Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for his leadership on so many issues of compassion and passion, and certainly this issue. I thank the chairman of the full committee, as well as the author of this bill, Mr. Smith. I was on the Judiciary Committee when Megan's Law was passed. Now I am on the Homeland Security Committee. So I raise this paradoxical question: who equates sex trafficking and tourism? That is what is going on internationally around the world. Individuals who may have been convicted here in the United States, may be labeled here in the United States, can secure passports and have a full and flourishing and horrific ongoing experience by utilizing and abusing the children in foreign countries. Many times, these countries are developing nations. We can call the roll of names. Many times, law enforcement are collaborating with these sex tourists. There is an area set aside for these sex tourists. In fact, it is called that. They go there with impunity and abuse children--street children who have no other way to go. This is an important initiative. Again, it is the round circle of addressing this question holistically. Just today in the markup in the border security and maritime security committee we discussed, as I indicated in earlier debate, the 60,000 children that come across the border to the United States unaccompanied. We also mentioned the need to provide enhanced training for our CBP officers at the border.…”