[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2194]]
   INTRODUCTION OF THE SECURITY AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT ACT (SAFE)

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD.  Mr. Speaker, as we near the end of Domestic 
Violence Awareness Month, I rise today to announce the re-introduction 
of legislation I authored to truly recognize and help the estimated two 
million women in this country who are victims of domestic violence.
  Victims of domestic violence suffer on many fronts. In addition to 
the physical and emotional battery, women who are abused also struggle 
to maintain employment and, as a result, experience tremendous 
financial hardships. According to a 1998 report of the U.S. General 
Accounting Office, between one-quarter and one-half of domestic 
violence victims surveyed in three studies reported losing a job due, 
wholly or in part, to domestic violence. For victims of sexual assault, 
the numbers are even more alarming. Nearly 50 percent of survivors say 
they were forced to leave their jobs because of the crime. Stalking 
victims also report losing significant time at work.
  There are many reasons for this volatile employment picture. Abusers 
often track down and harass their victims at work and may even follow 
them home. By creating disturbances on the job and making threats, the 
perpetrator may force the victim to quit or place her at risk of being 
fired.
  I was told recently of a woman named Nancy who is a victim of 
domestic violence in my Los Angeles district. She, like so many other 
women, was forced to quit her job at a fast food restaurant after her 
husband showed up there, pounded on the door, scratched her car with 
his keys and repeatedly threatened her. Nancy, whose name has been 
changed, sought help at a local domestic violence shelter where she 
received the support she needed for herself and her two-year-old child. 
Now, she is taking a non-violent parenting class and undergoing 
counseling. She also receives support in court proceedings to get a 
restraining order enforced, divorce her husband, and settle a child 
custody dispute.
  For Nancy, quitting her job and seeking help at the shelter gave her 
the support and the time she needed to get her life back in order. But 
many victims--especially depending upon the State in which they live--
do not feel they have the same choices as Nancy and, as a result, may 
not be as willing to seek help, placing themselves and their families 
in greater danger.
  That's because Federal law does not specifically allow women who 
leave work as a result of domestic violence to collect unemployment 
compensation. Nor does Federal law allow victims of domestic violence 
to take leave from work to deal with abuse-related priorities, such as 
getting appropriate medical care, victim services or legal assistance. 
Without these important added protections, victims of abuse who live in 
certain States deal with the fear that if they take time off, they risk 
being fired and left with no way to support themselves or their 
children. Given this alternative, some women may choose not to seek the 
help they need--or, even worse, remain in an abusive relationship.
  To address the inadequacy of our current laws, I have introduced the 
Security and Financial Empowerment Act (SAFE Act). This bill ensures 
that victims of domestic violence are allowed 30 days of unpaid leave 
from work to make necessary court appearances, contact law enforcement 
officials or make alternative housing arrangements, without the fear of 
being fired or demoted. Further, to make sure victims retain financial 
independence, the SAFE Act would require all States to provide 
unemployment benefits to women who are forced to leave work (whether 
they quit or are fired) because of domestic violence. To date, I'm 
proud to say that more than 30 States have already enacted similar 
provisions, including my home State of California, but a uniform 
national policy is needed. The SAFE Act would also provide employers 
with a workplace safety program tax credit as an incentive to provide 
employees with domestic violence safety and education programs.
  After all, employers also pay a high price in decreased productivity, 
employee absenteeism and staff turnover because of domestic violence. 
In fact, it is estimated that domestic violence costs U.S. employers 
between $3 billion and $13 billion annually.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to support the SAFE 
Act and, in doing so, help victims of domestic violence and businesses 
deal more effectively with this serious problem. Let's pass this needed 
legislation and help millions of victims of domestic violence to obtain 
the employment and financial stability they need to do what Nancy is 
doing--repair their lives and build a safe future for themselves and 
their families.

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