    [House Hearing, 117 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                          ENDING THE CYCLE: EXAMINING
                       WAYS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
                        AND PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

    =======================================================================

                                 JOINT HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                                SUBCOMMITTEE ON
                                CIVIL RIGHTS AND
                                 HUMAN SERVICES

                                       OF

                        COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
                         U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                 HEARING HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC, MARCH 22, 2021

                                   __________

                                Serial No. 117-4

                                   __________

          Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor

    [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

              Available via: edlabor.house.gov or www.govinfo.gov

                                   __________

                        U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
    43-872 PDF                 WASHINGTON : 2022

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR

                 ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT, Virginia, Chairman

    RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona            VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina,
    JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut              Ranking Member
    GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN,      JOE WILSON, South Carolina
      Northern Mariana Islands           GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania
    FREDERICA S. WILSON, Florida         TIM WALBERG, Michigan
    SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon             GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin
    MARK TAKANO, California              ELISE M. STEFANIK, New York
    ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina        RICK W. ALLEN, Georgia
    MARK De SAULNIER, California         JIM BANKS, Indiana
    DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey          JAMES COMER, Kentucky
    PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington          RUSS FULCHER, Idaho
    JOSEPH D. MORELLE, New York          FRED KELLER, Pennsylvania
    SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania             GREGORY F. MURPHY, North Carolina
    LUCY Mc BATH, Georgia                MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa
    JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut            BURGESS OWENS, Utah
    ANDY LEVIN, Michigan                 BOB GOOD, Virginia
    ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota                LISA C. Mc CLAIN, Michigan
    HALEY M. STEVENS, Michigan           DIANA HARSHBARGER, Tennessee
    TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New Mexico   MARY E. MILLER, Illinois
    MONDAIRE JONES, New York             VICTORIA SPARTZ, Indiana
    KATHY E. MANNING, North Carolina     SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin
    FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana              MADISON CAWTHORN, North Carolina
    JAMAAL BOWMAN, New York, Vice-Chair  MICHELLE STEEL, California
    MARK POCAN, Wisconsin                Vacancy
    JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas                Vacancy
    MIKIE SHERRILL, New Jersey
    JOHN A. YARMUTH, Kentucky
    ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York
    KWEISI MFUME, Maryland

                       Veronique Pluviose, Staff Director
                      Cyrus Artz, Minority Staff Director
                                     ------
                SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon, Chairwoman

    ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina        RUSS FULCHER, Idaho, Ranking
    JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut                Member
    TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New Mexico   GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania
    FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana              LISA C. Mc CLAIN, Michigan
    JAMAAL BOWMAN, New York              VICTORIA SPARTZ, Indiana
    KWEISI MFUME, Maryland               SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin
    ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT, Virginia  VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina (ex
      (ex officio)                           officio)

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

    Hearing held on March 22, 2021...................................     1

    Statement of Members:
        Bonamici, Hon. Suzanne, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Civil
          Rights
          and Human Services.........................................     1
            Prepared statement of....................................     4
        Fulcher, Hon. Russ, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil
          Rights
          and Human Services.........................................     6
            Prepared statement of....................................     6

    Statement of Witnesses:
        Miller, Elizabeth, MD, Ph.D., Director, Adolescent and Young
          Adult
          Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh...........    24
            Prepared statement of....................................    27
        Novoryta, Ami, Chief Program Officer, Catholic Charities of
          the
          Archdiocese of Chicago.....................................    20
            Prepared statement of....................................    23
        Schlater, Wendy, Vice Chairwoman, La Jolla Band of Luiseno
          Indians....................................................    13
            Prepared statement of....................................    15
        Timmons, Vanessa, Executive Director, Oregon Coalition
          Against
          Domestic and Sexual Violence...............................     8
            Prepared statement of....................................    10

    Additional Submissions:
        McBath, Lucy, a Representative in Congress from the State of
          Georgia
            Letter in support of the Family Violence Prevention and
              Services Improvements Act of 2019......................    56

                          ENDING THE CYCLE: EXAMINING
                       WAYS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
                        AND PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

                                  ----------

                             Monday, March 22, 2021

                      House of Representatives,
       Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services,
                              Committee on Education and Labor,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 12 p.m., via
    Zoom, Hon. Suzanne Bonamici (Chairwoman of the subcommittee)
    presiding.
        Present: Representatives Bonamaci, Adams, Hayes, Leger
    Fernandez, Mrvan, Bowman, Scott, Fulcher, Thompson, Spartz,
    Fitzgerald, and Foxx.
        Staff present: Ilana Brunner, Ijeoma Egekeze, Alison Hard,
    Sheila Havenner, Eli Hovland, Carrie Hughes, Ariel Jona, Andre
    Lindsay, Max Moore, Mariah Mowbray, Kayla Pennebecker,
    Veronique Pluviose, Banyon Vassar, Cyrus Artz, Minority Staff
    Director; Courtney Butcher, Minority Director of Member
    Services and Coalitions; Amy Raaf Jones, Minority Director of
    Education and Human Resources Policy; Hannah Matesic, Minority
    Director of Operations; Jake Middlebrooks, Minority Staff
    Member; Carlton Norwood, Minority Press Secretary; and Mandy
    Schaumburg, Minority Chief Counsel and Deputy Director of
    Education Policy.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. The Subcommittee on Civil Rights and
    Human Services will come to order. Welcome everyone. I note
    that a quorum is present. The subcommittee is meeting today to
    hear testimony on ``Ending the Cycle: Examining Ways to Prevent
    Domestic Violence and Promote Healthy Communities.''
        I note for the subcommittee that full committee Member
    Representative McBath of Georgia is joining us and is permitted
    to participate in today's hearing with the understanding that
    her questions will come after all Members of the subcommittee
    on both sides of the aisle who are present have had an
    opportunity to question the witnesses.
        This is an entirely remote hearing. All microphones will be
    kept muted as a general rule to avoid unnecessary background
    noise. Members and witnesses will be responsible for unmuting
    themselves when they are recognized to speak, or when they wish
    to seek recognition.
        I also ask that Members please identify themselves before
    they speak. Members should keep their cameras on while in the
    proceeding. Members shall be considered present in the
    proceeding when they are visible on camera, and they shall be
    considered not present when they are not visible on camera. The
    only exception to this is if they are experiencing technical
    difficulty, and inform committee staff of such difficulty.
        If any Member experiences technical difficulties during the
    hearing you should stay connected on the platform, make sure
    you are muted, and use your phone to immediately call the
    committee's IT Director whose number was provided in advance.
    Should the Chair experience technical difficulty, or need to
    step away to vote on the floor, which won't happen today,
    Chairman Scott or another Majority Member of the subcommittees
    if he not available is hereby authorized to assume the gavel in
    the Chair's absence.
        This is an entirely remote hearing and as such the
    committee's hearing room is officially closed. Members who
    choose to sit with their individual devices in the hearing room
    must wear headphones to avoid feedback, echoes and distortion
    resulting from more than one person on the software platform
    sitting in the same room.
        Members are also expected to adhere to social distancing,
    and safe health guidelines including the use of masks, hand
    sanitizer and wiping down their areas, both before and after
    their presence in the hearing room. To make sure that the
    Committee's five-minute rule is adhered to, staff will be
    keeping track of time using the committee's field timer.
        The field timer will appear in its own thumbnail picture
    and will be labeled 001_timer. There will not be a one minute
    remaining warning. The field timer will sound its audio alarm
    when the time is up. Members and witnesses are asked to wrap up
    promptly when their time has expired.
        A roll call is not necessary to establish a quorum in
    official proceedings conducted remotely or with remote
    participation, but the committee has made it a practice
    whenever there is an official proceeding with remote
    participation for the Clerk to call the roll to help make clear
    who is present at the start of the proceeding.
        Members should say their name before announcing they are
    present. This helps the Clerk, and also helps those watching
    the platform and the livestream who may experience a few
    seconds delay.
        At this time I ask the clerk to call the roll.
        The Clerk. Chairwoman Bonamici?
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Chair Bonamici is present.
        Ms. Adams.
        [No response]
        The Clerk. Mrs. Hayes?
        [No response]
        The Clerk. Ms. Leger Fernandez?
        Ms. Leger Fernandez. Ms. Leger Fernandez is present.
        The Clerk. Mr. Mrvan?
        Mr. Mrvan. Present. Frank Mrvan present.
        The Clerk. Mr. Bowman?
        Mr. Bowman. Jamaal Bowman present.
        The Clerk. Mr. Mfume?
        [No response]
        The Clerk. Ranking Member Fulcher?
        Mr. Fulcher. Fulcher is here.
        The Clerk. Mr. Thompson.
        [No response.]
        The Clerk. Ms. McClain?
        [No response.]
        The Clerk. Ms. Spartz?
        [No response]
        The Clerk. Mr. Fitzgerald?
        Mr. Fitzgerald. I am here, present.
        The Clerk. Chairwoman Bonamici that concludes the roll
    call.
        Ms. Foxx. Madam Chairwoman I am here too.
        Ms. Adams. Alma Adams is present.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. Pursuant to Committee Rule
    8(c), opening statements are limited to the Chair and the
    Ranking Member. This allows us to hear from our witnesses
    sooner and provides all Members with adequate time to ask
    questions.
        I recognize myself now for the purpose of making an opening
    Statement.
        Today we are discussing the urgent need to update and
    strengthen Federal programs that help prevent intimate partner
    violence and provide services to survivors. Before I begin, I
    want to recognize that this discussion may be extremely
    difficult for some people who are watching.
        I would ask all participants to be mindful of the sensitive
    nature of this conversation. I encourage anyone who needs
    support to visit www.thehotline.org. This is an important and
    timely conversation. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has
    increased the risk for intimate partner violence and disrupted
    services that offer protection and support to survivors. As a
    result, an already quiet crisis has become even harder to both
    track and address.
        In Oregon leaders like Vanessa Timmons who the committee
    will hear from today are working tirelessly to reach survivors
    and provide them with resources and support. In the district I
    represent here in Northwest Oregon, providers like the Domestic
    Violence Resource Center and Greater Portland YWCA provide
    shelter, support, services for children, and counseling for
    survivors in crisis.
        But we know they need more resources to meet the demand for
    assistance. The urgent need to address intimate partner
    violence could not be overstated. About 1 in 4 women, and
    nearly 1 in 10 men, have reported experiencing some form of
    intimate partner violence.
        These incidences often cause physical injuries that portend
    to even greater risks. Some reports have shown that half of
    female homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner. For
    survivors of violence the emotional trauma can last long after
    the physical injuries have healed.
        These experiences often first occur when survivors are
    younger than 25, triggering potentially life-long struggles
    with chronic disease and mental health conditions. Congress
    took a major step to address this issue in 1984 by authorizing
    the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Today this
    essential pillar in our fight against intimate partner violence
    is responsible for shelters, support services for survivors,
    and 24-hour domestic violence hotline.
        With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010,
    Congress also established the Pregnancy Assistance Fund which
    provide critical services to improve the health of women and
    children. Specifically, this program invested in expanding
    access to services for teen parents as well as pregnant people
    and new parents, who are survivors of domestic violence or
    sexual assault.
        These foundational programs are proven to be effective in
    addressing intimate partner violence, but they are also
    severely underfunded, particularly in light of today's
    challenges. Just a few weeks ago in the American Rescue Act,
    excuse me in the American Rescue Plan, the committee secured
    450 million dollars for programs to address intimate partner
    violence and sexual assault.
        Importantly, this funding will help culturally specific
    organizations outreach to underserved communities of color
    which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
    This historic investment in the American Rescue Plan will save
    lives, but we need long-term policies and investment.
        Now Congress must look to next steps, such as updating the
    Family Violence Prevention and Services Act which we have not
    reauthorized since 2003, and the Pregnancy Assistance Fund
    which expired in 2019. Today we'll discuss steps to further
    strengthen our response to the domestic violence crisis, and
    importantly discuss ways that domestic violence and sexual
    violence can be prevented.
        First, we must focus on equity. Domestic violence can
    affect people from any background or income, but we know that
    communities of color, LGBTQ individuals, and people with
    disabilities face disproportionate rates of intimate partner
    violence, and have limited access to services.
        We must further expand programs that are specifically
    designed to reach and support these underserved communities. We
    must also specifically invest in meeting the needs of native
    survivors of domestic violence. We know tribal communities face
    unique barriers to navigating the healthcare and criminal
    justice systems, with only limited access to largely
    underfunded support services.
        Finally, and importantly, we must focus on preventing
    intimate partner violence before it happens. Currently, the
    only prevention program in the Family Violence Prevention and
    Services Act is significantly underfunded. Reauthorizing this
    law would help protect our communities from the pain and cost,
    emotionally, physically and financially of domestic violence.
        We can aggressively combat intimate partner violence and
    prevent it from happening in the first place. It's not only the
    smart thing to do as rates of violence increase, it's the right
    thing to do for the well-being of our families and communities.
    I thank my colleague, Representative Lucy McBath for her
    leadership and working to reauthorize the Family Violence
    Prevention Services Act, and I also want to thank her witnesses
    for being with us. And I now yield to Ranking Member Mr.
    Fulcher for your opening Statement.
        [The statement of Chairwoman Bonamici follows:]

