[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONNECTIONS CAMPAIGN ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 1, 2004

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Domestic 
Violence Connections Campaign Act'' of 2004, legislation that ensures 
that the National Domestic Violence Hotline continues to provide the 
essential services it has been providing since it was created in 1996. 
I am joined by Representative Hart.
  The Hotline was created by the Violence Against Women Act and 
answered its first call on February 21, 1996. By August 2003 it 
answered its one millionth call, an increase of approximately 133 
percent. This is due in large part to public awareness of domestic 
violence and public promotion of the Hotline. Today, on average the 
Hotline receives almost 16,000 calls a month.
  The Hotline is primarily funded by federal dollars that come from 
annual federal spending bills. However, as the Hotline's call volume 
continues to increase exponentially, funding has failed to keep pace. 
To keep up, the Hotline needs new equipment, new connection capability, 
and new data protection technology. Because its system is so outdated, 
over 26,000 calls last year went unanswered due to long hold times or 
busy signals.
  The Connection Campaign is a combination of public and private 
efforts to bring the Hotline up to speed. It teams up private 
telecommunication and technology companies with the federal government 
to solve the Hotline's crisis and guarantee that the Hotline can answer 
every call. Under the Connection Campaign, companies like Microsoft, 
Sony, BellSouth, Verizon Wireless, IBM, Dell and others, may donate 
hardware and software such as cell phones, home computers, mapping 
software, flat-screened monitors, and telephone airtime to the Hotline.
  On the public side of the partnership, Representative Hart and I are 
joining Senator Biden in introducing legislation to bridge the digital 
divide. Our bill, the Domestic Violence Connections Campaign Act of 
2004, has three components:
  It mandates that federal appropriations to the Hotline include 
technology training for Hotline advocates so that every new telephone, 
computer, and database will be used to its fullest capacity.
  It provides a new research grant program to be used to review and 
analyze data generated by the Hotline. Administered by the Attorney 
General, the grant program will study trends, gaps in service and 
geographical areas of need. The findings of this research will be 
reported to Congress within 3 years of its enactment.
  It provides a grant program for the Hotline to increase public 
awareness about the Hotline's services and domestic violence generally.
  The Connections Campaign and this legislation are important next 
steps in our fight to defeat domestic violence and assist victims. I am 
hopeful that Congress can move quickly to enact this worthwhile and 
timely legislation.

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