[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12278-S12279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the work of 
domestic violence shelters and centers in my home state of Minnesota. 
As my colleagues may know, October is recognized as ``National Domestic 
Violence Awareness Month.'' This is a time to strengthen our resolve to 
end domestic violence and sexual assault. More importantly, it is also 
a time to remember those who have suffered and died as a result of 
these terrible crimes.
  I am very concerned about the number of domestic violence incidents 
in our society. Americans should not have to live in fear of being 
abused by anyone, let alone a family member.
  In my view, community-based domestic violence shelters and centers 
should be commended for their support for victims of physical, 
emotional, and sexual abuse. Their efforts to provide shelter, 
counseling, and assistance to battered women and children have helped 
families and communities escape domestic violence.
  I ask unanimous consent the names of these Minnesota organizations be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

       Advocates For Family Peace.
       African American Family Services.
       Aitkin County Advocates Against Domestic Abuse.
       Alexandra House.
       Anishinable Circle of Peace.
       Anne Pierce Rogers Home.
       Asian Women United of Minnesota.
       B. Robert Lewis Intervention Project.
       B. Robert Lewis House Shelter.
       Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project.
       Big Stone County Outreach.
       Bois Forte Battered Women's Program.
       Breaking Free.
       Brian Coyle Community Center.
       Brown County Victim Services.
       Casa de Esperanza.
       Cass County Family Safety Network.
       Center for Family Crisis.
       Chisago County Victim's Assistance Program.
       Citizen's Council Victim Services.
       Committee Against Domestic Abuse.
       Community University Health Care Center.
       Cornerstone Advocacy Services.
       Crime Victims Resource Center.
       Division of Indian Work.
       Domestic Violence Abuse Advocates of Wabasha County.
       Domestic Abuse Intervention Project.
       Domestic Abuse Project.
       Domestic Abuse Project of Goodhue County.
       Eastside Neighborhood Service.
       Family Help Center.
       Family Safety Network.
       Family Services.
       Family Violence Intervention Project.
       Family Violence Network.
       Family Violence Program.
       Fillmore Family Resources, Inc.
       Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee.
       Forest Lake Area New Beginnings.
       Freeborn County Victim's Crisis Center.
       Friends Against Abuse.
       Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council.
       Gender Violence Institute.
       Grand Portage Reservation ``Wil Dooka Wada''.
       Grant County Outreach.
       Hands of Hope Resource Center.
       Hands of Hope.
       Harriet Tubman Center, Inc.
       Harriet Tubman Pilot City Outreach Program.
       Headwaters Intervention Center, Inc.
       Health Start.
       Health System Minnesota AdvoCare.
       Hennepin County Legal Advocacy Project.
       Hill Home.
       Home Free Domestic Assault Intervention Project.
       Home Free Shelter--Missions, Inc.
       Houston County Mediation & Victims Services.
       Houston County Women's Resource.
       Lakes Crisis Center.
       Leech Lake Family Violence Prevention/Intervention Program.
       LeSeuer/Sibley Violence Project.
       Listening Ear Crisis Center.
       Lyon County Violence Intervention Project.
       McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence, Inc.
       Methodist Hospital AdvoCare Program.
       Midway Family Service and Abuse Center.
       Migrant Health Service.

[[Page S12279]]

