The House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday to improve how the FBI handles cases of sex abuse and trafficking involving underage victims.
The Respect for Child Survivors Act was introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C).
The legislation comes after testimony regarding the FBI’s mishandling of sexual abuse cases involving minors, most notably, the investigation into systemic abuse of victims by former USA Gymnastics coach Larry Nassar.
The bill would require the FBI form multidisciplinary teams comprised of appropriate investigative personnel, mental health professionals, medical personnel, family advocacy workers, child advocacy workers and prosecutors.
The bill’s supporters hope these multidisciplinary teams would bring justice without retraumatizing the victims.
The legislation passed in the House on Wednesday on a 385-28 vote. 215 Democrats and 170 Republicans supported the bill. 18 members did not vote, according to Newsweek. All 28 ‘no’ votes were from Republicans, some of whom spent much of the year claiming to be interested in protecting children.
They are: Mo Brooks and Barry Moore (Ala.), Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Rick Crawford (Ark.), Tom McClintock (Calif.) Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Byron Donalds and John Rutherford (Fla.); Andrew Clyde, Jody Hice, Austin Scott, and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), James Comer and Thomas Massie (Ky.), Clay Higgins (La.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.), Dan Bishop and Virginia Foxx (NC), Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Scott Perry (Pa.), Ralph Norman (SC); Louie Gohmert, Ronny Jackson, Troy Nehls, Chip Roy, and Michael Cloud (Texas) and Bob Good (Va.)
[Featured Image: Win McNamee/Getty Images]
