[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 162 (Thursday, October 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S15315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SUPPORTING DAY OF CONFRONTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I rise in support of observing a Day of 
Confronting Violence Against Women and this week as a Week Without 
Violence.
  Widely publicized media reports, especially those most recent, have 
literally seized the attention of the American public and brought to 
the forefront alarming instances of violence against women. When I 
learn that three out of four women will be victims of violence at some 
time in their life, it makes me angry, as it should every Member of the 
U.S. Senate.
  This issue should strike each of us at the heart of our homes and 
families. Why? Because we are not just talking about numbers and 
statistics here, we are talking about our mothers, our sisters, and our 
daughters. We may even be talking about some of our colleagues. When 
you consider that every 15 seconds a women is battered in America, four 
women have been cruelly beaten since I began my statement only a minute 
ago. When every 5 minutes a women is sexually attacked, sadly enough, 
one woman's life is forever destroyed by the time I conclude my 
remarks.
  In our country, one in every four relationships involve physical 
abuse. In my home State, I am sad to say, 250,000 women are abused each 
year. This is why violence against women is an issue very important to 
me. One of my first acts as Senator was to sign onto Senator Dole's 
Violence Against Women Act. Last year two antistalking amendments I 
offered were adopted by the Senate. They provided for training of 
criminal justice officials and victims' service providers as well as 
funding for further research.
  Most recently, I am proud to have been a cosponsor of an amendment to 
the fiscal year 1996 Commerce, State, Justice appropriations bill to 
target an additional $75 million funding to prevent violence against 
women--an amendment that was unanimously adopted. It included support 
of counseling and assistance to victims and witnesses to support them 
throughout the prosecution process of offenders, funding for safe homes 
for victims of violence, and improving the database that collects 
nationwide information on stalkers.
  In closing, let me applaud the tireless work of Majority Leader Dole, 
Senators Hatch, Biden, and Snowe and many others to bring an end to 
violence against women in this country. Even though there have been 
some tragic setbacks recently, we cannot give up hope. We need to 
continue to support these efforts in the Senate and to support women 
who are victims of violence.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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