[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 131 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S10112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in 
recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
  Domestic violence continues to be one of the silent tragedies in our 
society. Because this topic can be uncomfortable to talk about, many 
people choose to ignore it hoping that it will just go away. This is an 
unfortunate and, ultimately, harmful response.
  Uncomfortable as it may be, we have to recognize that domestic 
violence occurs far too often and it will continue to occur if we, as a 
society, fail to take appropriate measures to stop it. We can't know 
how many occurrences of domestic abuse take place every year because so 
many of them go unreported. However, estimates range from just under a 
million to as many as 3 million cases each year.
  While this is a staggeringly high number, it represents only one 
stage in the cycle of abuse that will not end on its own. You see, the 
women who are abused in these relationships are not the only victims, 
in the vast majority of these cases, the woman is not the only one who 
is affected; the children in these families are also victimized.
  A man who physically abuses his partner is likely to physically abuse 
his children as well. But the abuse doesn't have to be physical for it 
to have a devastating and far-reaching impact. Simply witnessing this 
kind of abuse begins a cycle of violence that is often passed on from 
one generation to the next.
  We, as a society, have to do better to create an atmosphere in which 
abused women and children can escape from the abusive relationship. 
While we have not yet succeeded in addressing this scourge on our 
society, we have taken some important steps.
  Passage of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 was an important 
step that has done much to address the problem. A number of other laws 
at both the Federal and State levels to prevent domestic abuse and 
punish those who abuse their domestic partners have been enacted over 
the years.
  There are steps being taken to combat domestic violence all over the 
country at the local levels as well. In my own State of New Mexico, the 
Dona Ana County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force has 
recently reconvened. This group, made up representatives from the law 
enforcement community, the criminal justice system, the religious 
community, and those in the social services, is charged with helping 
all victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.
  In Santa Fe, NM, the Rape Crisis Center will break ground later this 
month on a new facility. While I am saddened that we have such a need 
for this facility, I am pleased to have had a part in making the center 
a reality by securing $1 million in the fiscal year 2002 VA-HUD 
appropriations bill. I believe that it will provide a safe haven for 
those who have no other way to escape the abuse they are living with.
  While these are all important components in the fight against 
domestic abuse, there is much that still has to be done.
  We have an obligation to shine a spotlight on this dark secret. 
Taking this month to focus on this issue represents an important step 
in the fight against those who would terrorize their families.
  It is my fervent hope that this step leads us to the day when no 
woman or child has to live in fear in their own home. I remain 
committed to doing all I can to seeing that hope become 
reality.

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