TYLER, Texas — Community and statewide leaders gathered at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County Thursday afternoon to discuss a bill meant to help prevent child abuse in school and community settings.
"It’s really just very emotional. I have all of the feels right now," Jenna Quinn said.
Quinn is a Texan, a sexual abuse survivor, and the namesake for “The Jenna Quinn Law.”
The law was first passed in Texas in 2009 as "Jenna's Law," which was the first child sexual abuse prevention education mandate in the U.S named after a survivor requiring K-12 sexual abuse prevention for students, school staff and caregivers.
Now, lawmakers are seeking to take the mandate to the federal level with a bill that aims to mandate K-12 training for students and school staff on how to prevent, recognize and report child sexual abuse.
Last week, it breezed through the U.S. Senate, and next up is getting approval from the U.S. House.
"We’ll I’m very happy the Senate was able to pass it 100 to zero, that doesn’t happen very often. But we’re not popping any champagne corks yet, because we still have work to do. Get it through the house, that’s where I’m confident that Congressman Moran can help us," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said.
Now that the Jenna Quinn Law received unanimous support from the Senate, it is awaiting action from the House of Representatives.
However, there is optimism that this will go through because at the end of the day, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, protecting kids is a priority for everyone, U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran said.
"When you deal with victims of sexual abuse it doesn’t matter if they’re Democrats or Republicans, if they live in a Democratic or Republican state, it doesn’t matter. The devastation on their life is immeasurable. And for both Democrats and Republicans, this is the moment when we need to come together and use the authority, and use the positions that we have to do good, to protect those that are weak, protect those that can’t protect themselves," Moran said.
Jenna’s Law has helped to protect the most vulnerable. A study found that educators were four times more likely to report child sexual abuse after they had gone through Jenna’s Law training.
"It comes down to priorities. Is your priority more important? Is the institution’s priority more important? Or is that child a priority," Quinn said.