[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 102 (Wednesday, September 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN SUPPORT OF VAWA REAUTHORIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2000

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the leadership 
of the House of Representatives to schedule floor action on the 
reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which expires 
this year.
  The Violence Against Women Act, H.R. 1248, was reported out of the 
House Judiciary Committee on June 27, 2000. With 216 co-sponsors, H.R. 
1248 enjoys strong bipartisan support. It reauthorizes current VAWA 
grant programs for 5 years, makes targeted improvements, and adds 
important new programs.
  The passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 was one of the 
greatest accomplishments of the 103rd Congress and the Clinton 
Administration. Since 1995, VAWA grants have provided a major source of 
funding for national and local programs to reduce rape, stalking, and 
domestic violence. The 1994 Act bolstered the prosecution of child 
abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence cases; provided services 
for victims by funding shelters and sexual assault crisis centers; 
increased resources for law enforcement and prosecutors; and created a 
National Domestic Violence Hotline.
  VAWA has made a difference in the lives of millions of women, but we 
need to do more. We must ensure that we adequately address the needs of 
all victims of domestic violence and sexual assault including immigrant 
women, older women, women with disabilities, and women of color. We 
must help women who are trying to escape domestic violence by providing 
transitional housing and legal assistance services.
  H.R. 1248 vastly improves VAWA by strengthening the existing 
provisions and by adding new provisions to address dating violence, 
reach underserved populations, facilitate enforcement of state and 
tribal protective orders nationwide, provide transitional housing, 
create programs for supervised visitation and exchange for children, 
develop training programs on elder abuse for law enforcement personnel 
and prosecutors, provide civil legal assistance funds, strengthen the 
National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and more.
  Passage of the Violence Against Women Act has been identified as the 
top priority of the Congressional Women's Caucus. It is certainly one 
of my top priorities.
  I urge the leadership to schedule a vote on this vital legislation 
within the next ten days. The Senate is ready to vote on its VAWA bill. 
We must be ready to go to conference and to send this bill to the 
president before the 106th Congress adjourns.
  We cannot in good conscience go home to our districts without acting 
on this critical legislation, which so strongly impacts the safety and 
well being of women and children throughout our nation.

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