[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8370-H8374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 209)
supporting the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
and expressing the sense of Congress that Congress should raise
awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating
effects on families.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 209
Whereas since the Violence Against Women Act was passed in
1994, the rate of domestic violence has diminished; the rate
of family violence fell between 1993 and 2002 from 5.4
victims to 2.1 victims per 1,000 United States residents age
12 or older;
Whereas although great strides have been made toward
breaking the cycle of violence, much work remains to be done;
Whereas domestic violence affects women, men, and children
of all racial, social, religious, ethnic, and economic groups
in the United States;
Whereas family violence accounted for 11 percent of all
reported and unreported violence between 1998 and 2002;
Whereas about 22 percent of murders in 2002 were family
murders;
Whereas family members were responsible for 43 percent of
murders of females in 2002;
Whereas of the nearly 500,000 men and women in State
prisons for a violent crime in 1997, 15 percent were there
for a violent crime against a family member;
Whereas the average age for a child killed by a parent is 7
years old and 4 out of 5 victims killed by a parent were
younger than 13 years old;
Whereas there is a need to increase the public awareness
and understanding of domestic violence and the needs of
battered women and children;
Whereas the month of October, 2005, has been recognized as
an appropriate month for activities furthering awareness of
domestic violence; and
Whereas the dedication and success of those working
tirelessly to end domestic violence and the strength of the
survivors of domestic violence should be recognized: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that Congress
should raise awareness of domestic violence in the Nation by
supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence
Awareness Month.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) and the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Watson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-
Waite).
General Leave
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to
revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the
concurrent resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 209.
This concurrent resolution, introduced by the distinguished gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Al Green), supports the goals and ideals of Domestic
Violence Awareness Month. According to the American Bar Association,
nearly one in three women experience at least one physical assault by a
partner during their lifetime. Consequently, in October, 1981, the
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence found a way to connect
both victims of domestic violence with battered women's advocates by
instituting a National Day of Unity. The establishment of this day of
recognition involve community activities at the national, State, and
local levels. The program was successful in heightening awareness and
empowering women in violent relationships.
In October, 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was
observed. Because of this national movement, the first national toll-
free hotline was created. In 1989 legislation commemorating ``Domestic
Violence Awareness Month'' was first adopted by Congress and has been
adopted every year since. This recognition has helped to bring domestic
violence to the forefront of public debate. The awareness has
contributed to the expansion of public education campaigns, victim
services, recognition activities, and community outreach programs.
I certainly hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing
victims of
[[Page H8371]]
domestic violence through the adoption of this concurrent resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the distinguished gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Al Green) for authoring this thoughtful resolution. I am proud to
be an original cosponsor of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am honored that our leadership
has chosen to bring this concurrent resolution, House Concurrent
Resolution 209, before this august body. This concurrent resolution
highlights the need to focus on and end domestic violence.
First, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Tom Davis), chairman of the Committee on Government Reform; and
the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), ranking member, for
bringing this important piece of legislation to the House floor.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the gentlewoman
from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), the co-chair of the Congressional
Caucus for Women's Issues, who has worked with me as the Republican
lead on this legislation. I am proud to say that this is a bipartisan
effort. Her work on behalf of ending domestic violence and violence
against women is commendable, and her leadership in this effort is
invaluable.
My heartfelt thanks also goes out to my 73 colleagues on both sides
of the aisle who have cosponsored this resolution. I am pleased that
this bill has received such strong bipartisan support because domestic
violence transcends party affiliation; it transcends ethnicity; it
transcends gender. Simply put, it transcends the boundaries of human
decency that human beings owe each other.
House Concurrent Resolution 209 is intended to support the goals and
ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October. As our Nation
strives to persevere in the aftermath of both Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, it is important that we not lose sight of the issues that have
continually plagued Americans for decades.
Our Nation faces a distressing crisis that affects women, men, and
children regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. I have seen
firsthand some of the dreadful and vile effects of domestic violence. I
have seen the blackened eyes, the broken noses, and the broken limbs.
The crisis of domestic violence is one that should not go unnoticed,
especially because it is a crisis in which violations typically occur
in places where we believe we have a safe haven: in our homes.