     Statement of Hon. Suzanne Bonamici, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Civil
                           Rights and Human Services

        Today, we are discussing the urgent need to update and strengthen
    Federal programs that help prevent intimate partner violence and
    provide services to survivors.
        Before I begin, I want to recognize that this discussion may be
    extremely difficult for some people who are watching. I would ask all
    participants to be mindful of the sensitive nature of this
    conversation, and I encourage anyone who needs support to visit
    www.thehotline.org.
        This is an important and timely conversation. The ongoing COVID-19
    pandemic has increased the risk for intimate partner violence and
    disrupted services that offer protection and support to survivors. As a
    result, an already quiet crisis has become even harder to both track
    and address.
        In Oregon, leaders like Vanessa Timmons, who the committee will
    hear from today, are working tirelessly to reach survivors and provide
    them with resources and support. In the district I represent, providers
    like the Domestic Violence Resource Center and the Greater Portland
    YWCA provide shelter, support, services for children, and counseling
    for survivors in crisis. But we know they need more resources to meet
    the demand for assistance.
        The urgent need to address intimate partner violence cannot be
    overstated. About one in four women and nearly one in ten men have
    reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence. These
    incidents often cause physical injuries that portend even graver risks.
    Some reports have shown that more than half of female homicide victims
    were killed by an intimate partner.
        For survivors of violence, the emotional trauma can last long after
    the physical injuries have healed. These experiences often first occur
    when survivors are younger than 25, triggering potentially lifelong
    struggles with chronic disease and mental health conditions.
        Congress took a major step to address this issue in 1984 by
    authorizing the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Today,
    this central pillar in our fight against intimate partner violence is
    responsible for shelters, support services for survivors, and 24-hour
    domestic violence hotlines.
        With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, Congress also
    established the Pregnancy Assistance Fund, which provided critical
    services to improve the health of women and children. Specifically,
    this program invested in expanding access to services for teen parents
    as well as pregnant people and new parents who are survivors of
    domestic violence or sexual assault.
        These foundational programs are proven to be effective in
    addressing intimate partner violence. But they are also severely
    underfunded, particularly in light of today's challenges.
        Just a few weeks ago in the American Rescue Plan Act. the Committee
    secured $450 million for programs to address intimate partner violence
    and sexual assault. Importantly, this funding will help culturally
    specific organizations outreach to underserved communities of color,
    which have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic.
        The historic investments in the American Rescue Plan will save
    lives, but we need long-term policies and investment.
        Now, Congress must look to next steps, such as updating the Family
    Violence Prevention and Services Act, which we have not reauthorized
    since 2003, and the Pregnancy Assistance Fund, which expired in 2019.
        Today, we will discuss steps to further strengthen our response to
    the domestic violence crisis and importantly, discuss ways that
    domestic violence and sexual violence can be prevented.
        First, we must focus on equity. Domestic violence can affect people
    from any background or income, but we know that communities of color,
    LGBTQ individuals, and people with disabilities face disproportionate
    rates of intimate partner violence, yet have limited access to
    services. We must further expand programs that are specifically
    designed to reach and support these underserved communities.
        We must also specifically invest in meeting the needs of Native
    survivors of domestic violence. We know tribal communities face unique
    barriers to navigating the health care and criminal justice systems
    with only limited access to largely underfunded support services.
        Finally, and importantly, we must focus on preventing intimate
    partner violence before it happens. Currently, the only prevention
    program in the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act is
    significantly underfunded. Reauthorizing this law would help protect
    our communities from the pain and cost ? emotionally, physically, and
    financially--of domestic violence.
        We can aggressively combat intimate partner violence and prevent it
    from happening in the first place. It is not only the smart thing to do
    as rates of violence increase, it's the right thing to do for the well-
    being of our families and communities.
        I want to thank my colleague, Representative Lucy McBath, for her
    leadership in working to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and
    Services Act. I also want to thank our witnesses, again, for being with
    us, and now I yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. Fulcher.
                                     ______

        Mr. Fulcher. Thank you, Madam Chair, for convening this
    hearing regarding domestic violence. A 2015 survey by the CDC
    estimated that one-third of all men and women are victims of
    domestic violence at some point in their life.
        Data in 2019 from my home State of Idaho supports this
    survey whereby about 37 percent of assaults were domestic
    violence related. In 2020 it's worse. COVID-19 has dealt our
    Nation with government mandated restrictions and economic
    challenges. It appears those negative outcomes have snowballed
    to exacerbate an even worse fallout.
        Evidence suggests that in this pandemic ridden environment
    stress, due to work, school, substance abuse and financial
    struggles have added to more violence in the home. Especially
    hard hit appear to be rural areas, where job opportunities can
    be hard to find.
        Last year Idaho saw an 84 percent increase in domestic
    violence related calls along with more emergency intakes and
    overnight shelter requests. Domestic violence in any form is an
    evil that demands a strong response. This issue does not impact
    all people equally. While a notable share of men are
    victimized, domestic violence disproportionately impacts women.
        And despite the cancel cultures desire to blur the lines
    between women and men, facts are facts. We need to protect
    everyone, but realize that our women are the most vulnerable.
    Congress has continued to allocate the funding to address this
    issue, most recently in the CARES Act, the Family Violence
    Prevention and Services Programs, which I and many of my
    colleagues supported.
        Moving forward our efforts should include confronting the
    issue and supporting survivors with tools like domestic
    violence hotline, so victims can reach out and receive help.
    However, the solution is more complicated than simply
    increasing spending. More money alone will not solve domestic
    violence in our society.
        We must understand that dealing with this issue is best
    done at the local level, and government can't always provide
    the answers. Local civic groups and faith-based providers are
    best positions to provide aid and deliver it effectively.
        Committee Republicans recognize the importance of
    supporting survivors of domestic violence, but any
    reauthorization should focus primarily on local solutions and a
    coordinated community response, not just more Federal spending.
    The committee should work to support best practices and act
    knowing that as good as our intentions may be, we cannot
    pretend to be able to solve them all from Washington, DC.
        I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, especially
    Ms. Ami Novoryta, I'll get that straight, who will discuss the
    important work of local organizations that faith-based
    providers are doing to serve those in need. Madam Chair thank
    you. I yield back.
        [The statement of Ranking Member Fulcher follows:]

     Statement of Hon. Russ Fulcher, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil
                           Rights and Human Services

        A 2015 survey by the CDC estimated that one-third of all men and
    women are victims of domestic violence at some point in their life.
    Data in 2019 from my home State of Idaho supports this survey, whereby
    about 37 percent of assaults were domestic violence-related. In 2020,
    it's worse.
        COVID-19 has dealt our Nation with government-mandated restrictions
    and economic challenges. It appears those negative outcomes have
    snowballed to exacerbate an even worse fallout. Evidence suggests that
    in this pandemic-ridden environment, stress, due to work, school,
    substance abuse, and financial struggles, have added to more violence
    in the home. Especially hard-hit appear to be rural areas where job
    opportunities can be hard to find. Last year, Idaho saw an 84 percent
    increase in domestic violence-related calls, along with more emergency
    intakes and overnight shelter requests.
        Domestic violence in any form is an evil that demands a strong
    response. This issue does not impact all people equally. While a
    notable share of men are victimized, domestic violence
    disproportionately impacts women. And despite the cancel culture's
    desire to blur the lines between women and men, facts are facts. We
    need to protect everyone and realize that our women are the most
    vulnerable.
        Congress has continued to allocate funding to address this issue,
    most recently in the CARES Act via Family Violence Prevention and
    Services (FVPSA) programs, which I and many of my colleagues supported.
    Moving forward, our efforts should include confronting the issue and
    supporting survivors, with tools like the domestic violence hotline so
    victims can reach out and receive help.
        However, the solution is more complicated than simply increasing
    spending. More money alone will NOT solve domestic violence in our
    society. We must understand that dealing with this issue is best done
    at the local level, and government cannot always provide the answers.
    Local civic groups and faith-based providers are best positioned to
    provide aid and deliver it effectively.
        Committee Republicans recognize the importance of supporting
    survivors of domestic violence. But any reauthorization should focus
    primarily on local solutions and a coordinated community response, not
    just more Federal spending. The Committee should work to support best
    practices and act, knowing that as good as our intentions may be, we
    cannot pretend to be able to solve them all from Washington, DC.
        I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, especially Ms. Ami
    Novoryta, who will discuss the important work local organizations and
    faith-based providers are doing on the ground to serve those in need.
                                     ______

        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Ranking Member Fulcher.
    Without objection all other Members who wish to insert written
    statements into the record may do so by submitting them to the
    Committee Clerk electronically in Microsoft Word format by 5
    p.m. on April 5, 2021.
        I will now introduce the witnesses. Mrs. Vanessa Timmons is
    the Executive Director of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic
    and Sexual Violence. Ms. Wendy Schlater is the Vice Chairwoman
    of the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians. She is Board Treasurer
    of the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center.
        Ms. Ami Novoryta is the Chief Program Officer for Catholic
    Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Doctor Elizabeth
    Miller is a Pediatrician and Director of Adolescent and Young
    Adult Medicine at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. We
    appreciate the witnesses for participating today, and we look
    forward to your testimony.
        Let me remind the witnesses that we have read your written
    Statements, and they will appear in full in the hearing record.
    Pursuant to Committee Rule 8(d) and committee practice, you are
    each asked to limit your oral presentation to a five-minute
    summary of your written Statement.
        I also remind the witnesses that pursuant to 18 of the U.S.
    Code, Section 1001, it is illegal to knowingly and willfully
    falsify any Statement, representation, writing, document, or
    material fact presented to Congress or otherwise conceal or
    cover up a material fact.
        And before you begin your testimony, please remember to
    unmute your microphone. During your testimony, staff will be
    keeping track of the time and a timer will sound when your time
    is up. Please be attentive to the time and wrap up when your
    time is over and then remute your microphone.
        If you experience any technical difficulties during your
    testimony or later in the hearing, please stay connected on the
    platform, make sure you are muted and use your phone to
    immediately call the committee's IT director, whose number was
    provided to you in advance.
        We will let all the witnesses make their presentations
    before we move to Member questions. When answering a question,
    please remember to unmute your microphone. I will first
    recognize Mrs. Timmons. You are recognized for five minutes for
    your testimony.

