[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 127 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1599-E1600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 25, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2076) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and 
     State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Chairman, I had intended to offer an amendment to 
restore funding in the State-Commerce-Justice appropriations bill for 
the State Justice Institute. Since filing the amendment, I realized 
that a number of Members are not familiar with the work of the State 
Justice Institute, thereby leading me to conclude that it was not an 
opportune time to debate SJI funding. I withdrew the amendment.
  But I want to let my colleagues know that there is a clear Federal 
interest in supporting programs like SJI, which promotes a just, 
effective, and innovative system of State courts. State courts have 
been the beneficiaries of more than 800 projects improving the quality 
of the justice they deliver, and the Federal judiciary has worked 
closely with SJI to improve the working relationship between the State 
and Federal courts.

[[Page E1600]]

  Federal assistance to State courts is as appropriate as Federal 
assistance to State law enforcement, prosecution, and corrections 
agencies. By helping the State courts to deliver justice more 
efficiently and effectively, SJI promotes their greater use by 
litigants, thereby reducing the number of cases filed in Federal court. 
Continued
 funding for SJI would provide the administration and Congress with the 
opportunity to improve the State courts' response to important issues, 
such as family violence, the rights of children, drug abuse, and crime.

  As a Member of Congress who has been active on the issue of domestic 
violence, I can attest to SJI's many contributions in improving the 
State courts' response to family violence. For example, the State 
Justice Institute is the entity responsible for implementing my 
legislation, approved by Congress in 1992, to develop training programs 
for judges and other court personnel about domestic violence, 
especially its impact on children, and to review child custody 
decisions where evidence of spousal abuse has been presented. The 
Judicial Training Act addresses problems that many battered women have 
when they step into the courtrooms in this country to fight for custody 
of their children or to fight for equal justice in criminal cases. The 
response of our judicial system to domestic violence has been one of 
ignorance, negligence, and indifference, often with tragic 
consequences. The State Justice Institute has moved expeditiously to 
implement this act, and it has provided important assistance in 
improving the State courts' response to family violence.
  Federal policies can have serious consequences for the State courts 
and often impose substantial responsibilities on the State courts. The 
State Justice Institute has provided important Federal assistance to 
help the State judiciaries cope with federally imposed burdens, such as 
the Child Support Enforcement Act of 1984, the Family Support Act of 
1986, and the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. These 
Federal programs should be accompanied by Federal assistance for State 
courts to meet these increased demands. The State Justice Institute has 
filled this important role.


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