On the recordMay 22, 2017
I agree with my good friend from Virginia, the chairman of the committee, that the acts are heinous. It appears that there is no addition to the underlying aspect of section 3559(e) of title 18 that says, a defendant who has been previously convicted of a felony Federal or State sex offense committed against a child and who is guilty of a predicate Federal sex offense against a child must be sentenced to life imprisonment. But, again, the bill is not written that way. I agree with everything my good friend, the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Roby) said. I want to congratulate her for her commitment, as so many of us, as women who have come to the United States Congress who are mothers, have a special interest in children, and, in particular, to avoid the horrific abuse of children, and sexual abuse. That is an important cause, and the underlying bill is important and crucial. But I maintain that there is a lack of clarity into whether or not, in fact, there are additional mandatory minimums because it is broken down in these elements. The imposition of a life sentence, namely, sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12, aggravated sexual contact with a minor between the ages of 12 and 15, and illicit sexual conduct with a minor abroad by a U.S. citizen. The question is: Is the discretion of the court and the prosecutor there? I am not in the court. I don't know what the facts are, except for the heinousness of tainting and violating a child.…
