[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 144 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2158-E2159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK AND THOSE WHO 
                            MADE IT POSSIBLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 21, 1999

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with an overwhelming sense of pride 
that I now rise to pay tribute to a truly historic event in the proud 
and distinguished history of the great State of Colorado: the 
establishment of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
  As the House sponsor of legislation that redesignated the Black 
Canyon as a national park, it gives me great joy to describe for this 
esteemed body's record the beauty of this truly majestic place. In 
addition, I would like to offer my gratitude to a community of 
individuals instrumental in the long process that ultimately yielded 
the establishment of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
  Mr. Speaker, anyone who has visited the Black Canyon can attest to 
its awe-inspiring natural beauty. Named for the dark rock that makes up 
its sheer walls, the Black Canyon is largely composed of what 
geologists call basement rocks, the oldest rocks on the earth estimated 
at 1.7 billion years old. With its narrow openings, sheer walls, and 
scenic gorges that plunge 2000 feet into the clear blue majesty of the 
Gunnison River, the Black Canyon is a natural crown jewel second to 
none in its magnificent splendor. Though other canyons may have greater 
depth or descend on a steeper course, few combine these attributes as 
breathtakingly as does the Black Canyon.
  If ever there was a place worthy of the prestigious status that only 
national park status can afford, Mr. Speaker, it is the Black Canyon. 
But as you know, national parks don't just happen. In this case, it 
took nearly 15 years, several Congressional Representatives and 
Senators, innumerable locally elected officials, and a virtual sea of 
committed citizens in western Colorado.
  Included in this group are the good people of Paonia, Colorado. 
During this long and at times difficult process, Paonia's civic leaders 
have given tirelessly and beyond measure in the hopes of making the 
Black Canyon a national park. Again and again these great Americans 
rose to the challenge, doing everything in their power to fulfill this 
dream. Without Paonia's leadership and perseverance, none of what we 
have accomplished would have ever been possible.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I give my thanks to the people of 
Paonia who played a leading role in making the Black Canyon of the 
Gunnison National Park a wonderful reality for Colorado, America, and 
the world to enjoy.

[[Page E2159]]

                        BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 21, 1999

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce legislation to 
address the gaps, errors, and oversights in current law that impede the 
ability of battered immigrant women to flee violent relationships and 
survive economically. The Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 
1999 would restore provisions that allow battered women, who are 
entitled to permanent residency, to file their own application for 
immigrant status without requiring the cooperation of their abusive 
spouses. It would also allow them to remain in the United States while 
awaiting their green cards.
  This legislation would also ensure that battered immigrants with 
pending immigration applications are able to access public benefits, 
food stamps, SSI, housing, work permits and immigration relief.
  October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and domestic violence 
has grown to epidemic proportions. It is the single largest cause of 
injury to women in the United States. It is in every neighborhood and 
community throughout our Nation. Domestic abuse does not discriminate. 
Rural and urban women of all religious, ethnic, economic, and 
educational backgrounds; of varying ages, physical abilities, and 
lifestyles can be affected by domestic violence.
  A woman's reasons for staying in an abusive relationship are more 
complex than a statement about her strength of character. In many 
cases, it is dangerous for a woman to leave her abuser. On average, a 
typical battered woman attempts to leave her abusive relationship five 
to seven times before she achieves permanent separation from her 
batterer.
  This pattern indicates that battered women often lack adequate 
independent living and employment options. We must take the next step 
toward creating real solutions to the continuing problem of domestic 
violence. We must help women and families achieve economic self-
sufficiency so that they are able to escape their violent relationships 
and secure protection.
  Sadly though, in addition to the lack of adequate housing and 
employment options for many victims of domestic abuse, immigrant women 
and their children who suffer every day at the hands of abusers face 
one more threat--the threat of deportation. Battered women often 
experience shame, embarrassment and isolation. For immigrant women, who 
often have no family support and whose immigration status is tied to 
the abusers, it is even more difficult. In more ways than one, they are 
held hostage by their abusers.

