[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL 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, tonight I rise to recognize October 
2003 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Fortunately, in 
recent years we have made great strides in bringing attention to 
domestic violence and in providing assistance to its victims. It is 
critical that we raise awareness of the problem because domestic 
violence has historically been considered a private matter.
  During 2001, there were almost 700,000 incidents of domestic 
violence. As we concentrate on national security and the economic state 
of our country, we cannot forget the crimes that disrupt homes and 
families in each and all of our communities. The fact is that domestic 
violence is occurring at an alarming rate. Recent statistics show that 
domestic violence makes up 20 percent of all violent crimes against 
women, and accounts for 33 percent of female murder victims. During 
2001 in Kansas alone, one domestic violence incident occurred every 26 
minutes.
  Throughout this past year, I have spent time visiting with the 
domestic violence program directors in my district, and they have 
shared with me their concerns that domestic violence shelters and 
support agencies are now seeing victims with even more complicated 
needs. During these tough economic times, it is more difficult to find 
jobs and affordable housing to make women more self-sufficient and to 
give them the independence to escape their abusive environments.
  With almost 20,000 incidents of domestic violence occurring in Kansas 
in 2001, the nine domestic violence service centers in the rural, 69-
county district I represent are striving to serve all those in the 
community who may be affected by abuse. Our experience in Kansas has 
shown that proximity and access to safe facilities is crucial to 
helping women and children escape abusive environments.
  Education and comprehensive community involvement are also essential 
to providing services and holding batterers accountable. Directors, 
employees, and volunteers work very hard to help domestic violence 
victims, but they cannot do it alone. In my district, domestic violence 
centers strengthen ties to the community by including law enforcement 
officers, county attorneys, social workers, and business leaders on 
their governing boards. In addition, agencies in Kansas are able to 
draw upon the resources of a statewide network through the Kansas 
Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
  Congress also plays a role in preventing domestic violence and 
helping victims. Most domestic violence shelters are dependent 
primarily upon grants and local donations. Federal grants, made 
possible under the Violence Against Women Act, provide essential funds 
for prevention, enforcement, response, prosecution and victim services. 
We must continue to ensure that our shelters and crisis centers receive 
adequate funding.
  Although we are generating increased awareness of domestic violence 
during the month of October, this is a crime that demands attention all 
year long. I appreciate the commitment of those who work every day to 
help victims of domestic violence, and I applaud the efforts of those 
nine service centers in my district, including Dodge City, Emporia, 
Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Liberal, Salina, and Ulysses, Kansas. 
Through education, funding, and support, we must continue to work 
together to provide safe environments for victims and end the tragic 
cycle of domestic violence.

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