       STATEMENT OF VANESSA TIMMONS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OREGON
                 COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL
                                VIOLENCE

        Ms. Timmons. Thank you Chairwoman Bonamici, Ranking Member
    Fulcher and distinguished Members of the subcommittee. Thank
    you for the opportunity to testify today on ending the cycle,
    examining ways to prevent domestic violence and promote healthy
    communities.
        My name is Vanessa Timmons. I'm the Executive Director of
    the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. I've
    been in the field for more than 30 years, and I have been the
    OCADSV Executive Director for the past 8 years. I hope to speak
    on behalf of not only our 51 Member programs in Oregon, but
    also on behalf of survivors that we all serve.
        Unfortunately, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men are survivors
    of domestic violence. This means all of us know someone who has
    been impacted by intimate partner violence. No one in our
    country escapes the impact of this public health crisis.
    Intimate partner violence is a public health issue which
    requires all of us and a holistic public health response.
        Over 1,600 domestic violence programs offer services such
    as emergency shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and
    preventive education to millions of adult and child victims
    every year. These programs rely on the consistent funding
    provided by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act,
    also referred to as FVPSA.
        FVPSA expired in 2015 and must be reauthorized with key
    enhancements in order to meet the intersecting crisis of this
    moment. Since its passage in 1984, FVPSA has remained the sole
    Federal funding source for domestic violence shelters and
    services. FVPSA is the life blood of domestic violence
    programs, providing stable modest funding.
        FVPSA also provides dedicated funding to domestic violence
    coalitions in every State and U.S. territory. Coalitions
    provide support, technical assistance and training to our local
    programs, who support the survivors that we all care so deeply
    about. Coalitions are important because we bring that birds eye
    view to the field by programs and doing their day to day work.
        We work closely with our State government agencies to
    ensure funding is getting to each and every community. Despite
    the progress brought by FVPSA, programs are underfunded, and we
    struggle to keep up with demand for services. According to the
    National Network to End Domestic Violence's forthcoming
    Domestic Violence Counts Report, in 2020 domestic violence
    programs across the country served more than 76,000 victims
    just in 1 day.
        But sadly in that same day, over 11,000 requests for
    services went unmet due to a lack of resources. Approximately
    57 percent of these unmet requests were for housing and
    emergency shelter. For those individuals who were not able to
    find safety that day, the consequences could be dire.
        The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected
    victims of domestic violence and exacerbated their urgent
    needs. Stay at home orders, quarantines, and a lack of privacy
    that is inherent in an abusive home has created additional
    barriers to safety, and access to services.
        Black, indigenous and other survivors of color have always
    faced increased barriers to safety such as systemic racism and
    historical trauma. The pandemic has heightened the need for
    culturally specific organizations who are better equipped to
    address the complex challenges facing victims from racial and
    ethnic minority populations.
        The reauthorization of FVPSA provides an important
    opportunity to continue the progress we have made toward
    meeting the needs of domestic violence victims and breaking
    that terrible cycle of abuse. Victims needs are great and there
    is much to do to end domestic violence in our country.
        In order to move closer to this goal, I urge the committee
    to prioritize the swift, reauthorization of the Family Violence
    Prevention and Services Act. I thank you for your time, and I
    look forward to answering your questions.
        [The prepared Statement of Ms. Timmons follows:]

                     Prepared Statement of Vanessa Timmons
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Mrs. Timmons, for your
    testimony. And now I will recognize Ms. Schlater for five
    minutes for your testimony.

             STATEMENT OF WENDY SCHLATER, VICE CHAIRWOMAN,
                    LA JOLLA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS

        Ms. Schlater. Miiyuyam and Nosun Looviq, hello and thank
    you, Chairwoman Bonamici, Ranking Member Fulcher, and committee
    Members. My name is Wendy Schlater and I'm the Vice Chairwoman
    for the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians.
        The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, FVPSA, has
    made a difference in the lives of victims of domestic violence.
    FVPSA reauthorization with the enhancements will ensure the
    door to lifesaving services for all victims remains open. I
    urge this committee to support reauthorization with the
    proposed enhancements.
        The 2018 Commission on Civil Rights Broken Promises Report
    found that the Federal Government's failure to fulfill its
    trust responsibility is at the root of inequities facing Native
    Americans in health, public safety, and housing.
        I am also the Director of the Safety for Native Women's
    Program funded by FVPSA, responding to violence against women.
    We provide 24/7 crisis services, shelter, counseling and other
    assistance. Our FVPSA funding fills in the gaps that victims
    otherwise fall through.
        One of those gaps is the justice system who often fails
    victims. For these victims, FVPSA's resources are all that's
    preventing them from going missing or being murdered. Your
    support for FVPSA enhancements is key to tackling these
    problems.
        Only with FVPSA funding can we provide shelter through
    hotel rooms, safe homes, and shelters in the shelter that we
    opened which is often full. We also help children who are
    removed from their homes, placing them with other family.
    Without these resources our children are placed in a local
    children's center, which we avoid using because they have been
    further victimized in this center.
        While FVPSA reauthorization expired in 2015, appropriators
    have set aside increased funds from 2017 to 2021 for an Alaska
    Native resource center to reduce tribal disparities through our
    national Indian domestic violence hotline, and tribal event
    programs.
        The proposed reauthorization enhancements permanently
    authorize these changes made by appropriators. An authorization
    for an Alaska native resource center and Indian domestic
    violence hotline, increased overall authorizations, and
    adjustments to the formula increased what tribes received from
    10 to 12.5 percent. I know first-hand how FVPSA has made a
    difference.
        One morning when I arrived at my office a woman and her
    children were parked in the front of our office and had spent
    the night there. The woman had run away the night before with
    her children, one of whom was autistic and had Down syndrome.
    She left with nothing because her husband had been abusive and
    burned their clothes, including their son's orthotic brace,
    which he needed to walk.
        Through FVPSA we replaced the son's orthotic brace, found
    her temporary shelter, and later a home of her own. The
    National Domestic Violence Hotline launched a National Indian
    Hotline, called StrongHearts. Native advocates helped navigate
    the barriers facing Native victims, despite the rates of
    violence against Native women.
        Native services are thin. Where the national hotline has
    more than 4,000 resources in their data base, StrongHearts has
    fewer than 300 Native resources. There are more than 1,500
    shelters nationwide compared to fewer than 60 Native shelters,
    hence the proposed authorization for a National Indian Hotline.
        Tribal coalitions have been key to educating the
    policymakers. Examples of these resulting changes include the
    local shelter that we've opened, and the States that have
    established missing and murdered indigenous women's task
    forces. The technical assistance by coalitions has been at the
    heart of these changes.
        Unfortunately, tribal coalitions are not authorized to
    receive FVPSA funding. This exclusion reflects a disparity
    faced by tribal coalitions and the tribes they serve. One of
    the proposed FVPSA enhancements is authorizing funding for
    tribal coalitions. In 2013 the National Indigenous Women's
    Resource Center developed the Alaska Native Women's Resource
    Center which helped to raise challenges facing Alaska Native
    victims as issues of national concern.
        As a result, in 2017 Congress appropriated funds for the
    Alaska Native Resource Center, which has been an invaluable
    resource providing information to prevent domestic violence
    like never before. In addition, we have coordinated with the
    Native Hawaiians to address domestic violence, helping to
    create a grass roots organization with over 50 years of
    advocacy experience.
        The 1993 Apology to Hawaiians recognized the economic and
    social changes over the centuries that have been devastating to
    the health and well-being of the Hawaiian people. Congress
    amended FVPSA in 2010 authorizing Native resource centers,
    including Native Hawaiian Center, which could help promote
    healthier communities.
        In closing, the Federal Government must fulfill its trust
    responsibility to assist tribes and Native Hawaiians and
    safeguarding women. Failing to do so results in Native women
    experiencing disproportionate rates of violence. I urge the
    committee to reauthorize FVPSA with the proposed enhancements.
    Nu$son Looviq, my heart is good. Thank you.
        [The prepared Statement of Ms. Schlater follows:]

                      Prepared Statement of Wendy Schlater
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you for your testimony. And I
    will now recognize Ms. Novoryta for five minutes for your
    testimony.

      STATEMENT OF AMI NOVORYTA, CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER, CATHOLIC
                CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO

        Ms. Novoryta. Chair Bonamici, Ranking Member Fulcher, and
    Members of the subcommittee, thank you for giving me the
    opportunity to testify on how Catholic Charities of the
    Archdiocese of Chicago strives to prevent domestic violence and
    promote healthy communities.
        Catholic Charities is one of the largest social service
    providers in the Midwest, and I am here today as Charities'
    Chief Program Officer. For 104 years, Catholic Charities has
    served and accompanied anyone in need in Greater Chicago. Every
    year, Charities' helps nearly 200 survivors of domestic
    violence, and those at high risk through emergency shelter,
    safety planning, counseling, legal services, and transitional
    housing.
        Our wrap-around services and our partnerships help
    survivors and in many cases their children improve stability
    and restore security.
        The survivors that we serve at Catholic Charities Chicago
    face staggering challenges. One hundred percent live below the
    Federal poverty line. They come to us as survivors of
    intergenerational trauma. They fear losing their children. They
    often have prolonged exposure to substance abuse and are
    experiencing homelessness or are unstably housed. Almost
    universally, they are in poor physical and emotional health.
        Survivors are often isolated due to cultural factors,
    language barriers, and lack of awareness of their lawful
    protections. Moreover, they have inadequate support once they
    leave the abusive situation.
        It is often the church, and Catholic Charities, to which
    survivors turn. The role of trusted, faith-based providers in
    this service arena is profound. We are finding that COVID only
    compounds the struggles faced by the survivors we serve. Since
    the pandemic began, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline
    reports a 15 percent increase in calls and a 2,000 percent
    increase in text messages requesting help.
        Additional burdens include financial stress, unemployment,
    isolation, increased family conflict, and deepening mental
    health issues. For persons experiencing domestic abuse,
    lockdowns and other COVID restrictions have forced them to
    spend more time with their abuser, and less time with their
    support network, increasing survivors' difficulty trying to
    flee.
        A grim reality is that flight from an abusive situation
    often leaves survivors without a place to call home. In
    response, Catholic Charities operates two transitional housing
    programs for domestic violence survivors. While families are in
    a safe environment, Charities supports them on their journey
    toward healing and recovery, with a long-term goal of securing
    permanent housing and stable employment. We offer free legal
    services, including facilitating orders of protection and court
    representation.
        Although survivors may reside with us for up to 2 years,
    families typically transition after 12 to 14 months. Once a 1-
    year housing agreement is secured, Charities arrange for the
    family to move into its new home. With our support, survivors
    arrived with a truckload of furniture, household supplies and
    clothing, and often with savings of $2,000.00 to $3,000.00.
        Most important is their increased self-sufficiency and
    their deep connection to a supportive, faith-based community.
    Our presence continues in many survivors' lives through after
    care programming, including support groups, and access to food,
    clothing, school supplies, and other necessities.
        Even through COVID, 100 percent of the survivors that we
    have served remain in stable, permanent housing. Prior to
    COVID, 68 percent sustained full-time employment. Today
    employment is an ongoing struggle.
        This winter we began offering new services for survivors of
    domestic violence on the west side of Chicago where African
    Americans and Latinx communities have been hardest hit by
    COVID. Our staff offer trauma-informed counseling and intensive
    case management. We are collaborating with churches, hospitals,
    and others to expand access to free, confidential services for
    survivors. Together we are helping people regain control of
    their lives and continue their healing process.
        Our shelters and our healing recovery programs help
    survivors to rebuild their lives with hope and dignity. Thank
    you for this opportunity to lift up our work before you today.
        [The prepared Statement of Ms. Novoryta follows:]

                       Prepared Statement of Ami Novoryta
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you for your testimony. And
    finally, we will hear from Dr. Miller. I recognize you for five
    minutes for your testimony.

