[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2078-E2079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               OCTOBER--DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______


                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 31, 1995

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, October is Domestic Violence Awareness 
Month and I rise today to observe this occasion. By now, almost 
everyone has heard the staggering statistics--6 million women are 
beaten each year by their husbands or boyfriends and 4,000 women die as 
a result, every 15 seconds a women is beaten by her husband or 
boyfriend, 20 percent of women who visit emergency rooms have injuries 
caused by their husbands or boyfriends, 28 percent of violence against 
women is committed by the victim's intimate, and 1 in 4 women in 
America will be assaulted by a domestic partner in her lifetime.
  Unfortunately, while Congress has made some progress with passage of 
the Violence 

[[Page E2079]]
Against Women's Act [VAWA] last year, funding for the important 
programs created by VAWA has lagged. Earlier this year, the House 
approved the Commerce, State, Justice appropriations bill which 
provided $124.5 million for VAWA programs. This figure is $50 million 
more than originally recommended by the House Appropriations Committee, 
however, it is still $50 million less than the amount authorized by 
VAWA. This is appalling.
  Last year, Congress appropriated $10 billion to help the survivors of 
the Los Angeles earthquake. In 1991, we sent $900 million in aid for 
victims of Hurricane Bob. After the Los Angeles riots in 1992, the 
Federal Government contributed to the cleanup efforts. In the same 
year, Congress provided assistance for many victims of Hurricane 
Andrew. Spending this money was necessary and I supported it. But just 
as we assist victims of periodic natural disasters, we must also help 
the victims of the on-going tragedies which occur in our backyards 
everyday--survivors of domestic violence.
  Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity to inform the 
public about this devastating crime. But more needs to be done. We, in 
Congress, have an obligation to ensure the safety of all women in this 
country and I will continue to work toward this goal.

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