Text of Rind resolution (Alaska)

Also available from www.legis.state.ak.us.

This is the full text of the Alaskan Rind resolution, and must not be modified.

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CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 36(HES) am

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY THE HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Amended: 4/23/99

Offered: 4/19/99

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES DYSON, Ogan, Harris, Coghill, Kohring, Green, Barnes
SENATORS Halford, Taylor, Green, Miller, Leman, Pearce, Pete Kelly

A RESOLUTION

Relating to rejecting the conclusions in a recent article published by the American Psychological Association that suggests that sexual relationships between adults and children might be positive for children; and urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to similarly reject these conclusions.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS children are a precious gift and responsibility; and

WHEREAS the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of children is our sacred duty; and

WHEREAS no segment of our society is more critical to the future of human survival and society than our children; and

WHEREAS it is the obligation of all public policymakers not only to support but also to defend the health and rights of parents, families, and children; and

WHEREAS information endangering to children is being made public and, in some instances, may be given unwarranted or unintended credibility through release under professional titles or through professional organizations; and

WHEREAS elected officials have a duty to inform and counter actions they consider damaging to children, parents, families, and society; and

WHEREAS Alaska has made sexual molestation of a child a felony and has declared parents who sexually molest their children to be unfit; and

WHEREAS virtually all studies in this area, including those published by the American Psychological Association, condemn child sexual abuse as criminal and harmful to children; and

WHEREAS the American Psychological Association has recently published, but did not endorse, a study that suggests that sexual relationships between adults and willing children are less harmful than believed and might even be positive for "willing" children;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature condemns and denounces all suggestions in the recently published study by the American Psychological Association that indicates sexual relationships between adults and willing children are less harmful than believed and might even be positive for "willing" children; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to likewise reject and condemn, in the strongest honorable written and vocal terms possible, any suggestion that sexual relations between children and adults are anything but abusive, destructive, exploitive, reprehensible, and punishable by law; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages competent investigations to continue to research the effects of child sexual abuse using the best methodology so that the public and public policymakers may act upon accurate information.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States; the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Trent Lott, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., Surgeon General of the United States; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.