    STATEMENT OF ELIZABETH MILLER, MD, Ph.D., DIRECTOR, ADOLESCENT
                    AND YOUNG ADULT MEDICINE, UPMC
                   CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH

        Dr. Miller. Thank you, Chairwoman Bonamici, Ranking Member
    Fulcher, and Members of the committee. Thank you for the
    opportunity to speak with you today on the importance of
    preventing domestic violence and child abuse and reauthorizing
    the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, FVPSA.
        My name is Dr. Liz Miller. I'm a Professor of Pediatrics
    and Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. I also
    direct Adolescent and Young Adult Health and Community Health
    at UPMC Children's Hospital.
        I'm here today to share with you some of my personal
    reflections over the last 20 years working as a pediatrician
    and researcher. And I begin with a story from two decades ago
    while I was still a physician in training. I was volunteering
    one night a week in a clinic for young people who were unstably
    housed.
        A 15-year-old came in for a pregnancy test. She did not
    want to be pregnant and was not using any contraception. Her
    pregnancy test was negative. I offered her education. Along the
    way I asked her the usual domestic violence screening question
    I've been taught to ask. Are you feeling safe in your
    relationship? To which she nodded a quick yes.
        I finished with her exam, gave her some health information,
    and encouraged her to come back if she wanted help preventing
    pregnancy. Two weeks later she was in our emergency room with a
    severe head injury, having been pushed down the stairs by her
    boyfriend. That experience fundamentally shifted my career.
        I dedicated myself to understanding more about the impact
    of violence on young people with opportunities created by
    FVPSA, I have been able to provide some of the evidence that we
    can indeed prevent violence. For this testimony I'm going to
    focus on two evidence-based programs.
        One, in partnership with the National Health Resource
    Center on Domestic Violence run by Futures Without Violence, a
    FVPSA grantee. I co-created an intervention for healthcare
    settings that can reduce rates of violence. This approach,
    which we call CUES, C for confidentiality, U for universal
    education, E for empowerment and S for support, has been shown
    in several randomized trials to be effective.
        A second program I'd like to lift up is called Coaching
    Boys Into Men. This violence prevention program inspires
    athletic coaches to teach their young athletes about healthy
    and respectful relationships. In randomized trials with both
    high school and middle school athletes, the program has found
    dramatic reductions in relationship abuse and sexual violence 1
    year later.
        In fact, our team recently published an estimate that for
    every 1,000 boys exposed to this program, 20 cases of sexual
    assault are prevented. Given that the Centers for Disease
    Control and Prevention, the CDC, estimates one sexual assault
    costs our society about $123,000.00.
        The return on investment of a program like this is immense.
    I strongly recommend the reauthorization of FVPSA. While the
    FVPSA program is administered by Family and Youth Services
    Bureau within the larger Administration for Children and
    Families, it is the Delta Program administered by the CDC and
    authorized as part of FVPSA that focuses on prevention.
        The Coaching Boys Into Men Program I mentioned, has been
    implemented across the county using Delta funding. And Delta
    extends only to about 10 States each year, so I recommend that
    we continue to fund Stated local partnerships, via the Delta
    program to test new and innovative ideas for prevention.
        Second, to provide base-line funding so all of our States
    and territories may have designated funding for prevention, and
    finally to provide additional designated funding to the Family
    Violence Prevention and Services Program within Family and
    Youth Services Bureau so that our victims service agencies can
    also support prevention activities.
        I also want to go back for a moment to the story I
    mentioned at the outset. Although my patient was not pregnant
    that day, she could have been among our young people who are
    pregnant and parenting. The Pregnancy Assistance Fund
    previously played a vital role in helping this most vulnerable
    group.
        Young people who are pregnant and parenting need extra
    support to succeed--high quality childcare, education, housing,
    food security, transportation and certainly comprehensive
    healthcare. So, I will leave you with three thoughts.
        Violence is preventable. Second, to prevent domestic
    violence and child abuse we must take a holistic approach. And
    finally, FVPSA is an excellent Federal program. We know it
    works. Rarely have so few dollars accomplished so much to help
    people.
        And we can do more to support prevention. First, by
    expanding the Delta Program so funding can reach all States.
    And second, by authorizing additional prevention funding out of
    the Family Violence and Services Office. Thank you for the
    honor and privilege of sharing these thoughts with you today,
    and for your consideration. I'm now ready to take your
    questions as well.
        [The prepared Statement of Dr. Miller follows:]