  The bill would expand legal protections for battered immigrant women 
so that they may flee violent homes, obtain court protections, and 
cooperate in the criminal prosecution of their abusers without fear of 
deportation.
  It also ensures that women who are victims of terrible crimes, such 
as rape, incest, torture, battery, sexual assault, female genital 
mutilation, and forced prostitution, can remain temporarily in the 
United States. These women would then be able to apply for lawful 
permanent residency at a later date. Giving these victims this 
opportunity to remain in the U.S. is an important step in the efforts 
of law enforcement to protect the victims and prosecute and investigate 
cases of domestic abuse and trafficking of aliens.
  I'd like to share the story of ``Celeste'' to illustrate the dire 
need for this legislation.
  Celeste was born in Mexico. She met her husband, Ronaldo, a lawful 
permanent resident of the United States in 1991. They immediately began 
dating and fell in love. Four months later, they married, and Celeste 
moved with her husband to Chicago.
  For the first five months things went well. Celeste became pregnant, 
but soon after, things began to change. He suddenly became 
unpredictable and controlling. He began to abuse Celeste.
  Celeste feared for her safety and that of her son. Ronaldo had 
promised to file a visa petition for Celeste when she came to the 
United States, but then refused to keep his promise unless she paid him 
a lot of money.
  Celeste was left with only two choices: report the abuse to the 
police and face certain deportation or say nothing and live with the 
abuse.
  If this critical piece of legislation is passed, thousands of women 
around the country like Celeste will be able to leave their abusive 
spouses and petition for citizenship on their own. Additionally, they 
will be authorized to work and will have access to basic services like 
transitional housing and counseling to help them get on their feet.
  There is no reason to wait. We must act now to end the injustice, 
solve this problem, and help these women and their children. it is 
wrong to stand idly by as battered women and their children are forced 
to choose between a black eye and broken arm or a one-way ticket out of 
the country.
  I submit the following summary of the bill.

            Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 1999

       The Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 1999 
     continues the work that began with the passage of the first 
     Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994. Prior to VAWA 
     1994, abusive citizens and permanent residents had total 
     control over their spouse's immigration status. As a result, 
     battered immigrant women and children were forced to remain 
     in abusive relationships, unable to appeal to law enforcement 
     and courts for protection for fear of deportation.
       VAWA 1994 immigration provisions remedied the situation by 
     allowing battered immigrants to file their own applications 
     for immigration relief without the cooperation of their 
     abusive spouse, enabling them to safely flee violence. 
     Despite the successes of the immigration provisions of VAWA 
     194, subsequent legislation drastically reduced access to 
     VAWA immigration relief for battered immigrant women and 
     their children.
       This bill seeks to restore, improve implementation of and 
     expand access to a variety of legal protections for battered 
     immigrants so they may file violent homes, obtain court 
     protection, cooperate in the criminal prosecution of their 
     abusers, and take control of their lives without the fear of 
     deportation.
       Under current law, many battered immigrants are forced to 
     leave the US to obtain their lawful permanent residence. 
     Leaving the US may put women at risk of violence from their 
     abusers and would deny them the protection provided by 
     courts, legislation, custody decrees, and law enforcement. 
     This bill will allow battered immigrant women and children to 
     obtain permanent immigration status without leaving the U.S.
       The Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act would:
       Allow for adjustment of status for VAWA self-petitioners, 
     thus allowing women to remain in the U.S. while awaiting 
     their green cards;
       Prevent changes in abuser's status from undermining 
     victim's petitions;
       Provide for numerous waivers and exceptions to 
     inadmissibility for VAWA eligible applicants;
       Improve access to VAWA for battered immigrant women who are 
     married to members of the armed forces, married to bigamists, 
     and victims of elder abuse;
       Allow for discretionary waivers for good moral character 
     determinations;
       Give VAWA applicant access to work authorization;
       Protect certain crime victims including crimes against 
     women;
       Allow VAWA applicants access to food stamps, SSI, housing 
     and legal services;
       Train judges, immigration officials, armed forces 
     supervisors and police on VAWA immigration provisions;
       Provide permanent immigration status for immigrant victims 
     of elder abuse.

     

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