Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee - Opening Statement of Sen. Grassley, Hearing on National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Hearing

Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to remind my colleagues that April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We commemorate it each year to bring public awareness to the staggering problem of sexual violence.

Tens of thousands of people in the United States, and hundreds of my fellow Iowans, annually fall victim to this heinous crime. Sexual assault occurs at least every minute and a half, according to law enforcement statistics. These same figures reveal an increase in rape cases since 2011, contrary to claims by the former Obama administration that the violent crime rate had declined in recent years.

But up to two-thirds of sexual assaults are never reported to police, say crime victim advocates. This means that the average perpetrator strikes multiple times before being brought to justice. Equally as troubling, the incarceration rate is less than one percent of all sexual assaults reported to law enforcement.

The FBI ranks rape as one of the two most violent crimes, second only to murder in its effects. Survivors suffer not only physical consequences, but sometimes life-shattering emotional effects as well. According to the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network as well as the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, post-traumatic stress disorder is typical. Depression or even suicide are not uncommon. The healing process is often slow and painstaking.

Today, I introduced a bipartisan resolution to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month and honor the survivors of this heinous crime. I thank Senators Feinstein and Ernst for joining me as cosponsors of the resolution.

During my time as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, we've made crime survivors rights a top priority. Two years ago, we passed, and the President signed, major legislation to benefit the survivors of human trafficking. Last year, the President also signed the House version of a survivors' bill of rights that our Committee reported as part of the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act. And we approved legislation to extend programs that support the analysis of sexual assault evidence by the nation's crime labs.

Supporting and protecting survivors of sexual violence will continue to be a focus for our Committee in 2017. Last month, I convened a hearing to examine allegations that dozens of young athletes experienced sexual abuse at the hands of coaches, instructors, and others. I recently joined our Committee's ranking member, Senator Feinstein, in introducing the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act. The bill's purpose is to ensure that sexual assault allegations by young athletes will be reported and investigated promptly. This year, we'll also make it a priority to extend and update programs that are authorized under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Mr. President, I will close by reaffirming my support for survivors of sexual violence and expressing my continued commitment to advocate for them. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of the resolution I've introduced today.

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