                   Prepared Statement of Dr. Elizabeth Miller
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you so much, each of you, for
    your excellent testimony.
        Under Committee Rule 9(a), we will now question witnesses
    under the five-minute rule. After the chair and Ranking Member,
    I will be recognizing Members of both subcommittees in the
    order of their seniority on the full committee.
        And again, to make sure that the Members' five-minute rule,
    staff will be keeping track of time and the timer will sound
    when your time is over. Please re-mute your microphone.
        And as chair, I recognize myself for five minutes.
        Mrs. Timmons, thank you so much for your work and
    commitment to helping survivors in Oregon. I'm impressed by
    everything you've accomplished over the years. I learned a lot
    from our conversation last week. Recently, Congress provided
    450 million dollars to support survivors of intimate partner
    violence and sexual assault during the COVID-19 pandemic.
        So, I wanted to ask you could you please tell me more about
    the operational challenges that programs in Oregon have
    experienced during the pandemic, and during prior disasters
    that have made supplemental funds so critical?
        Ms. Timmons. Thank you. Yes. Survivors in Oregon really
    struggled early on to get the proper PPE, or proper equipment
    to keep our shelters open and keep survivors safe while they
    were in shelter. We struggled significantly with getting masks,
    and cleaning supplies.
        And shelters in our State are small. They're primarily
    homes that have been transformed into shelters. And so, this
    was a significant barrier to safety. We also had fires that
    raged through our community which caused some shelters to have
    to close and move survivors into hotels.
        We were struggling with really basic needs at that point
    from food to water, to clothing and some of the really basic
    things that folks needed. One of the things that I also want to
    touch on in terms of COVID is that the disproportional impact
    that COVID has had on tribal and [inaudible] of black,
    indigenous and people of color communities that are in Oregon.
        And I think that there has been a significant impact to
    advocates in those communities who are doing that work. We saw
    reductions in volunteers. We saw reductions in advocates being
    able to do the work that they need to do as they're taking care
    of their elders, taking care of their children, while also
    trying to keep survivors safe.
        We also had to pull all of our sexual assault advocates
    that were doing accompaniment to hospitals, out of the
    hospitals, and find alternative methods to do sexual assault
    advocacy. So the COVID-19 impact has just been incredibly
    broad.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. I don't want to cut you off, but I
    want to get a couple more questions in.
        Ms. Timmons. Please do.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. It's very, very helpful.
        Ms. Timmons. Any time.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. I just wanted to recognize Ms.
    Novoryta. You've mentioned some of the same things in your
    testimony too about the challenges during COVID. I wanted to
    ask Vice Chairwoman Schlater, we know that the Family Violence
    Prevention and Services Act administered as we know by
    Department of Health and Human Services, approaches intimate
    partner violence from a public health perspective.
        And why is the public health approach so important for
    Native survivors, and what are some of the barriers that Native
    survivors face in getting assistance from places, for example,
    the criminal justice system?
        Ms. Schlater. Thank you Chairwoman Bonamici, I'll get back
    with you more in detail in writing on that question. But you
    know, the answer that comes to the top of my mind right now is
    jurisdictional issues. And you know, who has jurisdiction over
    the incident, especially in a Public Law 280.C state like
    California.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Right.
        Ms. Schlater. And so, it's really hard sometimes to even
    get a response from the justice system.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. Well, I look forward to
    finding out more about that. And Dr. Miller I'm concerned
    because during the pandemic, pregnant women of color, for
    example, have sometimes delayed or reduced prenatal care
    visits, and that has exacerbated complications.
        We already have the complexities of the national maternal
    mortality crisis, so why is it so important, especially for
    survivors of color to continue to receive healthcare and social
    services that are provided by the Pregnancy Assistance Fund
    grants?
        Dr. Miller. Thank you, Chairwoman Bonamici, for that
    question. The maternal mortality is something that's deeply
    personal for me. Here in Pittsburgh we recently did a study
    where we rank the third percentile, so 97 percent of other
    comparable cities across the country look better than us on
    maternal mortality.
        So, we have been deeply, deeply engaged in this issue. And
    it is certainly complex, but the solutions lie in having really
    consistent and trustworthy health and social services, and the
    Pregnancy Assistance Fund is absolutely vital to that in terms
    of providing the social services and supports that are needed,
    and getting to those who are experiencing the greatest fear in
    marginalization.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you very much. And I'm going to
    set a good example because the clock is now at zero. I'm going
    to yield back and recognize Ranking Member Fulcher for five
    minutes for your questions.
        Mr. Fulcher. Thank you. Madam Chair, and you certainly do
    set a good example. I've got my stop clock going. This question
    is for Ms. Novoryta. I got your name correct I think this time,
    forgive me. But I appreciate that you shared the value of
    faith-based organizations in serving survivors in this issue.
    Any objective review of history reveals that faith was a
    critical part of our founders and fundamentally important part
    of life in America.
        I know I've seen first-hand in my own life the importance
    of the church in helping to meet the needs of the local
    community. Can you share a little bit more about why it's
    important for the faith community to be involved with this
    issue?
        Ms. Novoryta. Sure. Thank you, Representative Fulcher. Due
    to the trust factor, many people go to their minister, clergy,
    staff at stay safe providers, like Catholic charities and
    others when they need help, whether it be for domestic
    violence, other sources of distress.
        Similarly, what we're finding is that providing services
    at, or in connection with a church, temple, parish, helps the
    survivor feel safe. As have been shared today, isolation and
    control are very common in domestic violence relationships, and
    often the church, or another faith-based institution is a place
    that an abuser will allow their partner to go alone.
        I think it's important to say too that for many faiths,
    believers may feel that they cannot leave an abusive
    relationship because they have taken a religious vow or
    sacrament, and the sacred ritual of marriage. It is empowering
    for them to hear from their minister, clergy, or a counselor
    connected to the faith, that they are not expected to stay and
    endure the abuse.
        Mr. Fulcher. Thank you. And if I could just do a followup
    to that. I personally, I'm not Catholic, I'm evangelical
    Christian, so I don't necessarily understand the inner workings
    of Catholic charities. But what I do know is the positive
    impact that your efforts have had, and those appear to be
    undeniable.
        So, this question is basically how do you do it in the
    sense of you must do some partnering in local communities. And
    how do you do it? How does it work?
        Ms. Novoryta. So, survivors are often dependent on their
    abusers in multiple ways--financially, emotionally, socially.
    As Rachel Louise Snyder, she had in her 2019 book, No Visible
    Bruises, domestic violence is adjacent to so many other
    problems that we as a society grapple with--education,
    economics, mental and physical health, crime, gender, racial
    equality and more.
        And so, what we know is that the protection and safety of
    survivors requires both policies and systems and partnerships
    that recognize that domestic violence is a public health crisis
    with enormous implications for public safety, homelessness, and
    economic insecurity.
        So in our work with survivors, we know that an array of
    services, and a coordinated approach is necessary. We partner
    with other local trusted service providers, including local
    hospitals. The women's mental health program at Cook County
    Jail, the Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence, and
    others that offer job development, housing, and legal services.
        What we do know is none of us can do this work alone, and
    so together we wrap services around the survivor, so that they
    can both become more self-sufficient, and also feel a part of a
    broader supportive network.
        Mr. Fulcher. And thank you for that. And we've only got a
    little bit over a minute, so this will need to be a little bit
    quicker, but how are you funded? How do you keep the lights on,
    and the services going?
        Ms. Novoryta. Yes. So, like everybody else has shared here,
    funding from the government for domestic violence services is
    limited, and so we combine both a combination of Federal and
    State funding as well as significant private donations from the
    local community.
        Mr. Fulcher. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Novoryta, for
    what you do and your testimony, to the rest of our panel as
    well. Thank you so much. Madam Chair, I yield back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Ranking Member Fulcher. I
    now recognize Representative Adams from North Carolina for five
    minutes for your questions.
        Ms. Adams. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to pull over
    and ask questions. Thank you to all of the witnesses for your
    testimony. African-American women experience intimate partner
    violence at a rate of about 35 percent higher than their white
    counterparts. However, they're less likely to use social
    services and seek out medical treatment for intimate partner
    violence.
        Ms. Timmons, what are some of the unique and systemic
    barriers women in Black communities face in accessing support
    services?
        Ms. Timmons. Thank you. African-American survivors
    definitely face significant barriers to accessing services. I
    think the most significant barrier that I have personally
    noticed when working with black women is the barrier around
    finding services that they can trust, and that they feel are
    responsive to the unique and culturally specific needs of their
    community, of their children, and of their families.
        And so that's the biggest barrier, is looking for that
    culturally specific response that they feel they can really
    trust and get their unique needs met.
        Ms. Adams. OK. What role does the National Center on
    Violence Against Women in the Black Community play in ensuring
    that victims in the community are connected with the
    appropriate resources?
        Ms. Timmons. They play a significant role. The biggest role
    I think that they play for us in Oregon is making sure we have
    access to adequate information about the disparities in the
    black community, allowing us to understand where those gaps
    really are, and what are the best practices in responding to
    those gaps and those needs.
        Ms. Adams. Thank you very much. So, we know that many
    people in our country do not feel comfortable calling the
    police when they need help. Vice Chairwoman Schlater and Ms.
    Timmons, can you talk more about what happens when victims
    don't feel safe calling the police, and what other resources
    can they turn to, and why these funding services are so
    important in these cases. That's for Vice Chairwoman Schlater
    and Ms. Timmons.
        Ms. Schlater. OK. Thank you, Congresswoman Adams. So
    basically, without our program here, it was very--before these
    type of funds came into our community, it was very unsafe on
    our reservations because there was no accountability for
    offenders, and somewhat hopelessness.
        And with tribal government's hands tied by jurisdiction
    issues, it was like if you called the sheriffs for a domestic
    violence call you'd get an 8-hour response, or no response at
    all. And that in turn led to more abuse for the victim who made
    the call for help, right?
        And so, there have been incidents in our community where
    families have tried to intervene with you know, beating up the
    victim's perpetrator, but that hasn't resulted in anything
    healthy. That wasn't a good solution for that.
        So with our program and our services, we've been able to
    build relationships with the local law enforcement, build our
    own tribal law enforcement program as well, and then really
    establish a life-saving link between the victim when they pick
    up the call for help there. So, Ms. Timmons?
        Ms. Timmons. Thank you. I think one of the things that
    we've absolutely learned about domestic violence is one size
    dos not fit all, right? We can build wonderful, vigorous,
    culturally responsive responses to the multiple complicated
    issue of domestic and sexual violence.
        This is not something that has--that we can create simple
    answers to. And I think that when it comes to law enforcement,
    there is absolutely a role that they play, an important role,
    in keeping us all safe from domestic and sexual violence, but
    it's everyone's issue.
        And our whole community has to respond to it in vigorous
    and responsive ways from educating family Members on best
    practices and how to respond, to educating healthcare workers,
    to educating clergy, to educating our communities and
    neighbors, and so I think that when I think about you know,
    that law enforcement response, I think it's been a wonderful
    tool for many survivors, but when people are afraid to call law
    enforcement, they have to have just as strong, and just as
    wonderful a tool in their toolbox as well.
        So, we have to move beyond one size fits all, and really
    respond to the needs that survivors are bringing us each and
    every day.
        Ms. Adams. Great. Thank you both very much. Madam Chair,
    I'm going to yield back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Representative. I now
    recognize Representative Fitzgerald from Wisconsin for five
    minutes for your questions.
        Mr. Fitzgerald. Thank you, thank you. I just wanted to kind
    of go back to one of the things that Ranking Member Fulcher had
    mentioned, and it's I think because of my knowledge of what
    goes on in the Milwaukee Archdiocese.
        And Catholic Charities, I know, I'm just wondering overall
    kind of the financial picture because I know that many
    individual parishes that work with some of the non-
    denominational outlets that many women can reach out to.
        And the one that I'm very familiar with, it's in my
    congressional district, it's called PAVE, People Against a
    Violent Environment. And I know that there's issues, you know,
    kind of across the spectrum on funding as a result of some of
    the parishes struggling, who often times set aside dollars for
    many of the programs related to the archdiocese and to
    charities.
        So, whether it's Milwaukee Archdiocese Charities, or
    Chicago Charities, I'm just wondering if you can kind of
    comment on that, Ms. Novoryta? I hope I said that right, sorry.
        Ms. Novoryta. You're close. It's Novoryta, it's Novoryta.
        Mr. Fitzgerald. OK.
        Ms. Novoryta. Yes. I mean to build on kind of what I think
    has been shared pretty universally across the comments today,
    funding for survivors of domestic violence who are 95 percent
    of survivors in Illinois, are women, is insufficient. And that
    is true at Catholic Charities of Chicago as well, and I think
    that speaks to both the need for Federal dollars come into
    local jurisdictions more frequently, and at a more significant
    level.
        We have, in Chicago, how we have been able to continue
    these programs is I think in two ways. First it's through
    leaning on folks within our community to support the work that
    we're doing financially.
        And second, it's as I spoke to earlier, we have significant
    partnerships outside Catholic charities. I think the other
    thing that might be important to mention is that within
    Catholic Charities of Chicago, so as a large organization, we
    serve about 400,000 people every year across a variety of
    services, and particularly through Federal funding and other
    resources we have housing programs, including transitional
    housing, permanent housing, other wrap around services as they
    relate to the counseling, trauma, informed therapy, excuse me,
    so on and so forth.
        And so, we, our staff has become very solution oriented in
    kind of bringing the puzzle pieces they need together from
    different funding sources in different parts of the
    organization in order to provide services.
        Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes, thank you very much. I know there's a
    series of challenges obviously, and I appreciate your testimony
    and you being here today. And I would yield back, Madam Chair.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald. I now
    recognize Representative Hayes from Connecticut for five
    minutes for your questions.
