[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11584-S11585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. Wellstone):
  S. 2558. A bill to provide economic security for battered women, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


                 Battered Women's Economic security act

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today, Senator Wellstone and I are 
introducing the Battered Women's Economic Security Act. This 
legislation was developed in order to address the numerous economic 
obstacles facing victims of domestic and family violence as they try to 
escape this violence.
  I know that Senator Wellstone joins me in applauding Senator Biden's 
efforts in crafting legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against 
Women Act programs. Senator Biden developed a bipartisan bill to build 
on the success of VAWA and expand those programs aimed at the immediate 
needs of victims of domestic violence.
  The legislation we are introducing today takes the next step. As a 
result of VAWA and the increased federal commitment to addressing the 
domestic violence crisis, we now have an infrastructure in place that 
helps the community respond to this violence. VAWA has been a success 
in helping local law enforcement, and the courts, prosecute those who 
batter and abuse women. VAWA provides a strong law enforcement 
component as well as services to provide immediate and emergency 
assistance to victims. But, the road to recovery is much longer and 
much harder because of economic barriers.
  As I learned last year in my efforts to maintain a safety net for 
victims of family violence, often times it is basic economics that trap 
women and children in violent homes and relationships. Economic 
barriers threaten the success of VAWA and work to maintain the threat 
of violence.
  We all know the cost of domestic and family violence. But, there is a 
much greater cost to the community that is often overlooked. How many 
police officers have been caught in the cross fire when responding to 
domestic and family violence calls? How many innocent children grow up 
in a violent home and bring this violence into the classroom or future 
relationships? We have made a commitment to ending domestic violence, 
however, in order to succeed we must tear down the economic barriers.
  We have insurance policies that discriminate against victims of 
domestic violence. Some insurance companies think that victims of 
domestic violence are engaging in high risk behavior similar to a race 
car driver or sky diver. Life, homeowners, auto and health insurance 
are essential elements of economic security. Eliminating this 
protection for victims of domestic violence threatens their ability to 
achieve economic independence. It also discourages women from coming 
forward and reporting this violence and abuse for fear that their 
insurance company will use it against them.
  Don't let anyone tell you this does not happen. I can give many 
examples of insurance discrimination faced by victims of domestic 
violence. Just ask Kaddas Bolduc from Washington, whose estranged 
husband burned down her home. Her insurance company refused to honor 
her homeowner's policy as they decided this was not arson, but a 
violent response to the break up of a relationship. Her husband had 
been released from jail shortly before the fire. She was told that she 
had no claim and no way to rebuild her home. I would have to say that 
this is a serious economic barrier that must come down.
  I have met with many domestic violence advocates in Washington and 
have listen to their concerns about finding long term security for 
victims. I have heard horror stories about the lack of affordable 
housing or the inability of victims to secure safe housing. Many 
landlords refuse to rent to a victim for fear that the violence will 
follow her. Many women do not have a lease or mortgage in their name. 
They have no real credit history and certainly cannot prove that they 
were reliable tenants. As a result they have a difficult time finding 
housing. Shelters are simply temporary solutions and in many 
communities the need far outweighs the availability of emergency 
shelter space.
  We need to expand Section 8 opportunities for victims of domestic 
violence in order to ensure that they can find long term housing. A 
safe, affordable home is often a goal that many battered women are 
unable to achieve. Many women end up back in violent homes or 
relationships as they have no where else to go. In order to end 
domestic and family violence we must provide greater housing assistance 
and opportunities to those who have suffered this violence.
  Currently, there are many barriers to work for victims of domestic 
violence. Safe, affordable child care would be the greatest barrier and 
I believe the bonus provisions included in this bill will provide the 
incentives to the states to address this problem. We need to expand 
child care options and benefits for victims of domestic violence, but 
we cannot do it at the expense of other low income women an families 
struggling to stay off of welfare. I believe we need to work with the 
states in addressing the unique needs of victims of domestic violence.

  Unfortunately, the violence can follow women into the work place 
which jeopardizes their health and safety as well as their job. Many 
women are unable to take leave to seek relief in the courts. They do 
not have the luxury of taking time off to file for a restraining order 
or to testify against their abuser. They cannot take sick leave to seek 
medical attention or treatment. Many employers simply do not offer or 
provide the flexibility that these women

[[Page S11585]]

need. Included in this legislation we are introducing today is the 
Employment Protection for Battered Women introduced by Senator 
Wellstone. I believe these provisions will help battered women maintain 
their jobs without jeopardizing their safety.
  But when the threat of violence becomes so great as to jeopardize the 
woman and her coworkers she must be able to leave the job immediately. 
Unfortunately, many states refuse to allow these women the ability to 
collect unemployment compensation as they rule that she left on her own 
accord. However, many women are forced to leave a job and should not be 
penalized because they are being harassed and have been subjected to 
abuse in the past. Our legislation includes provisions that would allow 
a victim of domestic violence to collect unemployment compensation when 
they are forced to leave their job due to the thereat of continued 
violence.
  I have also heard first hand from advocates who have been working 
with women in an effort to change their Social Security number in order 
to flee a violent abuser. It is impossible to secure employment without 
giving out one's Social Security number. It is impossible to rent an 
apartment or even establish credit without a Social Security number. 
Yet giving out this number can make it easier for an abusive husband or 
boyfriend to track a woman down. The ability to change their Social 
Security number becomes the difference between economic dependency and 
economic independence. Yet it is easier to change one's number based on 
superstition than it is because one is trying to flee a violent 
relationship.
  The Office of Victims Advocacy at the Washington State AG's office 
told me that it can take as long as six months to change a Social 
Security number and that is in a case where there was a clear need to 
change the victim's identity. But, in most cases it takes more than 12 
months and for some it may never happen. The Social Security 
Administration must work to correct this threat. Included in our 
legislation is a requirement that the Social Security Administration 
expedite requests from victims of domestic violence for a change in 
their Social Security number in order to achieve economic independency 
faster and safer.
  The legislation is the result of months of drafting and working with 
domestic violence advocactes to address the many economic barriers 
facing victims. In working to strengthen the Family Violence Option in 
welfare reform, I became painfully aware of the barriers that punitive 
welfare reform provisions had created. But I realized that this was 
only one of many barriers.
  VAWA took the first step in dedicating federal resources to 
addressing the domestic violence crisis, but its whole focus is law 
enforcement and emergency response. We need to go to the next level to 
truly end violence against women. We need to address these economic 
needs and problems. I believe our legislation meets this test and will 
eliminate many of the economic barriers that trap women and children in 
violent homes and relationships.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in support of this important 
legislation.
                                 ______