[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 144 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2155]]
 ALL SEGMENTS OF COMMUNITY MUST WORK TOGETHER TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 21, 1999

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue 
of domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, our homes should be a safe haven 
where wives, husbands, and children are free from the fear of violence. 
In most homes in America, this is the case, but for far too many women 
and children this is not the case. The need to address this issue is 
something on which we can all agree.
  I am pleased that increasing attention has been called to this issue 
and that there are numerous community organizations that have taken an 
active role in addressing this issue in their communities. Indeed it is 
in local communities where law enforcement and community organizations 
have gotten involved that we have seen the greatest success.
  In fact, this weekend in my congressional district the Domestic 
Violence Coalition of Indian River County, Florida will be hosting a 
seminar on domestic violence in order to raise awareness and provide 
training for those who are committed to bringing this travesty to an 
end. At this seminar a host of community organizations along with law 
enforcement and local governmental agencies will make presentations 
directed toward raising public awareness and sharing professional 
expertise on domestic violence.
  This Congress is due to consider the reauthorization of the Violence 
Against Women Act. This act provides funding for some very valuable 
programs like domestic violence hotlines, shelters, law enforcement, 
and related training among other programs. I fully support the 
reauthorization of these programs and am pleased that many of the 
organizations participating in this event, like the Sebastian River 
Junior Woman's Club, support efforts to reauthorize and improve the 
effectiveness of this law.
  Mr. Speaker I would also like to take this opportunity to bring to 
the members attention, related legislation that I have recently 
introduced in the House. My bill (H.R. 3088) would address one of the 
most heinous acts of violence to women in our society, sexual assault. 
Today, in many states the victims of sexual assault have no right to 
inquire into the HIV status of their assailant until after conviction 
of the assailant, and sometimes not even then. My bill would give the 
victims of this crime the right to know the HIV status of their 
attacker immediately after bringing charges.
  Medical studies indicate that if anti-HIV drugs are begun within 48 
hours of exposure to the HIV virus, the infection of the victim can 
actually be prevented. That is why it is so important that the victims 
of sexual assault be able to request the HIV status of their assailant 
as quickly as possible. It is literally a matter of life and death.
  As a physician, husband, and father, I am deeply troubled that this 
is not already law in every state. For too long the rights of victims 
of sexual crimes have been sacrificed for the rights of criminals. No 
longer will the victims have to wait weeks, months or years for the 
crime to be fully adjudicated before they can find out if they have 
been exposed to HIV.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill as we seek to 
arrest the scourge of violence in our society.

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