        Ms. Hayes. Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you to our
    witnesses for joining us on this important hearing. In my State
    of Connecticut, I've seen them struggle to combat the surge of
    domestic violence during this pandemic. We've seen at our
    domestic violence shelters, 150 percent increase in capacity,
    and calls for help have increased by 71 percent.
        But even before we reached this point, I saw my students in
    the classroom who were suffering with the long-term ripple
    effects of family violence. In Congress I've advocated for the
    need for trauma informed care, for students to help address the
    growing mental health crisis that they face.
        I actually have a bill, the Supporting Trauma Informed
    Educational Practices Act that I've been working to get support
    on, because I know how critically important it is. Family
    violence prevention and support funds would also be good, and
    support of the National Center on Domestic Violence at Trauma
    and Mental Health is important, especially now.
        So, my question today is for Ms. Timmons. Could you please
    speak to the importance of incorporating trauma informed care
    into our response to victims of intimate partner violence?
        Ms. Timmons. Thank you. Trauma informed care, and trauma
    informed responses are really how I believe, are really how
    we're going to see ourselves through the domestic violence
    crisis and to the other side. I feel as if without trauma
    informed responses, it's very difficult to break the cycle of
    violence.
        Trauma affects us in our whole bodies. It affects how we
    parent. It affects how we navigate our own healing, how we see,
    how we're able to access our own resources. So I really do feel
    like trauma informed care is central to the work that we're
    doing.
        Everything that we've learned about trauma and how to apply
    it to our healing, healing our families, our organizations and
    our communities has brought us closer and closer to really
    ending this terrible epidemic of violence that we've been faced
    with.
        Ms. Hayes. Thank you. There's another component of that.
    Like I said I was a classroom teacher for many, many years, and
    I saw family violence up--well, the impact of family violence
    up close, but also dating violence.
        Many young people get involved with dating violence very
    early on, and in turn they are adults with the highest rates of
    interpersonal violence. Can you speak to what schools can do to
    help reduce domestic and family violence and promote safe and
    healthy relationships?
        Ms. Timmons. Yes. Education. Education, education,
    education. I think that prevention is key to breaking the cycle
    of violence. We have to be able to teach our young people what
    consent is, what violence is, and what healthy relationships
    are, so I think that's really, really important.
        Ms. Hayes. Thank you. My last question, nearly 20 years ago
    Congress authorized special grants under the Family Violence
    Prevention and Support Act. Dr. Miller, can you speak to the
    importance of a multi-general approach, particularly as it
    relates to these types of relationships we've seen, as we've
    heard before where multi-generations deal with this type of
    violence? What can we do in Congress?
        Dr. Miller. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for bringing
    the focus back to prevention as well, because while FVPSA is
    about services and supporting our victim's service agencies to
    do the work of supporting our survivors with the trauma
    sensitive responses that Ms. Timmons was just speaking to, it
    is also absolutely critical that we invest in prevention.
        And prevention includes recognizing that we need to support
    more adult allies and peers, right? So, to Ms. Timmons' point
    education, integrating dating violence prevention, but more
    broadly, trauma sensitive school practices as you're talking
    about, Congresswoman Hayes, into our K through 12 schools.
        That also includes, however, from the zero to five, you
    know Kindergarten readiness that thinking about positive
    parenting strategies, creating this sort of audacious hope,
    right, that positive parenting is possible in that context of
    recognizing that healing and recovery is possible.
        Our families are not broken. Our communities are not
    broken. We need to come together. As Representative Fulcher was
    saying, this is local. Because indeed it is a local response of
    creating a collective from our faith-based collaboratives, our
    schools, our community organizations and the vital importance
    of our victim's service advocates who create a community of
    care.
        Ms. Hayes. Thank you so much. Madam Chair, I yield back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you so much. We now have the
    Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Ranking Member Foxx, I
    recognize you for five minutes for your questions.
        Ms. Foxx. Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. My question
    is for Ms. Novoryta. What has been the biggest impact of COVID
    on your programs that worked to address the problems of
    domestic violence? Have you seen any change in outreach through
    your peers, as society has started to open more recently?
        Ms. Novoryta. Yes. We are finding that many victims of
    domestic violence are reaching out to Catholic Charities for
    other immediate needs because they lost their job, they might
    need financial assistance to stay in their homes. They need
    food. And when our staff are able to meet that need, and begin
    building a relationship with that individual, we begin to learn
    more about other struggles, including with domestic violence.
        In many of the communities that we serve, stores are
    closed, houses of worship are not open. Schools, community
    centers are closed, and we're finding that we need to really
    meet people where they are. And over the last year that has
    been at hospitals.
        And so, similar to what Dr. Miller has been sharing, we've
    been working with local hospitals to train physicians, their
    social workers, their case managers, to screen patients for
    other social determinants of health, and also for domestic
    violence.
        They then are referring their patients to Catholic
    Charities. We're also finding that we need to be more flexible,
    and I think this is one of those millions of trends that
    started during COVID and are going to continue.
        Lack of privacy is a huge barrier to counseling. The 45-
    minute sessions that have been our standard of care is rare.
    Instead, our trauma informed counselors are connecting with
    survivors more frequently, often via text messages, and short
    phones calls. We are responding to spontaneous calls, and we're
    doing more regular safety checks.
        It's more difficult for survivors to get time alone, and so
    we're coaching them on ways to do that. Sometimes that means
    locking yourself in the bathroom. That means going for a walk
    with your phone. That means sitting in your car.
        I think another thing to note in this conversation is that
    the survivors that we work with who again, 100 percent are
    below the Federal poverty line, do not always have access to
    Zoom, which is bringing us here today. And this is particularly
    challenging because during COVID, survivors have been expected
    to participate in court via Zoom.
        And so, we now have mobile telehelp cars at 10 of our sites
    across Greater Chicago, in part so survivors have a safe,
    private place to access and attend court on behalf of
    themselves and often their children as well.
        Ms. Foxx. Well, thank you. That was just a pearly good
    answer. I had a followup, a bit of a followup to that, but
    you've done such a fantastic job of answering the question my
    followup is related to it. It was as you've described, how
    you're able to work with other groups through your provision
    services like food, childcare, legal services, in house, which
    has allowed you, as you've described, to be more effective in
    identifying the people who need services for domestic violence.
        I think you've done a very, very good job of that. I want
    to thank you, and everyone involved with Catholic Charities for
    stepping up to do what you do. What you've done for generations
    of people, it's fantastic. Because I've had to split, I've gone
    from one hearing to another today, I don't know if there was
    any opportunity or if you were denied any opportunity to make
    comments on something someone else said or to finish up an
    answer.
        Do you have--I think I have a little time left. Do you have
    anything else you want to add to the discussion?
        Ms. Novoryta. I will add, I want to build on what Vanessa
    Timmons was sharing about the importance of trauma informed
    counseling. And briefly, last August we began working with a
    mother and her 5-year-old daughter, and our trauma informed
    therapist met with this child after she spent the morning
    clutching the hands of her mother as she lay recovering in
    critical care after her husband nearly beat her to death.
        And that little girl spent the night crying, ``Mommy,
    mommy, mommy.'' She told our therapist that she wanted her mom
    to hear her voice before God took her away from her. The
    survivors and the families that we serve, I'll be brief, have
    suffered and continue to suffer from trauma, and professional
    counselors with the credentials, trauma informed expertise and
    experience are just essential to our work, not only with
    adults, but the children.
        Ms. Foxx. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. I yield
    back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Ranking Member Foxx, and no
    worries about going over on that, I think that was a very
    compelling story that we all benefit from hearing, tragic as it
    may be. Next, I recognize Representative Leger Fernandez for
    five minutes for your questions.
        Ms. Leger Fernandez. Thank you, Chair Bonamici, and thank
    you to all our witnesses for joining us today and for evoking
    the response of a tear in the eye over these stories, right.
    But I think we need to make sure that we take these stories,
    heartbreaking as they are, and take them as our call to action.
    I will say I've worked with Catholic Charities over many
    decades and their excellent work with immigrants who've been
    welcomed and supported by Catholic Charities regardless of
    their status, and I've always appreciated that of them.
        And Ms. Novoryta, thank you for detailing the work you've
    done with survivors and making it come home. Dr.ller, thank you
    for your audacious hope that it is possible to prevent violence
    and break the cycle.
        I want to address my first question is to Vice Chairwoman
    Schlater. Your testimony did highlight that American Indian and
    Alaska Native women experience higher rates of violence than
    any other race or ethnicity, about close to 50 percent. And
    then there are the fact that there are fewer shelter programs
    that we need to support coalitions, especially given this
    jurisdictional issue.
        I completely agree with you that we are failing in our
    trust obligations and must do more. So Ms. Vice Chairwoman,
    could you please share what you believe Congress should focus
    on to better protect Native women, both in the reauthorization
    of the Family Violence Protective Services Act, and if you
    believe we should do more in some other area as well for
    protecting our sisters.
        Ms. Schlater. Thank you, Congresswoman Fernandez. Yes, so
    you know the enhancements that we're proposing in this
    reauthorization of FVPSA are very critical for the tribal
    program increase, tribal grants increase from 10 to 12.5
    percent, the dedicated funding for a national indigenous Indian
    domestic violence hotline.
        The direct funding for the Alaska Native Resource Center,
    and last for our Hawaiian Native sisters as well. They've been,
    you know, neglected, you know, over the decades by the Federal
    Government as well. And so, for their resource center as well.
    You know on Congresswoman Hayes' comments on informed trauma
    care, we need more funding dedicated toward that as well.
        Because we know that the solutions lie within the tribal
    teachings of our people and our language. And when we do
    cultural activities with our youth and then when we do peer
    counseling with the women and the men that we service, and we
    go back to our stories and our teachings, it gives great
    comfort.
        And it also gives an example on how to be a good relative,
    right? And so, for like our young boys group that we work with,
    you talk about prevention. We teach our boys rattling, and so
    to hold a rattle is sacred for our songs.
        And so, if you're holding a rattle that is sacred, then you
    don't hurt anybody with your hands. And if you're singing those
    songs, you don't hurt anybody with your words, right? And so
    and there's a whole teaching that goes into the rattle as well,
    and as it deals like with consent, and you know, asking for the
    rattle to be put together, and you know, representing the seeds
    inside the rattle, representing the family.
        So those are beautiful teachings that we work with, with
    our youth. And for the young girls group we do singing, and
    dancing as well. As so we talk about the regalia that they
    wear. And that the honor that it is that some of the family
    Members make their pieces of regalia that they put on.
        And so that they in return, you know, are to take care of
    themselves first, because they are sacred life givers. And then
    if women are given everything that they need to be taken care
    of, they in return will take care of the whole village. That
    includes the men and the elders, and everyone else, the
    children.
        And so those are beautiful teachings, and that can come
    through with cultural specific trauma informed care. And so,
    I'll end there, but thank you.
        Ms. Leger Fernandez. Thank you very much. And that
    highlights the need for flexibility. And I don't know if we
    have enough time, Ms. Timmons, but I wanted for you to address
    the issue of rural, addressing violence in rural areas. Much of
    my constituency are rural. Can you speak to that real quickly?
        Ms. Timmons. Yes. The needs of rural survivors are quite
    unique and complicated, and I will try to get some information
    out to you. I think I ran out of time. Thank you so much.
        Ms. Leger Fernandez. Thank you. Please do send that
    information. I apologize.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. No, I know it's an
    important issue. We look forward to receiving that information.
    And next I recognize Representative Thompson from Pennsylvania
    for five minutes for your questions.
        Mr. Thompson: Madam Chair, thank you so much. Thank you for
    this incredibly important hearing, and thank you to all the
    witnesses who have taken time out of their busy schedules, and
    the great work that you do each and every day serving and
    protecting a lot of individuals to be here.
        Ms. Novoryta, thank you for being here today, and you know
    to discuss an issue that affects one-third of all men and women
    throughout their lives. Their domestic violence. Domestic
    violence has been casted into the background for most of our
    history, sadly keeping it a hidden problem.
        Survivors of domestic violence have often tolerated
    physical, mental, emotional abuse and silence out of fear that
    their spouses or partners would retaliate. You know, former
    battered women, civics organizations and professionals began to
    open shelters in the 1970's to provide services to abused women
    and their children.
        And after seeing the great results from these efforts,
    Congress led a series of hearings in the early 1980's to
    understand the scope of this violence and explore possible
    responses. Now this led Congress to pass legislation that
    touched on all facets of domestic abuse, and legislation we're
    all very familiar with, originally passed in 1984 the Family
    Violence Prevention and Services Act, or FVPSA, is the primary
    Federal funding source that support emergency shelter and
    related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their
    families.
        And since then FVPSA has addressed domestic violence
    through community driven solutions. There are a network of
    programs and services dedicated responding to domestic violence
    across the United States, including our U.S. territories.
        Further, FVPSA funds nearly 1,600 community-based programs,
    their State formally grants, including nearly 60 programs were
    located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, my home
    State.
        These programs provide necessary resources to local
    communities and help education individuals on health
    relationships, as well as offer legal assistance, crisis
    intervention and counseling. Now this critical legislation has
    been authorized seven times since its enactment, most recently
    in 2010 for 5 years for Fiscal Year 2015.
        And I've always supported this program, including
    introducing legislation in previous years that would offer a
    clean reauthorization of FVPSA for 5 years. Additionally
    supported the CARES Act, which provide 45 million dollars in
    supplemental funding for FVPSA, formal grantees and 2 million
    dollars in supplemental funding for the National Domestic
    Violence Hotline.
        The Congress should now focus on ways to support, continue
    to support pathways to strengthen families to prevent domestic
    violence and to continuing to support survivors despite the
    added challenges that COVID has posed.
        Ms. Novoryta, you mentioned in your testimony that COVID-19
