important program. For example, the law currently has very few specific requirements on the quality of child care, and States have significant latitude to set quality standards. This results in a great deal of low-quality child care being funded. Recent research has found that about only one-third of child care programs funded by the block grant is actually of good quality. Access is another concern. Only one in six children eligible for the program is actually enrolled. This reauthorization seeks to address these problems by improving child care access, making critical new investments, and helping to ensure that children are safe and receive quality care. For example, this bill increases the number of funds that States must spend on activities to improve the quality of child care, including care for infants and toddlers. It also requires States to conduct a statewide assessment of their needs for quality improvement and to align their quality initiatives with the results of that assessment. The bill provides States with nearly a dozen proven initiatives that they can deploy to improve quality, ranging from training and professional development to quality rating systems and health and nutrition policies. The bill also adds State requirements on training and professional development for child care providers, for child-to-staff ratios, annual inspections for providers that receive Federal assistance, coordination with other federally funded early childhood programs, the development and maintenance of early learning and development guidelines, and background checks to keep violent and sexual offenders away from our Nation's children. This bill expands the requirements for health and safety, and consumer education, including funding for a toll free hotline and a Web site to report suspected child abuse or safety violations. This legislation also improves access to care by expanding the eligibility of participating families to at least a year, regardless of changes in their income or work schedules or training or educational status. It prioritizes services for families with the lowest incomes. It eases enrollment requirements for homeless children. It helps families connect with quality programs and reduces expulsions from early childhood learning programs by training providers about positive behavior supports and interventions with young children. Finally, it enhances the transparency of the cost of care. This important legislative update to the CCDBG is long overdue. Improvements made by this legislation are critical for millions of children and their families, and for the future of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), the ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Before we close, I want to thank my colleagues in both the House and the Senate for their hard work on this legislation. In the Senate, I am particularly grateful to Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Alexander, Senator Mikulski, Senator Burr, and their staffs. I want to thank Ranking Member Miller and our committee staff members who have helped to steer the passage of this bill, particularly Scott Groginski, Jamie Fasteau, John Hammond, and Brian Levin. I would like to thank Chairman Kline and his staff members who worked hard on this bill, including Cristin Kumar, Mandy Shaumburg, and Kathlyn Ehl. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois, Congressman Danny Davis, for his strong efforts to reduce early childhood expulsions, and the many advocates and stakeholders who weighed in on the legislation. Mr. Speaker, I enter for the Record additional letters of support. Results for America, September 15, 2014. Results for America Statement on CCDBG Reauthorization RFA's Michele Jolin Hails Effort to Set Aside Funds for Research and Evaluation, Bipartisan Support for Using Data, Evidence and Evaluation to Improve Outcomes Washington.--Today, following the passage of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act in the House of Representatives, Results for America managing partner Michele Jolin issued the following statement. Jolin praised a provision in the legislation that would set aside .5% of funds for evaluating programs to improve the access to, quality, and safety of childcare services, calling it a ``Moneyball'' approach to government that improves outcomes for young people, their families, and communities. Results for America applauds the passage of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act by the House, following the passage of a similar bill in the Senate earlier this year. The inclusion of dedicated funds for research and evaluation will provide vital information for improving the effectiveness of childcare. The strong bipartisan support for this bill shows that lawmakers across the aisle support leveraging less than a penny on the dollar to improve how the rest of the dollar is spent. ``Congress and the Administration are increasingly using data, evidence and evaluation to improve the lives of children, their families and communities, what we call a Moneyball approach to government. Today's reauthorization of CCDB shows that investing in what works is clearly a bipartisan way to address long-term challenges and is another positive step toward improving outcomes,'' said Michele Jolin, Managing Partner, Results for America.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark).

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Finally, I would like to thank all of the Members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and their staffs for their continued commitment to the well-being of American families. Mr. Speaker, both Chambers and both parties have come together on a bipartisan basis to improve the Child Care and Development Block Grant. This bill is a strong example of what Congress can achieve by working together. The critical updates in the program will give American families the more support that they need and will better prepare our children for the future. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of the passage of S. 1799, the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2013. This bill passed the Senate last month and provides important services and funding to protect and heal the most vulnerable of all crime victims: our children. During their participation in the Federal criminal justice system, it will provide and improve the resources available to assist children who are victims of crime. Child victims will be supported through this often lengthy and difficult process by designated victims' coordinators, specialists, and advocates. Surplus funds in the Crime Victims Fund will be used for a Victim Notification System, which preserves and protects the rights of those victims to be involved at important steps during the criminal justice process. In addition to these services and programs, the bill also authorizes appropriations for the children's advocacy program, the development and implementation of multidisciplinary child abuse investigation and prosecution programs, and grants to provide training and technical assistance to attorneys and others who are instrumental during the criminal prosecution of child abuse cases in State and Federal courts. In these fiscally lean times, it is important to note that the bill authorizes the inspector general of the Department of Justice to audit grant recipients to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. This will also ensure that all of the funds are used to protect our most vulnerable people in the process: crime victims. In closing, as we have repeatedly recognized, children are the most vulnerable in our society and warrant unique treatment. As a country and as a people, we have a constitutional, statutory, and moral obligation to provide them with the protection, resources, and support they need even under the best circumstances. Our responsibilities and moral imperative to act are at the apex when these children are victimized and are at our mercy. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).