[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DIANE E. WATSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 2002

  Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend Lifetime 
Television for all their efforts in putting together End Domestic 
Violence Week, and I thank you for inviting my colleagues in the Women 
Caucus to participate and lend our voices and support to this important 
cause. As we celebrate Women's History Month and commemorate 
International Women's Day tomorrow, March 8, we must applaud the 
progress women have made globally as we address the problems that 
continue to impede this progress.
  The issue of domestic violence is a great concern. In the 32nd 
Congressional District of California, I have worked diligently with the 
Jenesse Center, the oldest sustaining domestic violence intervention 
program in South Central Los Angeles. I recently commended the Center, 
on the occasion of their 21 years of dedicated service to women and 
children.
  While in the State Senate, one of my first pieces of legislation 
addressed domestic violence. I authored the first domestic violence 
training legislation, which required law enforcement officers to 
maintain a written report when responding to domestic violence calls. 
My concern was to make law enforcement sensitive to the cultural, 
social, economic and personal issues that complicate domestic violence 
cases. Today, California has implemented laws that remove the abuser 
from the home and to provide assistance to the victim. But Mr. Speaker, 
domestic violence is more than a criminal offense, it is an attack on 
our families and our communities.
  Without question the violence in our homes has contributed to the 
violence on our streets. It is contributing to health care costs that 
are escalating, and it is tearing apart our communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage you to work with the House and the Senate to 
continue funding programs that ensure the protection of women and 
children, provide adequate health care for domestic violence victims 
and to ensure that local law enforcement has the monetary resources to 
tackle this problem.
  Let us rededicate ourselves to continuing the fight against domestic 
violence.

                          ____________________