[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 134 (Friday, November 19, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11621-S11622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, much of the Senate's attention this week 
was consumed with completing lingering business, be it, appropriations 
bills or debt extension. In contrast, I rise today to ask my colleagues 
to cast their eyes forward to a new matter that we must focus on when 
Congress reconvenes in January--the reauthorization of the Violence 
Against Women Act. As most know, I consider the Violence Against Women 
Act the single most important legislation I've championed during my 30-
year tenure in the Senate. I care deeply about this law, and take 
seriously my responsibility to ensure it is funded and renewed.
  After more than 5 years of hearings, and legislative drafts and 
redrafts, in September 1994, the Congress passed and President Clinton 
signed into law the Violence Against Women Act. The Violence Against 
Women Act created new Federal criminal laws addressing domestic 
violence and rape, and established discretionary grant programs within 
the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human 
Services for State, local, and Indian tribal governments and non-profit 
service organizations. The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 renewed 
these programs, made targeted improvements to certain provisions and 
introduced new initiatives.
  Since the bill was enacted, we've witnessed an incredible 
transformation in State and Federal criminal and civil law enforcement, 
communities' victim services, and societal attitudes towards domestic 
violence and sexual assault. In 2004 alone, Congress spent $520 million 
for Violence Against Women programs. Over the past decade, nearly $3.8 
billion has been appropriated to make women's homes and communities 
safer.
  We've made extraordinary progress in ending violence against women 
and its devastating impact on families. With the passage of the 
Violence Against Women Act we started talking about that dirty little 
secret that no one wanted to say out loud. A rape victim or battered 
wife can now turn to a trained police officer, an emergency room nurse, 
or a 1-800 Hotline operator. We transformed private ``family matters'' 
into public crimes with true accountability and meaningful victim 
services.
  The Violence Against Women Act is working. Since its enactment, 
domestic violence has dropped by almost 50 percent. Incidents of rape 
are down by 60 percent. The number of women killed by an abusive 
husband or boyfriend is down by 22 percent. More than half of all rape 
victims are stepping forward to report the crime. Over a million women 
have found justice in our courtrooms and obtained domestic violence 
protective orders. The signs of success abound.
  But progress is not enough. Sadly, domestic violence and sexual 
assault persist. As more and more brave women are stepping forward to 
report a rape or seek a restraining order against an abusive husband, 
more demands are

[[Page S11622]]

placed on women's shelters, state prosecutors, courtroom victim 
advocates, and other resources. We cannot let the Violence Against 
Women Act become a victim of its own success. Instead, it must be 
soundly and quickly reauthorized next year.

  Despite best efforts, a complete bill reauthorizing the Act is not 
yet ready for introduction today. However, a draft is near completion. 
I am listening closely to those on the front lines--police, trial 
judges, emergency room nurses and many others--and making targeted 
improvements to existing grant programs and tightening up criminal 
laws. We are learning about the new challenges and the persistent 
problems of old. A wide variety of groups are working with me to put 
together the next iteration of the Violence Against Women Act, 
including the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the 
National Network to End Domestic Violence, the Family Violence and 
Prevention Fund, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, Legal 
Momentum, the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the American 
Bar Association's Commission on Domestic Violence, the National 
Association of Attorneys General, the National Center for Victims of 
Crime, National District Attorneys Association, the National Council on 
Family and Juvenile Court Judges, the National Association of Chiefs of 
Police, the National Sheriffs' Association and the American Medical 
Association.
  The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 that I intend to introduce at 
the commencement of the next Congressional session is a comprehensive 
and ambitious bill that will move our country forward in our fight to 
end family violence. The reauthorization will include at least nine 
titles. Major components of title I on the courts and crime include 
provisions to: 1. renew existing foundational programs for law 
enforcement, lawyers, judges and advocates; 2. stiffen existing 
criminal penalties for repeat federal domestic violence offenders; 3. 
appropriately update the stalking criminal law to incorporate new 
surveillance technology like Global Positioning Systems (GPS); and 4. 
ensure that offender re-entry programs develop procedures and resources 
for prisoners with a history of family violence. Title II on victim 
services would, among other items: 1. create a new dedicated program 
for rape crisis centers; 2. reinvigorate programs to help older and 
disabled victims of domestic violence; and 3. strengthen existing 
programs for rural victims and victims in underserved areas.
  I am particularly heartened by new titles that deal with children and 
teenagers. Reports indicate that from three to ten million children are 
experiencing domestic violence in their homes each year. Treating 
children who witness domestic violence, dealing quickly with violent 
teenage relationships and teaching prevention to children and teenagers 
are keys to ending the violence.
  In some instances, women face the untenable choice of returning to 
their abuser or becoming homeless. Indeed, 44 percent of the Nation's 
mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness. 
In response, efforts to ease the housing problems for battered women 
are contained in my draft bill.

  Doctors and nurses, like police officers on the beat, are often the 
first witnesses of the devastating aftermath of abuse. As first 
responders, they must be fully engaged in the effort to end the 
violence and have the tools they need to faithfully screen, treat and 
study family violence. My bill would strengthen the health care 
system's response to family violence with programs to train and educate 
health care professionals on domestic and sexual violence, foster 
family violence screening for patients, and more studies on the health 
ramifications of family violence.
  Leaving a violent partner often requires battered women to achieve a 
level of economic security. The next iteration of the Violence Against 
Women Act should seek to help abused women maintain secure employment, 
insurance coverage, and child support resources.
  In addition, my bill would improve and expand the immigration 
protections for battered women. I am very appreciative of Senator 
Kennedy's leadership and expertise on this issue. In addition, it would 
ensure that victims of trafficking are supported with measures such as 
permitting their families to join them in certain circumstances, 
expanding the duration of a T-visa, and providing resources to victims 
who assist in investigations or prosecutions of trafficking cases 
brought by State or Federal authorities. Finally, my bill will focus 
more closely on violence against Indian women and suggest ways to 
better coordinate services to Indian women.
  I am pleased to be working on such a thorough effort to renew the 
Violence Against Women Act. I believe this bill raises important 
issues, and pushes local and federal policymakers to ask what more 
should be done for battered women and their children. In the coming 
weeks, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle to craft a compromise measure. Senator Hatch and the 
Judiciary Committee's new Chairman, Senator Specter and Ranking Member 
Senator Leahy, have long supported the Violence Against Women Act and I 
am confident that we will work together to create an effective 
reauthorization bill. I also appreciate the efforts in the House of 
Representatives including those of a long-standing champion of the 
Violence Against Women, Representative Conyers.

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