[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 28, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
URGING THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE VERSION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
February 11, 1994, and June 10, 1994, the gentlewoman from New York 
[Mrs. Maloney] is recognized during morning business for 2 minutes.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, this morning, I rise in support of the 
strongest possible version of the Violence Against Women Act.
  Violence against women is one of the most horrendous and neglected 
problems facing our country. The men who batter 4 million women each 
year are often treated with a wink and a nod. This is intolerable and 
we must not stand for it.
  Of 178,000 radio calls relating to domestic disputes in New York 
City, less than 7 percent result in arrests.
  There is no difference between assaulting one's spouse and assaulting 
a stranger. The bruises are the same. The black eyes are the same. And 
the penalties ought to be the same.
  Beating up a stranger gets you jailed. Beating up a wife gets you 
therapeutic treatment. We are no longer willing to coddle the 
batterers.
  They must know that if they abuse their partners, they will be behind 
bars. It is unfortunate that it took a celebrity murder to bring this 
issue back to the Nation's attention.
  If we can pass this bill, maybe we can protect the next Nicole 
Simpson from the actions of an abusive spouse. Domestic abuse is no 
longer a family matter.

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