[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H7561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, today marks the last day, this last 
day of October, as the last day of the month for national domestic 
violence awareness. Though society has made great strides in bringing 
attention to the crime of domestic violence, over 4 million individuals 
of this country continue to find themselves victims of physical, 
psychological and sexual abuse. While our Nation's attention is 
currently occupied by security threats both here and abroad, domestic 
violence is an issue that this country must continue to address.
  Domestic violence rarely makes the headlines, primarily because most 
of the abuse occurs behind closed doors. In most instances, the victim 
knows the attacker. Over 50 percent of the victims are battered by a 
boy or girlfriend. Over 30 percent are assaulted by spouses, and around 
15 percent are attacked by ex-spouses. Many victims are reluctant to 
report these incidents to anyone because of fear of reprisal.
  There are many theories to explain why individuals use violence 
against their partners. Some explanations include dysfunctional 
families, inadequate communication skills, stress, chemical dependency 
and economic hardship. Though these issues may be associated with 
battering, they are not the causes, and merely removing these factors 
will not end domestic violence.
  Batterers begin and continue to have abusive behavior because 
violence is an effective method of gaining and keeping control over 
another person. The abuser usually does not suffer adverse consequences 
as a result of this behavior.
  Historically, violence against women has not been treated as a real 
crime but rather a private matter between domestic partners. The 
consequences for domestic violence are often less severe than the 
penalties for other criminal forms of abuse.
  Society tends to misplace the blame for continued abuse, focusing on 
the victim and criticizing him or her for not leaving the abuser. In 
many cases women simply do not have physical or financial resources to 
get out of the relationship. Risks of retaliatory abuse and injury are 
also factors in staying.
  Every year, domestic violence results in approximately 100,000 days 
of hospitalization and over 28,000 visits to emergency rooms. In these 
cases, major medical treatment is often required.
  Fear of death is another consideration. The possibility of being 
murdered by an abuser increases to 75 percent if the woman attempts to 
leave on her own.
  For these reasons, outside support networks and services are vital. 
Yet these resources are often limited.
  The lack of resources and shelters are a particular problem in rural 
areas. In my 66-county district, there are only nine domestic violence 
and sexual assault shelters. For many women in central and western 
Kansas, the distance to the closest shelter may be hundreds of miles 
away. In Kansas, one domestic violence murder occurs 55 minutes and 48 
seconds. Proximity to a safe facility can mean the difference between 
life and death. Ensuring safe havens for women who leave abusive 
environments is a priority.
  Most domestic violence centers rely primarily on grants and local 
donations. Federal grants made under the Violence Against Women Act 
provided essential funds for shelter operation and support service. 
That program has been credited with substantially reducing the levels 
of violence committed against women and children. We must continue to 
ensure that our shelters and crisis centers receive adequate funding.
  As National Domestic Violence Awareness Month draws to a close, we 
are reminded that domestic violence is an issue that must be addressed 
all year long. Only through funding, education and support can America 
hope to end this terrible crime.

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