Between 1998 and 2002, family violence accounted for 11 percent of
all reported and unreported violence. Nearly 22 percent of murders in
2002 were family murders, and women have suffered disproportionately
with 43 percent of murders occurring by family perpetrators.
I am deeply saddened that domestic violence continues to occur in our
backyards. In my city of Houston, Texas, over 31,000 incidents of
family violence were reported in 2004. That is an astounding average of
88 incidents a day. That is more than three family violence incidents
an hour. In fact, 34 confirmed deaths in Houston in 2004 were as a
result of family violence, many of whom were children under the age of
16 years.
Such horrendous statistics are jarring, but I take great pride in the
efforts of the Houston Police Department to combat domestic violence.
The police department took the initiative to begin a program known as
``Houston Men Against Family Violence.'' This initiative, which is run
jointly by the Houston Police Department and other community partners
including the Houston Area Women's Center, works to express the message
that ending domestic violence is a responsibility that should be shared
equally by all people. It educates and encourages men in the community
to volunteer as leaders in the effort to end domestic violence by
reducing the part men play as the primary perpetrators of family
violence.
I think that it is of utmost importance, utmost necessity, that we
all work together to have a chance at effectively eradicating this
appalling crime. So I want to commend the Houston Police Department,
all law enforcement agencies, and all other organizations that work to
make our homes and families safer.
I would like to thank several organizations for their commitment to
ending domestic violence and for their endorsements of this concurrent
resolution. I appreciate the efforts and support of the Harris County
District Attorney's Office, the National Center on Domestic and Sexual
Violence, the YWCA, the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African
American Community, the Montana State Attorney General's Office, and
the Utah State Attorney General's Office.
These organizations work tirelessly every day to combat the epidemic
of domestic violence that has ravaged this country.
{time} 1515
I commend them and hope that we in this body will continue to support
their efforts. It is my wish that we can continue to work together to
bring an end to the pervasive and damaging crime of domestic violence
through the future legislative efforts of this august body.
The month of October provides us with an opportunity to recognize the
dedication and success of those working tirelessly to end domestic
violence and the strength of the survivors, but our efforts and
awareness should continue beyond October. Every day ought to be End
Domestic Violence Day. Domestic violence knows no boundaries of time or
space or place.
I urge all of my distinguished colleagues to support the adoption of
H. Con. Res. 209. Doing this will show the American public that we
stand united against domestic violence.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield
such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), another cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 209.
Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week I had the
great honor of hosting the Soroptimist International, the Indian Rock
Chapter of Pennsylvania, here in the Nation's Capital, a women's
organization devoted to improving the lives of women and families
across the globe. I was also honored to have the distinguished
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) joining me to address the group
on a variety of issues important to women and their families.
The Soroptimists do great work by serving as an international voice
in advancing the need for improved medical care, poverty relief, and
job training for women everywhere. However, during our discussion, one
issue took precedence, the need to recognize the plight of victims of
domestic violence and to increase the Federal Government's
responsibility to support its victims and to punish its abusers.
Domestic violence is a scourge on our social fabric. Although much
has been done since the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act in
1994 to reduce domestic abuse, more must be done to break the cycle of
violence that has affected the lives of millions of women and children
across the Nation.
According to the Department of Justice, each year 1 million women
suffer nonfatal violence by an intimate partner. The American
Psychological Association reports that nearly one in three adult women
experience at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood.
These are statistics that cannot stand in a civil society in the 21st
century. We must do more to increase awareness of the needs of battered
women and their families. We must do more to stop domestic violence
before it begins through education at an early age for boys and girls,
and we must make sure that battered women and families receive adequate
assistance through shelters, transitional housing assistance and other
Federal programs.
Mr. Speaker, I am a proud supporter and sponsor of this bill.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an important time for women, men,
parents, teachers, for all of us, to recognize a problem that continues
to plague our society. As Americans, we owe a shared responsibility to
help our neighbors and our communities. Let us all take this time to
help victims of domestic violence and finally end this cycle which
destroys lives and families.
