On the recordApril 3, 2019
I thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee for yielding. Mr. Chairman, today, I stand here in proud support of the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which includes my bill, the Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act. I introduced this bill when I read a shocking article last year about a teenager in New York who was raped by two police officers while in their custody in the back of an unmarked police vehicle. When she reported the rape, a loophole in New York State law allowed the officers to claim she consented to having sex with them, despite the fact that she was handcuffed and under their control. I was appalled to learn about this and was concerned that that was a legitimate defense, at that time, in New York, and it remains an acceptable defense in 30 other States and for Federal law enforcement officers. My bill has now been included in VAWA and will no longer allow for Federal law enforcement officers to use that consent defense as well. There are also financial incentives for the 30 States that need to close their loopholes by providing additional VAWA grant funds to States that pass similar legislation. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to protect the safety of our women. Closing this loophole puts us one step closer to achieving that safety.
