[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 54 (Friday, May 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 2215, THE 21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT 
              OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 1, 2002

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my good friend 
Diana DeGette's Motion in support of making the Violence Against Women 
Office (VAWO) permanent. Today, in the US, nearly 25% of women report 
having been physically and/or sexually assaulted by intimate partner at 
some point in their lifetime and 1 in 6 women has experienced a rape or 
attempted rape in their lifetime.
  The Violence Against Women Office, created in 1995, leads a national 
effort to stop domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Last 
year they administered over $270 million in grants to states so that 
local prosecutors and police departments can respond to violent crimes. 
VAWO has worked with law enforcement and victim advocates in developing 
grant programs that support emergency shelter and legal aid.
  They have ensured the training of judges, law enforcement personnel 
and prosecutors to help them respond to victims of stalking, domestic 
violence, and sexual assault. This office ensures that federal dollars 
dedicated to anti-domestic violence programs are spent in the best 
possible and most effective way.
  Currently, the Violence Against Women Office is a part of the Office 
of Justice Programs. However, VAWO can not serve as the leader of 
promoting effective programs serving victims of domestic violence and 
sexual assault policy if it is just a check-writing office.
  That is why it is imperative to make the Violence Against Women 
Office an independent office. This office needs and deserves to have a 
Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed Director, in order to ensure 
that these issues continue to have a high profile on local, state, 
deferral and international levels.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues today: If you think that Violence 
Against Women is a serious issue, if you think that it deserves serious 
attention, then give it the priority and attention it deserves.
  Make the Violence Against Women Office an independent office with the 
ability to make policy and assist other governmental agencies in their 
work on violence against women.
  I encourage my colleagues to pass the motion to instruct.

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