[[Page H8372]]
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, October 1 will mark the 18th annual observation of
Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic Violence Awareness Month
has its genesis in 1981 when advocates for battered women across the
country observed a day of unity in order to publicize domestic
violence. Over the next 6 years, the day of unity evolved into a week
of activities and in 1987 into Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
In 1989, Congress recognized the tragedy of domestic violence in our
country by passing commemorative legislation that honored victims of
domestic violence and marked the observance of Domestic Violence
Awareness Month. Congress has since passed similar legislation each
year to bring added exposure to this issue.
In 1994, through the coordinated efforts of advocacy groups such as
the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the California
Alliance Against Domestic Violence, and the National Organization of
Women, Congress passed the landmark Violence Against Women Act.
President Clinton signed the VAWA to shine a bright light on an issue
that had loomed in the shadows for far too long.
The act provided help to victims who seek justice within the legal
system and a refuge from abusive and dangerous domestic situations. To
victims of domestic violence and advocates fighting to educate the
public, this was truly a momentous occasion; and in the decade that
followed the signing of the bill, violence in American homes dropped
significantly. Indeed, the rate of family violence fell from 5.4
victims to 2.1 victims per 1,000 United States residents age 12 or
older from the year 1993 to 2002.
Since then, other entities of the Federal Government have lent their
support. In October 2003, the U.S. Postal Service issued its Stop the
Family Violence semi-postal stamp to raise funds for the Department of
Health and Human Services' domestic violence programs. To date, the
postal service has sold more than 30 million of these stamps and
generated $1.8 million for domestic violence programs.
As more Americans become aware of domestic violence, they learn that
such violence knows no bounds and affects all parts of society. No
race, economic class, or education level is immune from this home-grown
tragedy. However, communities of color and Native American communities
remain at higher risks of domestic violence. They also have fewer
services than other communities to deal with the violence and negative
economic consequences that frequently result.
While great strides have been made, an intolerable level of domestic
violence still exists in the United States. Indeed, in 2002, nearly
one-quarter of all murders in the United States took place within a
family setting.
In observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we must bear in mind
the plight of hundreds of thousands of domestic violence victims and
the work of those who continue to dedicate their energy and resources
to eradicating domestic violence. As has occurred every year since
1989, I urge this body to pass this commemorative legislation and to
mark the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms.
Carson).
(Ms. CARSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time
and thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green) for promoting this
issue before this country.
Violence itself is all too prevalent among us. Domestic violence in
particular is devastating. It was not long ago that we were able to get
the ears and the eyes of those who make a difference, the lawyers, the
judiciary, the courts, who understood what it meant to be victims of
violence.
I rise today on behalf of the victims who no longer have a voice, on
behalf of victims who are weary and too afraid to speak out for fear
that speaking out will entrap them even further if they do, speaking on
behalf of the millions of women and children who suffer daily from the
silent epidemic of domestic violence. This societal ill envelops all
socio-economic groups, regardless of race, ethnicity, or education. It
does not matter whether you live in the suburbs, a city, or more remote
rural areas. It touches all of our communities.
The numbers of domestic violence are staggering. You have heard it
from my counterpart, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
Surveys conducted over and over again show that one-third of women are
at some time in their lives victims of domestic violence.
Regrettably, this violence against women often escalates to homicide.
In Indiana there were 60 reported deaths due to domestic violence in
2003. Nationally, 1,880 women were murdered by men in 2002. I realize
that sometimes the coin flips and there are women who are perpetrators
of violence. We have to, as a body, as a country, address domestic
violence from all sides; and I applaud the creators of this resolution
to keep it before the ears and eyes of America, and would encourage the
support of everyone in this body of good will, of common sense, and of
understanding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of victims who no longer have a
voice, on behalf of victims who are weary and too tired to speak out or
fear what will happen to them if they do. I am speaking for the
millions of women and children who suffer daily from the silent
epidemic of domestic violence. This societal ill envelops all socio-
economic groups regardless of race, ethnicity or education. It does not
matter whether you live in the suburbs, the city or more remote rural
areas; it touches all of our communities.
The number of domestic violence victims in our country is staggering.
A survey conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, found that ``One-third
(31%) of all women have been kicked, hit or punched, choked, or
otherwise physically abused by a spouse or partner in their lifetimes.
