[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]


                              {time}  1110
 
                            FEEL THEIR FEAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Cantwell). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of February 11, 1994 and June 10, 1994, the gentlewoman from 
Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder] is recognized during morning business for 2 
minutes.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Madam Speaker, first I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from California [Ms. Roybal-Allard] for putting this together. She has 
had great leadership in dealing with domestic violence issues in the 
State of California, and she is bringing that here to the Congress, and 
I am honored to join my other colleagues in coming to the floor to talk 
about how important it is to have the strongest possible version of the 
Violence Against Women Act in the crime bill when the conferees meet.
  Madam Speaker, domestic violence is the leading public health and 
safety problem facing American women. For the 3 to 4 million women who 
are battered in their homes every year, an ever intensifying cycle of 
violence is their day-to-day reality. A reality, which until recently 
has been largely ignored.
  Domestic violence generates tremendous costs to society. More than 
1.5 million battered women seek medical treatment for their injuries 
each year, costing $45 million in annual medical costs, and at least 
175,000 days of absenteeism a year. In at least 50 percent of these 
homes the children are battered too.
  For the victims, domestic violence is a life or death matter. One 
third of female homicide victims are killed by their husbands or 
boyfriends. The Violence Against Women Act is now in conference. To 
illustrate the dimensions of the problem, the members of the 
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues will be reading the names of 
individuals who have lost their lives in domestic violence related 
incidents until the conference is finished. This list is by no means 
complete. Many States do not keep statistics on domestic violence-
related homicides. We do know, however, that these lists will continue 
to grow unless we act.


                             colorado 1993

  February 4, 1993: Pamela, 27, shot by ex-boyfriend in her living 
room. Children found mother dead.
  February 16, 1993: Wade, 28, and Roy 60. Estranged husband shot 
wife's boyfriend. Threatened to kill his wife as well. Then shot 
himself.
  March 1, 1993: Patricia 35, Dale 42. Dale shot Patricia then shot 
self. They had a history of domestic violence and two kids.

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