[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORIAM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 1998

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, on February 23, in Annapolis, Maryland, 
men, women, and children will come together to remember and mourn 
family, friends, and neighbors who died because of domestic violence 
during the past year. The memorial service reminds all in attendance of 
the terrible price Maryland pays when homes become places of fear and 
terror instead of havens of love and safety.
  The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, which organizes the 
service each year, has worked diligently for more than 15 years for 
better and tougher laws against domestic violence, for increased 
funding for shelters for battered women and their children, for 
training judges and law enforcement personnel, and for educating the 
public about domestic violence and its consequences on our society.
  In the last decade, we have made enormous strides on the state, 
local, and federal levels against domestic violence. Our state and 
local laws have been improved and strengthened. The Violence Against 
Women Act, which I sponsored, has not only changed the way we enforce 
domestic violence laws but also has provided needed funding to help 
states and local communities make a real difference in the struggle 
against domestic violence.
  Early next month, I will introduce the second Violence Against Women 
Act. VAWA II, as it has been called, will continue the federal 
commitment to fund the National Domestic Violence Hotline, shelters and 
counseling programs, judicial training programs, and other services so 
important to our local communities. VAWA II will also address child 
custody, housing, legal assistance, medical training, insurance 
discrimination, protection for disabled women, and issues critically 
important to the health and well being of our families.
  Mr. Speaker, let us join with the Maryland Network Against Domestic 
Violence to recommit ourselves to ending domestic violence in our homes 
and in our communities in whatever way we can: as legislators, as 
advocates, as volunteers, as parents, and as friends. And let us 
remember that as legislators, the bills we write and the votes we cast 
will determine to a great extent whether our children and their 
children will live in a world where domestic violence is no more.

                          ____________________