[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

  (Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, one of the most disturbing problems facing 
our society today is domestic violence. Violence against women exists 
in big cities, and it also exists in small, rural communities, like 
those in my district in northern Michigan. For many years domestic 
violence was not discussed in public, because people thought it was a 
problem that should be dealt with from within the home.
  Statistics show that crimes against women are rising at a faster rate 
than total crime. Even more disturbing is the fact that more than two-
thirds of violent crimes against women are committed by husbands, 
boyfriends, or acquaintances. In fact, thirty-three percent of American 
women who are killed, are killed by a boy friend or husband.
  Recently, we have had reason for hope, because President Clinton took 
on the fight against domestic violence. Because of his leadership and 
support, the Violence Against Women Act was passed into law.
  President Clinton is the first President to attack this problem head-
on. He has created a special Violence Against Women Office at the 
Department of Justice to spearhead the effort to fight violence against 
women. Today, the President announced approximately $26 million in STOP 
Grants to the States to fight violence against women.
  I salute President Clinton's leadership in this fight, a fight which 
we all must join, to stop domestic violence.

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