Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, Gail Abarbanel is the director of the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center's nationally known Rape Treatment Center. In 1974, the center became one of the first hospitals in the United States for establishing a protocol for treating victims of sexual assault. Today, under the leadership of Ms. Abarbanel, the Rape Treatment Center serves as a national model for its exemplary treatment, education, and prevention programs. She is also responsible for innovative programs such as the Stuart House for sexually abused children and the Verna Harrah Clinic to provide state-of-the-art medical care and forensic exams to rape victims. She was a driving force behind efforts to change the way rape and other sexual crimes are viewed in society and how victims are treated by law enforcement officials and medical personnel, and, most importantly, the judicial system itself. I commend Representative Patrick Kennedy for introducing this resolution to recognize Ms. Abarbanel's groundbreaking work on behalf of sexual assault victims. I urge Members to support the resolution.”