    compounds the struggles faced by survivors of domestic
    violations, and the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline reports
    a 15 percent increase in calls, a 2,000 percent increase in
    text messages requesting help.
        Can you elaborate on how Catholic Charities aided survivors
    and those seeking help during the pandemic?
        Ms. Novoryta. Absolutely, absolutely. So, most of our
    referrals come to us from parishes, local hospitals, and
    community partners, or from other programs and services within
    Catholic Charities. A client might come to us for rental
    assistance, and then when we respond to that need, a
    relationship begins to take root, trust builds, and then more
    serious issues, including often domestic violence come to
    light.
        We also receive referrals through our Domestic Violence
    Help Line, and immediately work with the victims on the phone,
    or subsequently in text messages to identify their needs and
    their options, and work with them in the moment to create a
    safety plan with them.
        The greatest emergency need that people who call our help
    line bring to us is for safe housing, away from their abusers.
    We first see if we can bring them safely into one of our two
    transitional housing programs. We also are integrated into the
    Chicago and Greater Network of Service Providers, and we have
    agreements at our--they did not exist years ago, with ride
    share companies to transport survivors in crisis to safety 24/7
    when they are ready to leave.
        So those are some of the ways that survivors come to us,
    and our work is with them. It begins immediately on that first
    call.
        Mr. Thompson. Well, let me just close with saying
    congratulations. I understand that were 100 percent of the
    survivor families served by Catholic Charities remain in
    stable, permanent housing, including during COVID. That is
    quite an accomplishment and thank you for all that. And thank
    you to all the witnesses for the work that you do serving,
    preventing--working to prevent domestic violence, and serving
    the survivors of it. And thank you, Madam Chair.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Representative. And I now
    recognize Representative Mrvan from Indiana for five minutes
    for your questions.
        Mr. Mrvan. Thank you, Chairwoman. My question is for Ms.
    Novoryta. How are you? I'm from Gary, Indiana, so the Gary
    Diocese. So, when you speak to the Chicagoland greater area,
    you're speaking to me, because we fall into that category, and
    it's wonderful to have you here.
        First, I want to mention to you that as a North Township
    trustee, I did Poor Relief assistance. I represented 180,000
    people, and I worked very closely with Catholic Charities,
    specifically on immigration. Candy Torrez, who came over from
    Puerto Rico, I worked hand in hand with her. I know she's
    familiar with what you guys do, and we worked with domestic
    violence individuals.
        And I personally have sent through Dr. Miller, we do intake
    for people who need assistance, and we use the A study, and we
    work with people. And every case is a snowflake, as you're
    talking about, right?
        So my question to you directly, Ami, is can you give an
    example with a collective impact, so all of you witnesses know
    what I'm talking about, the collective impact of Federal and
    State government agencies working with you to better a
    survivor's chances of having a quality of life and better
    outcomes?
        Just give me one example where Federal and State agencies
    came together and worked together in a collective impact to
    help a survivor.
        Ms. Novoryta. Sure, I think that what I'd like to highlight
    as part of, in my response here, is the transitional housing
    program that Representative Thompson just mentioned. And
    housing is, I think, one of the most complex interventions to
    put into place, and to sustain over time. And it absolutely
    requires blending and rating public and private funding as well
    as a wide network of partnerships.
        The success of this program that we found at Catholic
    Charities is three-fold. First, we provide transitional housing
    for up to 2 years. The healing does not happen overnight. And
    securing the skills, and then securing a job to have stable
    employment that takes time. And there are going to be
    challenges along the way.
        Second, we know that housing alone is insufficient, and so
    in addition to the women who are in our transitional housing
    program, receive intensive case management services, access to
    benefits. This includes Snap, this includes WIC, this often
    includes Medicaid, and they commit to actively participating in
    a healing and recovery programming, including weekly classes,
    some of which are led by folks at Catholic Charities in
    Chicago, and some of which are from partner organizations.
        These range from addictions and anger management, financial
    literacy, budgeting, mindfulness, journaling and reflection,
    that trauma informed counseling, English as a second language
    if needed, particularly with the immigrant community, and job
    readiness.
        We also are able to provide onsite childcare if needed. And
    finally, as the last piece that cannot go unStated, is
    survivors actively participate in our aftercare program, that
    provides an ongoing support system. They know they can reach
    out if and when they are struggling, and they need extra
    support.
        Our support doesn't have an end date. We continue to
    provide counseling, small group sessions, food pantry,
    clothing, to help our survivors over the long haul as they hit
    those bumps in the road.
        Mr. Mrvan. And I just want to say the partnership that I
    had as an elected official in my agency to collaborate with
    those collective impact and those services such as Section 8
    housing, and access to housing.
        Ms. Novoryta. Yes.
        Mr. Mrvan. Those are all things that we worked together to
    make sure people had access to Federal programs. I thank you
    very much. And in closing I have a question for Ms. Timmons.
    Very quickly, Ms. Timmons, on my part quickly, we have seen an
    increase in the rates of physical intimate partner violence and
    sexual assault in this COVID-19 and the pandemic.
        What characteristics do you think the COVID-19 pandemic
    have lent other than isolation to this increase in violence
    among domestic partners?
        Ms. Timmons. Well, I think isolation plays a key role. I
    think that just the inherent lack of privacy and lack of
    support that happens with this kind of isolation is a
    significant piece. Also, the stress. There's a concurring, we
    see concurring incidents where there's stress, addiction,
    alcohol substance abuse use, and those kinds of things
    definitely increase if there's domestic and sexual violence in
    the family. And I think that that has played a significant
    role.
        Mr. Mrvan. Thank you to all the witnesses. I appreciate
    your answers and your time and what you do for victims and
    survivors.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. And I now recognize
    Representative Bowman from New York for five minutes for your
    questions.
        Mr. Bowman. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all
    the witnesses for being here. And thank you all for
    highlighting the need for trauma informed schools, and trauma
    informed education. A big shoutout to my colleagues for
    bringing up that particular issue.
        You know my background is education. I worked 20 years in
    public schools as a teacher, counselor, and middle school
    principal, and trauma informed approaches do work, having more
    counselors in our schools, having more music programs, having
    direct instruction in these areas really work very strongly, so
    thank you all for highlighting that.
        Dr. Miller, I wanted to ask you. One of the main prevention
    strategies in the Delta Program is engaging influential adults
    and peers. In your testimony you referenced the Coaching Boys
    Into Men Program, and the success the program has had with
    increasing positive bystander behaviors among middle and high
    school athletes.
        Can you please elaborate on the successes of the program,
    especially around creating a culture of respect, and reducing
    intimate partner violence and sexual assault?
        Dr. Miller. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you so very much
    for asking about this program. And Coaching Boys Into Men is
    just one example of the kind of prevention programs that we can
    co-create with communities. And you know the history of this
    work was recognizing that we needed more adult allies involved
    in this work, while victims service advocates do phenomenal
    work in our communities, more people need to be spokespersons
    for prevention.
        And wow, coaches are amazing, right? Because they are role
    models, they're mentors, you know, and in some instances really
    serve as an adult caregiver role for many of our young people,
    especially young people in minority communities as well.
        And so what is amazing about the Coaching Boys Into Men
    Program is that we ask coaches to spend 10 to 1five minutes a
    week talking about respectful language, talking about
    leadership, talking about consent, right, very, very basic
    healthy relationship skills, and that that is part of being a
    leader in the school community and on the team.
        And what is really quite wild is that as athletes hear and
    discuss amongst themselves, they develop a code word of like
    they see a peer engaging in disrespectful behavior, they go,
    whoa, Boys to Men right, and it interrupts that behavior.
        And so what we have seen with both middle school and high
    school, again in very rigorous randomized trials, is that at
    the end of the sports season these athletes who get exposed to
    the program are much more likely to speak up and stand up when
    they see disrespectful behavior.
        And in fact, one of our local school districts that has
    probably turned out more NFL players in the country, is you
    know they were early adopters of Coaching Boys Into Men, and
    this is like the one school district where they say the
    football players are the most respectful in the entire school
    community.
        And so, it is a joyful program. It's one that very easily
    athletic coaches are able to adopt, and this is really you
    know, the difference between the cost of prevention, which is
    training victims' service advocates training coaches to do this
    program that is otherwise free, right?
        And compared to the cost of one sexual assault, the CDC
    estimating $123,000.00 to U.S. society for one sexual assault.
    The cost for one instance of intimate partner violence about
    over $100,000.00 for women, about $23,000.00 for men is what
    the CDC estimates.
        And so, you know, we can all do the math very quickly.
    Prevention is a great return on investment.
        Mr. Bowman. Awesome. Thank you for that. Ms. Timmons,
    research shows that trauma is intergenerational, with mothers
    transmitting trauma to their children. Children also bear a
    significant burden in the house when there is intimate partner
    violence. They may suffer significant trauma in their own
    right.
        If we do not break the cycle of violence and trauma, how
    much do children stand to lose from the proliferation of
    domestic violence?
        Ms. Timmons. That's an awesome question. Thank you. I think
    that one of the most devastating impacts of a 30-year career in
    domestic violence is seeing the impact on kids, of this--of
    domestic and sexual violence. And children stand to lose a
    significant portion of their future when they're impacted by
    this.
        Our whole selves as I've said earlier, is impacted. I can't
    over-emphasize how holistic and inclusive and complicated that
    trauma impacts us as humans. And so, I just would say that
    children have a significant amount to lose if we don't
    intervene in the cycle of violence.
        Mr. Bowman. So when we talk about a public health holistic
    approach, we're talking about education, K to 12 systems, we're
    talking about housing, we're talking about healthcare system,
    preventative measures in the community, and measures to support
    those who have been victims of emergency housing and other
    services. Thank you all for that. That was amazing thank you. I
    yield back my time.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. And now I recognize the
    Chair of the Full Committee Representative Scott from Virginia
    for five minutes for your questions.
        Ms. Scott. Thank you, Madam Chair. Ms. Novoryta, you
    mentioned positive parenting. Exactly what does that mean? And
    why is it important?
        Ms. Novoryta. Thank you for your question. And my father is
    going to be grateful that the name Novoryta is getting so much
    play today. I think that positive parenting which is a really
    critical and important aspect of the work that we're discussing
    today, was brought up by Dr. Miller, and I actually would love
    to ask Dr. Miller to comment further on that.
        Mr. Scott. OK.
        Dr. Miller. Thank you very much. So, the term positive
    parenting encompasses a number of different supports for
    parents. And I want to begin by, one, the first part is
    recognizing that for many parents, including adolescents who
    are pregnant and parenting, that they may not have always been
    exposed to healthy and respectful environments.
        And in fact, we know for adolescents who are pregnant and
    parenting, that far too often it was also in the context of
    unhealthy environments. And so, exposure to violence is part of
    the story that we earlier heard about the ACE's study in
    adverse childhood experiences study as well.
        So, we all recognize as Ms. Timmons was saying, that the
    intergenerational impact of exposure to violence, it can impact
    the way in which one parents. What is so vital however, is that
    how we approach and work with parents as a pediatrician, I both
    acknowledge that sometimes, No. 1, parenting is hard.
        No. 2, parenting is extra hard for parents for whom they
    may have had prior exposure to violence, in that they may have
    been harmed as children. And the third is to say that they are
    not alone. The pediatrician's office, to be able to say there
    is no shame, no judgment here.
        I'm offering information to all of the parents because I
    recognize that sometimes parenting is hard. And here are
    opportunities for parents? programs and support, yes.
        Mr. Scott. Essentially positive parenting using positive
    reinforcement as a strategy to change behavior, rather than
    slapping the child?
        Dr. Miller. Absolutely. But also recognizing the parents do
    need support, and so they need to be given the supports around
    mindfulness and wellness and recognizing that parent mental
    health is vitally important to the health and wellness of their
    children as well.
        So, it is absolutely around identifying strategies to
    support your child's developing behaviors that does not involve
    corporal punishment, while simultaneously recognizing that
    parents often need more support and services.
        Mr. Scott. Thank you. Vice Chair Schlater, are there
    complications in the criminal justice system that make it
    difficult to hold Native Americans who are guilty of violence
    accountable in the criminal justice system?
        Ms. Schlater. Yes. Currently there are many challenges
    Congressman Scott. You know, one of them is, you know, non-
    Native perpetrators on Indian land. And I'll send you something
    in writing. I'll answer that in writing, thank you.
        Mr. Scott. OK. Does this bill do anything about it?
        Ms. Schlater. What this bill will do if the proposed
    enhancements are granted, it will give survivors, victims, an
    access to heal, and get those resources. But in regard to
    holding perpetrators accountable on our land for their actions,
    that I think falls outside of FVPSA's funding.
        But kind of goes into Department of Justice. But if there
    are some considerations and measures and additional funds, we
    would gladly take it.
        Mr. Schlater. And it probably wouldn't be within our
    jurisdiction. It would probably be in the Judiciary Committee,
    but I know when I was on the Judiciary Committee, we had some
    problems. You mentioned hotlines. How effective are they?
        Ms. Schlater. They are actually a lifeline. We've noticed
    an uptick in calls to the Native Hotline, so we've also noticed
    on the National Hotline, as they're parenting the StrongHearts
    Native Help Line currently, that a lot of Native callers will
    call in, but if they don't get connected to the Native Hotline,
    prior to them going 24/7, they would wait until they could talk
    to a Native advocate on the hotline.
        And so, the Native Hotline is gathering a lot of tribal
    resources and data that are specific to the survivors that can
    get connected to their lifelines back in their tribal nations.
        Mr. Scott. Thank you, Madam Chair. I yield back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Chairman Scott. I now
    recognize Representative McBath from Georgia for five minutes
    for your questions.
        Ms. McBath. Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and to all of
    the subcommittee Members. Thank you so much for having this
    important hearing today and allowing me to take part in it. And
    I want to thank all of our witnesses today for sharing their
    expertise and insight, and just thank you so much for all the
    preventive measures that you take to protect women and
    families.
        Since it was first authorized in 1984, I'm so sorry, and I
    just lost my remarks for a second. Hold on. Oh goodness hold
