[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

  (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, as one of the authors of the Violence 
Against Women Act, I was proud to join President Clinton at the White 
House earlier today to announce the appointment of former Iowa Attorney 
General Bonnie Campbell to direct the Violence Against Women Office at 
the Department of Justice.
  The Violence Against Women Act, which passed with strong bipartisan 
support, is the first comprehensive Federal effort to fight violence 
against women. Long before Nicole Simpson was a household name, 
violence against women was one of America's most serious crime problems 
and most hidden secrets. Unfortunately, our local agencies were often 
inadequately trained, or hindered by scarce resources, and unable to 
tackle the problem.
  Today, we say, ``no more.'' Funding will begin to flow to the States 
to bolster their law enforcement, prosecution, and victim services that 
address violence against women. A national family violence hotline will 
be established. As a result of the rape victim shield law, which 
prevents abusive inquiries into one's past, victims will no longer be 
the ones put on trial. And individuals convicted of certain Federal sex 
abuse laws will be ordered to pay restitution to their victims.
  Crimes against women are rising much faster than total crime.
  Today we say, ``no more.''
  

                          ____________________