[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THOSE WHO BATTLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JON D. FOX

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 1996

  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, Pennsylvania's 13th District is 
home to many weapons in the battle against domestic violence. On the 
front lines we have a Montgomery County Victims Services Center, Laurel 
House, the Montgomery County Womens' Center, and the Montgomery County 
Commission on Women and Families.
  I rise today to compliment another one of these weapons, and to 
recognize the men and women who make it work.
  In 1978, Upper Moreland, PA Police Lt. Carl Robinson conceived the 
idea of establishing a corps of trained mental health professionals who 
would accompany police to the sites of domestic violence police calls. 
Years later, Ms. Bonnie Dalzell, who founded the counseling center at 
St. Luke's in Glenside, PA, visited police stations in the Upper 
Moreland area to acquaint police organizations with the mental health 
services she could provide.
  This conversation developed into the Support Police Immediate 
Response Intervention Team, a nonprofit organization serving the 
communities of Upper Moreland, Abington, and Jenkintown, PA.
  Mr. Speaker, as you know, much of a policeman's work is crisis 
intervention. Not only has the presence of mental health volunteers 
freed police to do the police work in cases of domestic violence, it 
has gone a long way towards safely resolving domestic conflicts.
  Domestic violence is one of the greatest enemies of our Nation's 
families. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the caring 
people who do their best to help our country's families through 
domestic crises. This is why, both as a State legislator, and again 
last year as a Member of the 104th Congress, I introduced legislation 
supporting community response teams such as the one in Upper Moreland.
  I am proud to rise today in recognition and support of compassionate 
men and women like Ms. Judy Dwyer, who is a responder in the Upper 
Moreland program of which I rise in appreciation.
  I cannot say it enough. Our children and families are under attack. 
In Pennsylvania's 13th District, local solutions are making the 
difference, thanks to the vision and ability of people like Lieutenant 
Robinson, Ms. Dalzell, and Ms. Dwyer.

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