WASHINGTON OFFICE:

 

GWEN MOORE
DI Tm T, WISCONSIN 2252 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
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CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS WHIP     
3190MB of Representatives

December 8, 2017

Senate Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper
US. Capitol

Room S-151

Washington, DC 20510

RE: Safeguarding the Youth in the US. Senate Page Program

Dear Senate Sergeant at Arms,

I write you today to share my urgent concern regarding the threat to the safety of the young men
and women working in the United States Senate Page Program if Roy Moore becomes the US.
Senator to Alabama.

It has come to light that Roy Moore is alleged to have had a number of inappropriate
relationships with at least ten minors.1 The threat Roy Moore posed to minors was so notorious
and troublesome that in 1979 he was banned from the Gadsen Mall and YMCA for soliciting sex
from minor girls. 2 In addition to initiating a sexual encounter with a fourteen-year-old when he
was a thirty-two-year-old district attorney, Moore pursued relationships with three minors/young
women between the ages of sixteen to eighteen during this time.

As you know, for more than 180 years, the Congressional Page Program has provided a unique,
life changing opportunity for young people interested in learning about the legislative process.
These students are often high school juniors and seniors as young as 16 years of age. My state of
Wisconsin currently has one Page serving the US Senate this year, and it is a program to which
the state has been a proud contributor for many years. Serving as a Page can be an exciting and
enriching experience for these students as it provides them unique insight into our legislative
process.

However, being away from home also puts these young people in a very vulnerable position.
They are away from family and their normal support structures. They are thrust into an adult

 

time.com 5029172 no -moore-accusers
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world and an unfamiliar city. The nature of life on Capitol Hill necessitates long hours in close
proximity to lawmakers and staff that can create power dynamics of which young people are not
fully aware. It would be unconscionable for Congress to not be vigilant and proactive in taking
precautions to safeguard these children given the well sourced allegations against Roy Moore.

I believe my fears are well founded. We have seen Members of Congress abuse the
Congressional Page Program. You will recall that in 2006, former Republican Representative
Mark Foley resigned after sending suggestive emails and text messages to male Pages.
Unfortunately, this was a contributing factor in the then elimination of the House Page Program.
We need to be vigilant stewards of these children going forward.

In order to meet our obligation, I urge you to be proactive in protecting Senate Pages and that is
why I am asking if you are taking steps to prepare the Page Program for the possible election of
Roy Moore. I would like to know what preventative steps are being undertaken to safeguard
Senate Pages from predatory conduct of U.S. Senators and Senate staff. The U.S. Congress has
an obligation to keep these students safe especially in light of known potential harm.

Thank you for your service. I look forward to reading your response.

Sincerely,

Gwen S. Moore
Member of Congress