[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E838-E839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

                                 ______


                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 1996

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, the statistics are bone chilling. Three out 
of four American

[[Page E839]]

women will be a victim of a violent crime in their lifetime. For every 
5 minutes that passes, another women is raped. Every 9 seconds another 
woman is abused.
  And don't think it doesn't happen in your community. While most men 
are respectful toward women, the statistics indicate that in every 
community there lives at least one weak, cowardly, and spineless man 
who feels the compulsion to humiliate and torment a woman.
  Don't fool yourself into believing that you couldn't know a woman who 
is suffering. These women are someone's mother, someone's sister, 
someone's daughter, someone's coworker, someone's friend. This abuse 
breeds fear, pain, and shame in women.
  It's time to alert and educate the public about the violence that is 
being inflicted on women and how to stop it. Violence is inexcusable in 
any civilized society. Only by exposing this destructive vile behavior 
will there be an end to the pain and suffering. Anything less is 
unacceptable. I urge everyone to do their part to end the violence.

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