    on. I knew that was going to happen. It's been happening all
    day. OK. Since it was first authorized in 1984, the Family
    Violence Prevention and Services Act has provided the resources
    and funding necessary for shelters and organizations to help
    survivors of domestic and dating violence.
        And in that time however, we've learned, you know, there
    are far better methods for prevention and support. And that's
    why last Congress I introduced the Family Violence Prevention
    and Services Improvement Act, FVPSA, with Representatives Gwen
    Moore, Tom Cole and Katko, John Katko.
        And I look forward to reintroducing this legislation again,
    thus we can provide more equitable resources and access to
    funding for all communities. Madam Chair, I think we've already
    done so, I'd like to enter into the record a letter of support
    we've already provided, that's been signed by 19 organizations
    stating their support for the FVPSA Improvement Act of 2019,
    and their desire for the passage of the comprehensive FVPSA
    legislation during this Congress.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Without objection.
        Ms. McBath. Thank you. As the new and improved methods of
    prevention have been discovered over the years, so too has the
    link between intimate partner violence and gun violence.
    According to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, about
    4.5 million women in the United States have been threatened
    with a gun, and nearly 1 million women have been shot or shot
    at by an intimate partner.
        Women are also five times more likely to be murdered when
    their abuser has access to firearms. And in my home State of
    Georgia, 73 percent of reported domestic violence related
    deaths were committed by firearms in 2019 alone.
        Dr. Miller, my questions are for you. Could you please
    speak to how these efforts to reduce gun violence and murder
    are such an intrinsic part of a comprehensive plan to prevent
    intimate partner violence?
        Dr. Miller. Absolutely. And I want to begin first by
    saying, Representative McBath, thank you so much for your
    leadership on this issue, knowing that it is deeply personal
    for you. And I'm just incredibly grateful for your lifting up
    the intersections of different forms of violence.
        So, we know, right, that intimate partner violence is
    inextricably linked with gun violence, and violent loss in our
    communities. And when I talk about violence prevention, we were
    talking about trauma sensitive school practices, for example,
    or positive parenting strategies.
        Ways to create safe and supportive environments. Those
    kinds of cross cutting violence prevention strategies where we
    bring in our faith-based organizations, our healthcare systems,
    our community organizations, those cross cutting preventions
    will also reduce gun violence and murder, and that is why the
    CDC has invested so much in prevention around influential
    adults and peers, safe and supportive environments as well as
    economic supports for our families, because we know that's what
    is needed to create safer communities.
        But certainly, as a pediatrician, and somebody currently
    working in schools, I also want to lift up what Representative
    Bowman was identifying as a former middle school teacher. We
    currently are in the midst of this pandemic doing work
    virtually with young people who have been exposed to violence
    in our middle schools here in Pittsburgh.
        Over 60 percent of the young people in our research study
    have experienced violent loss. That means losing a friend or
    loved one to murder. It is extraordinary exposure to violence
    that our young people are facing, and those of us who are on
    this call together have an obligation to work together to end
    gun violence, and intimate partner violence. So, I'm grateful
    to you for that question.
        Ms. McBath. Well, absolutely. Thank you so much. And Dr.
    Miller, I know that you've also done some research on the
    impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence.
    Can you share some of what you learned about how prepared
    service providers were for the pandemic, and what needs to be
    done moving forward to ensure that intimate partner violence
    providers are prepared for any future emergencies such as
    COVID-19?
        Dr. Miller. Absolutely. Thank you. So, I have had the
    immense privilege of working with the CDC and the American
    Academy of Pediatrics in Futures Without Violence, on a project
    interviewing intimate partner violence. victim service
    advocates, as well as child welfare workers, and
    administrators.
        Domestic violence coalitions across the country, to
    understand how they have responded to this pandemic. And I have
    to say the victims service advocates were my heroes long before
    the pandemic, they certainly taught me everything I know about
    how manage and support survivors.
        But they are like way up there in triple gold stars now,
    because what they have accomplished with almost nothing in
    terms of resources, has been extraordinary. Incredibly nimble
    ways of supporting survivors. Ms. Novoryta earlier was talking
    about the importance of privacy.
        We had heard from advocates who had figures out all kinds
    of clever solutions for interacting with survivors in ways that
    support their privacy and safety. And what we are learning is
    that we were woefully unprepared for this, and we can do so
    much better.
        Because it turns out that even in my city of Pittsburgh,
    intimate partner violence, child abuse, was not part of our
    emergency preparedness plan. That's changing, right? Because
    moving and coming out of this pandemic we recognize the victim
    services have to be much more robust. We have to be able to
    much more nimbly respond, because suddenly you know, congregate
    living in shelter was not a safe option, so.
        Ms. McBath. Thank you so much for your answers. I yield
    back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. We do have another Member
    joining us. Representative Spartz from Indiana, I recognize you
    for five minutes for your questions.
        Ms. Spartz. Thank you very much. I appreciate it, it's
    important conversation. And I think it's you know, a pandemic
    puts a lot of different things you know to a different
    perspective, and really kind of brought to our attention.
        What I want to ask, Ms. Novoryta, what do you believe how
    we can do a better job to individualize services to meet family
    needs and survivors where they are to make sure that we have
    more on the ground tailored services? If you have any ideas and
    could share with us.
        Ms. Novoryta. Sure. Absolutely. So, this healing journey is
    a very long process with many ups and down. Every survivor's
    experience has been different. Everybody's journey is going to
    be different as well.
        Many victims who come to us are not yet prepared to safely
    exit their situation. We do know that on average, the average
    survivor leaves their abuser seven times before they safely,
    fully leave. So, the work that we do at charities and so many
    of the other organizations that are being lifted up today help
    each person to create a plan to stay safe, understands their
    options and know that they are not alone.
        It may take years, but we are right there with survivors,
    accompanying them in their journey. Meeting with the victims of
    domestic violence where they are, can mean meeting them in
    houses of worship. In preparation for today's discussion one of
    our counselors shared with me the experience of a woman who had
    been experiencing domestic violence for many years.
        She and her 10-year-old son came to church regularly, and
    one Sunday in the homily a speaker who was there on behalf of
    Catholic Charities gave a sermon about domestic violence,
    saying that the church did not condone staying in a violent
    marriage, and shared where to seek help.
        This woman reached out to Catholic Charities and she shared
    with her counselor, who I spoke with in preparation for today,
    that her 10-year-old soon sparked that outreach. He told his
    mom as they left service that day, hey, he was talking about
    you. He was talking about us.
        We have so many different clients who come to us, and so
    many different situations, and at different points on their
    journey. We had one client recently who called because her
    physically abusive boyfriend is being released from jail.
        She has no support. She is unemployed, and he is returning
    home. She's single, so her options currently for shelters are
    quite limited. We stayed on the phone with her and helped her
    create a safety plan in that moment and worked with her to
    secure transportation and placement at an emergency shelter the
    next day.
        Another client called us recently for counseling. She has
    an order of protection and two children. She is employed, and
    wants to remain in her apartment, and we are providing
    counseling for her and her children, and helping her go to the
    court to amend her order of protection, creating that safety
    plan, and providing her with the linkages that she needs for
    food, to legal services, to kind of the whole gamut.
        So I think here to your question and kind of the need to
    tailor services, those are three specific examples of women who
    have come to us at different points in their journey, in very
    different life situations, and really the expertise of the
    folks on the ground that we get to lift up today is essential
    to provide that trauma informed and client centered support,
    you know, an accompaniment along the journey.
        Mr. Spartz. Just quickly to followup. Can you share some
    best practices? It seems to me it would take collaboration of a
    lot of different groups and entities. And sometimes it's very
    fragmented different things and services. Could you share some
    best practices you've seen of great collaboration of different
    organizations on the ground?
        Ms. Novoryta. Absolutely. You know, I think one of the
    things that's happening in Illinois right now, which is really
    exciting, is a new alliance again, actually in the midst of
    COVID. And it's called the Alliance for Shared Safety. And what
    the Alliance for Shared Safety is doing, is it's bringing
    together advocates and organizations in different spaces.
        So, bringing together folks from gun violence spaces, from
    domestic violence, doing criminal justice system reform, and
    folks who are kind of experiencing community violence. I think
    one of the things that's really powerful with that
    collaboration is recognizing the intersectionality of the
    issues, and they were successful.
        We were successful in Illinois earlier in 2020 in bringing
    Federal dollars and some CARES dollars in a more integrated
    fashion, directly to organizations serving victims of violence.
    I think that's a really exciting collaboration to keep an eye
    on.
        Ms. Spartz. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. I yield back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you very much. And that was a
    very meaningful testimony from all of our witnesses today. Now
    we're going to material submitted for the hearing record. I
    remind my colleagues that pursuant to committee practice,
    materials for submission to the hearing record must be
    submitted to the Committee Clerk within 14 days following the
    last day of the hearing, so by close of business on April 5 of
    2021, preferably in Microsoft Word format.
        Only a Member of the subcommittee, or an invited witness
    may submit materials for inclusion in the hearing record.
    Documents are limited to 50 pages each.
        Documents longer than 50 pages will be incorporated into
    the record via an internet link that you must provide to the
    Committee Clerk within the required timeframe, but please
    recognize that in the future that link may not longer work.
        And at this time, because Representative McBath is on the
    Full Committee, but not on the subcommittee, I offer for
    inclusion into the record the materials that Representative
    McBath offered in support of the policy we're discussing today
    and those will be admitted without objection.
        Pursuant to House rules and regulations, items for the
    record should be submitted to the clerk electronically by e-
    mailing submissions to edandlabor.hearings@mail.house.gov.
    Member offices are encouraged to submit materials to the inbox
    before the hearing, or during the hearing at the time the
    Member makes the request.
        Again, I want to thank each of our witnesses for their
    participation today. Members of the subcommittees may have some
    additional questions for you. We ask the witnesses to please
    respond to these questions in writing. The hearing record will
    be held open for 14 days in order to receive these responses,
    and I remind my colleagues that pursuant to committee practice,
    witness questions for the hearing must be submitted to the
    Majority Committee Staff or Committee Clerk within 7 days.
        The questions submitted must address the subject matter of
    the hearing. And I now recognize the distinguished Ranking
    Member, Ranking Member Fulcher for a closing Statement.
        Mr. Fulcher. Thank you, Madam Chair. To those who provided
    testimony today, this is one of those topics that is extremely
    necessary to have a conversation on, but I'll just tell you
    personally for me, it's one of the most difficult.
        Put me down in front of a tax policy, infrastructure or
    foreign policy or resources, and I'm good to go. This one, it
    hits you where you live really quick. So, thank you for what
    you do. You've got a skill set and a knowledge base that I'm
    not as blessed with, but I know how important it is.
        And Madam Chair, we probably agree on more of these things
    than we do on some of these other meetings today. But we know
    this is a problem. We know it's a significant problem. We know
    that women are extremely vulnerable with this. Multiple
    approaches are very necessary, and notably since 1984, the
    Family Violence Prevention Service Acts provided some vital
    support for survivors and families to State and local
    providers.
        And most recently Congress has included additional support
    over the past year to respond to problems that have arisen due
    to the COVID. But just the high points that I wanted to
    reiterate was the local involvement is just so important. And I
    heard those who provided testimony affirmed that again, in
    areas that I don't have high expertise.
        But I heavily suspect that there's a lot of things that are
    common denominators that have to be addressed that are very
    similar across the board. There are also things that are going
    to be different from place to place, and my hometown of
    Meridian and Boise is probably a little bit different from
    Chicago.
        I mean, I can tell you it's a lot different than Chicago,
    but in terms of these issues there's probably some different
    approaches that are needed in the local, that personal touch,
    that you can do locally has got to be supported.
        I am a huge fan of faith-based involvement with this issue,
    with civic groups it adds to that local side, and I think Ms.
    Novoryta, you articulated why that is very well-positioned to
    deal with these types of things. There's just some things that
    we can't do in government.
        There are some things we can't do from Washington, DC, but
    Madam Chair that's my closing comment. To Ms. Novoryta, Dr.
    Miller, Ms. Schlater and Ms. Timmons, thank you for who you
    are, what you do. You're appreciated. Madam Chair, I yield
    back.
        Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you very much. And I now
    recognize myself for the purpose of making a closing Statement.
    I want to again thank our witnesses for guiding us through
    today's hearing. You each brought a particular expertise and
    answered our questions in a very meaningful way.
        Intimate partner violence is a public health threat that we
    cannot ignore. I'm glad this has been a bipartisan
    conversation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues
    on both sides of the aisle to address this issue, and I
    especially of course we need the investment, and we also need
    to have that investment in prevention.
        The increased rates of domestic violence during the
    pandemic have brought renewed attention to the urgent need to
    expand equitable strategies that prevent intimate partner
    violence and save lives. But let's be clear, this crisis is
    about much more than what's happened over just the past year,
    it's about the countless survivors across the country who for
    years have lived each day with the trauma of intimate partner
    violence.
        For the health of our constituents and our communities, we
    must do everything we can to support survivors and eradicate
    intimate partner violence whenever and wherever it occurs. I am
    again, committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of
    the aisle to take meaningful evidence-based action to provide
    survivors with the support that they need, and to prevent
    intimate partner violence from happening in the first place.
        I want to close by again encouraging anyone who needs
    support or help to visit www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-
    SAFE. If there is no further business without objection the
    subcommittee stands adjourned. Thank you again.
        [Additional submission by Ms. McBath follow:]
        [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        [Whereupon, at 1:51 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

                                     [all]