[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

                                 ______


                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 1994

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, today is the National Day of Remembrance for 
Victims of Domestic Abuse and their Families. Also, October is National 
Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
  That is why I rise to commemorate the victims of this senseless and 
often silent crime. We must raise awareness about the magnitude of this 
problem and the larger problem of violence against women, which is 
increasing at an alarming rate and affects women in all walks of life.
  Mr. Speaker, every 15 seconds a woman is beaten by her husband or 
boyfriend and every 6 minutes a woman is forcibly raped.
  Since 1974, the rate of assaults against women aged 20-24 has 
increased almost 50 percent.
  One out of every four female college students will be sexually 
attacked before graduating and one in seven will be raped.
  African American women are almost twice as likely to be raped as 
white women, yet these crimes are less likely to result in prosecution, 
conviction and stern sentences.
  The murder rate for women aged 65 and older has climbed by 30 percent 
since 1974, while the murder rate for men in the same age group has 
dropped by 6 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, the women of California's 14th Congressional District, 
which I represent, are among the victims of this epidemic of violence. 
In San Mateo County, CA, 3,258 domestic violence cases were reported in 
1993--an increase over the 2,870 cases reported in 1992. The San Mateo 
County Battered Women's Services has had an increase of 54.4 percent of 
domestic violence calls this year alone.
  Mr. Speaker, with such statistics women who have not been victims of 
violence are plagued by the fear of becoming one. It is not fair that 
more than half of this country is terrorized by such a high likelihood 
of becoming victims of brutality, serious injury, and death.
  That is why I am pleased Congress passed the Violence Against Women 
Act this year. This landmark legislation was signed into law by the 
President as part of the omnibus crime bill.
  This bill authorizes $1.62 billion over the next 6 years for State 
and local grants to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault crimes.
  The majority of these funds will assist police and prosecutors at the 
State and local levels. It will allow law enforcement authorities to 
more effectively prosecute crimes against women.
  The legislation also creates a national domestic violence hot line, 
increases funding for domestic violence shelters, increases Federal 
penalties for repeat sex offenders, encourages mandatory arrest 
policies for abusive partners, and includes training money for State 
and Federal judges to increase awareness and sensitivity about crimes 
against women.
  Mr. Speaker, in California's 14th Congressional District, San Mateo 
County and Santa Clara County both have innovative and effective 
community taskforces on violence against women. They are poised and 
ready to utilize this funding at the local level.
  Passage of the Violence Against Women Act is long overdue. It is my 
hope that its provisions will provide the essential first step to 
ending the devastating physical and emotional damage caused by domestic 
violence.

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