Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure, and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my colleague, for his hard work in bringing this resolution forward. More than a billion children worldwide are exposed to violence each year. This can take the form of sexual violence, physical violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Adolescent girls are an especially vulnerable group. One in three girls between the ages of 15 and 17 experience violent acts and are often the victims of someone they know. Children with disabilities are reportedly three to four times likelier to experience physical or sexual abuse. This violence has a lifetime impact on the health and well-being of a growing child and on their community. Children who experience violence have higher rates of anxiety and depression and are at greater risk of suicide. These traumatic events have a lasting impact, from reduced neurological functions, to poorer educational outcomes, to higher rates of early and child marriage. Children should feel safe at home, in school, and in their communities. But it is in these places that most violence against children occurs, often at the hands of people they see every day. These abuses shape their lives forever. Violence against children can be prevented.…”