[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 5, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WELFARE

  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the need to 
address domestic violence against women within the context of our 
welfare system.
  One in every three welfare recipients has experienced domestic 
violence in the 12 months prior to receiving welfare assistance. Making 
women choose between financial security and physical safety is 
appalling. The provisions in the bill which urge marriage and have 
programs to get people married, which will encourage some women either 
to stay in a abusive relationship or marry an abuser, is not the way 
welfare should be moving for economic security. This is no way to 
promote that.
  Women have the right to financial stability and physical safety for 
themselves and for their children. Welfare's means for promoting 
success and economic stability should come through education and 
training and other responsible ways.
  Education is the number one predictor of future opportunities in the 
work force. We should be putting our limited and valuable resources 
toward these proven vehicles of helping women, instead of throwing it 
away on unproved programs to urge people to get married. There is no 
question we are going to put more women in harm's way with those kinds 
of programs.

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