       Mille Lacs Women's Project.
       Minneapolis Intervention Project.
       Mujeres Unidas/Los Ninos.
       North Memorial Women's Center.
       North Shore Horizons Women's Resource Center.
       Northwoods Coalition for Battered Women.
       OtterTail County Crisis Center.
       PEARL: Battered Women's Resource Center.
       Phyllis Wheatley Community Center.
       Pillsbury Neighborhood Services.
       Pope County Outreach PRIDE (Women Used In Prostitution).
       Project P.E.A.C.E.
       Ramsey Intervention Project.
       Range Women's Advocates.
       Rape and Abuse Crisis Center.
       Refuge.
       Refuge East.
       Refuge North.
       Region IV Council on Domestic Violence.
       Rivers of Hope--Buffalo.
       Rivers of Hope--Elk River.
       Safe Journey.
       SAFE, Inc.
       St. Cloud Intervention Project.
       St. Paul Intervention Project.
       Sheller House/Woodland Centers.
       Sojourner Project.
       Sojourner Project intervention.
       Southern Minnesota Crisis Support Center.
       Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women.
       Southern Valley Intervention Project.
       Southwest Crisis Center.
       Stevens County Outreach.
       Traverse County Outreach.
       Tuning Point for Victims of Domestic Abuse.
       Unity/Waite House.
       Victim's Crisis Center.
       Violence Intervention Project (CADA).
       Violence Intervention Project--Ada.
       Violence Intervention Project--Crookston.
       Violence Intervention Project--Hallock.
       Violence Intervention Project--Rouseau.
       Violence Intervention Project--Thief River Falls.
       Waseca Area Violence Intervention Project.
       Washington County Intervention Services.
       Wilkin County Outreach.
       W.I.N.D.O.W.
       Wilder Community Assistance Program.
       Wilder Domestic Abuse Program.
       Winona Domestic Assault Intervention Project.
       Woman House.
       Woman House advocates at St. Cloud hospital.
       WomanKind (Fairview Ridges).
       WomanKind (Fairview Southdale).
       WomanKind (Fairview University).
       WomanSafe.
       Women Alive Crisis Center ``Equay Be Mah De See Win''
       Women of Nations Eagles' Nest Shelter.
       Women of Nallons Community Advocacy Project.
       Women's Advocates.
       Women's Center, Inc.
       Women's Center of Mid-Minnesota.
       Women's Coalition.
       Women's Resource Center of Steele County.
       Women's Resource Center.
       WRAP of Cottonwood County.
       WRAP of Lincoln County.
       WRAP of Redwood Co.
       Women's Shelter.
       Women's Shelter intervention Project.
       Womenspace.
       Yellow Medicine Women's Center.
       African American Family Service.
       Battered Women's Programs.
       Battered Women's Justice Project.
       Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project.
       Black, Indian, Hispanic & Asian Women In Action.
       BrotherPeace.
       Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women.
       Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center.

  Mr. President, we should also note that this year marks the fourth 
anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. Through increased 
sentences, grants to State governments for prevention programs and 
other services, and the new national domestic abuse hotline, the 
Violence Against Women Act has contributed significantly toward 
protecting individuals from sexual offenses and domestic abuse. I am 
proud to have supported this landmark legislation as a member of the 
House of Representatives during the 103rd Congress.
  Since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, funding provided 
for these programs has led to the further development of policies to 
prevent and respond to domestic abuse incidents. This includes 
specialized domestic violence court advocates who obtain protection 
orders, in conjunction with greater support to enhance the ability of 
prosecutors and law enforcement to punish those who commit these 
crimes.
  Despite these important achievements, the number of siblings, 
spouses, and children subjected to domestic abuse remains too high. 
Regrettably, most victims of domestic violence are women.
  According to the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, 210 
Minnesota women died from domestic abuse between 1988 and 1997. Sadly, 
this loss of life underscores the importance of increasing public 
awareness regarding domestic violence and the community-based 
organizations that are working to prevent others from falling victim to 
this violence.
  Mr. President, domestic abuse is not limited to the privacy of 
households. In many places of businesses, battered individuals are 
subjected to emotional abuse in the form of threatening phone calls and 
harassment.
  Fortunately, companies have begun to recognize that employees who are 
subject to domestic violence at home are more likely to be absent from 
work and less productive at their jobs.
  In fact, a recent survey of corporate senior executives by Roper 
Starch Worldwide on behalf of Liz Claiborne, Inc. found that: Fifty-
seven percent of those surveyed believe that domestic violence is a 
major problem in society; thirty-three percent feel that domestic abuse 
had a negative impact on their bottom lines; and four out of ten 
executives surveyed were personally aware of employees and other 
individuals affected by domestic violence.

  I commend efforts by private sector employers who have responded to 
this problem by establishing Employee Assistance Programs and other 
services that will safely protect employees who have become domestic 
violence victims.
  Mr. President, Minnesotans will have the opportunity this month to 
participate in a variety of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month 
initiatives. Throughout October, citizens will raise public awareness 
through candlelight vigils, rallies, and marches throughout our 
communities.
  One of the more creative programs will be an art exhibit honoring 30 
Minneapolis public high school students who are finalists in the 
``Speak Up'' domestic violence awareness poster contest.
  This initiative, co-sponsored by the Harriet Tubman Center and 
Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis, will encourage students to increase 
public awareness and prevention of family violence. The competition 
will award scholarships to twelve individuals who present various 
domestic violence themes in their artwork.
  Next fall, these works will be part of the Annual Domestic Violence 
Art exhibit in the Russell Senate Office Building sponsored by my 
colleague, Senator Paul Wellstone.
  I am certain many Members of Congress will visit this exhibit to 
admire the important contributions of these young Minnesotans toward 
raising the consciousness of our communities about the issue of 
domestic abuse.
  Domestic violence is not an insurmountable problem facing our 
society. We must work together to curb this problem that crosses over 
economical, cultural, and political boundaries.
  Through the efforts of community groups, families, and law 
enforcement, Americans can take meaningful steps toward eradicating the 
presence of this crime in their daily lives.

                          ____________________