Three percent--a figure representing more than 3 million women in the
U.S.--reported domestic abuse during that year.''
Each year in my home State of Indiana, thousands of women and
children fall victim to domestic violence. From July of 2003 through
June of 2004, 37,396 adults and 12,032 children were served in
residential and nonresidential programs for domestic violence.
Domestic violence continues to be the leading cause of injury to
women in this country. The agony is augmented by the fact that a great
number of victims personally know their perpetrators. Sixty-four
percent of women who reported being raped, physically assaulted, and/or
stalked since age 18, were victimized by a current or former husband,
cohabitating partner, boyfriend or date.
Regrettably, this violence against women often escalates to homicide.
In Indiana, there were 60 reported deaths due to domestic violence in
2003.
Nationally, 1,880 women were murdered by men in 2002. The statistics
further indicate that of these women who were murdered, 1,587 were
killed by a man they knew as compared to 168 who were killed by
strangers. These horrific assaults are occurring in our homes and in
environments with people we know and should be able to trust.
Given these statistics, it is imperative that we reauthorize, build
upon and support the Violence Against Women Act, which has paved the
way for significant gains in the fight against domestic violence. Over
the last 10 years VAWA has helped to decrease the incidence of domestic
violence, improve services for victims, and implement positive
institutional changes.
However, there is still much work to be done in our country where on
average nearly 3 women a day are murdered by abusive boyfriends or
husbands and up to 10 million children a year witness this violence.
We must hold legislative and judicial bodies accountable to promote
and enforce laws that protect the victim and respond appropriately to
the perpetrators. We must find ways to strengthen our health care
response; protect the economic security of victims; ensure safe, decent
and affordable housing for victims; provide additional prevention
programs; support the particular needs of communities of color and
native American women; address the special needs of immigrant women;
provide enhanced services for military victims of domestic and sexual
violence; and target resources toward children and adolescents who have
witnessed or experienced domestic violence.
Since coming to Congress in 1997, I have sought to raise awareness
about this silent epidemic and to encourage and support legislation
preventing these abuses and violations against humanity. In order for
us to put an end to violence against women we must address and educate
all audiences; women, men and children. We must support the
reauthorization of VAWA, ensure that it is well-funded and expand its
reach.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as
[[Page H8373]]
he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert), the
former sheriff of King County, who knows a great deal about combating
violent crime.
Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman and also thank the
gentleman from Texas for introducing this resolution.
As has been said already this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, this is an
important issue; and I come before this House to talk about this issue
because it is a passion that I share with all Americans across this
country to eliminate, eventually, domestic violence. As a young person
growing up and experiencing domestic violence in my own household, and
then also as the sheriff of King County and a law enforcement officer
for 33 years, I have a great deal of experience in witnessing the
effects and impacts that domestic violence has on our own personal
lives and on our communities and our Nation as a whole.
I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution and recognize
Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to be an original cosponsor of
the Violence against Women Act of 2005, which will be considered in the
full House tomorrow. The Violence Against Women Act has provided
Federal resources and protections for victims of domestic violence and
sexual assault. It is crucial that Congress reauthorize this program.
I want to take a moment just to share maybe a story or two, to draw a
picture for those who may be listening, about what domestic violence
really does. It takes lives, it takes families, it takes communities. I
have seen it.
Go to a police call, go to a domestic violence call as a police
officer and walk into a home and tell me you will not be impacted and
affected by children who are hiding and cowering in a corner, and
witness two adults screaming and yelling, and maybe one has a knife,
maybe one has a gun. Children witnessing violence in their own home,
against people who supposedly love them. It is sad. It is not only sad;
it is tragic.
Domestic violence can lead to all sorts of other issues that affect
and impact our children: alcoholism; drug abuse; emotional, physical
abuse; sexual abuse in the family; and it drives children from their
homes and on to the streets. I have seen that too. I have seen them
driven on to the streets and into the arms of people who want to do
them harm.
The month of October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness
Month. It is good that we have a month where we can think back and look
at where we came from. In 1972 when I started out as a police officer
and you got a call to a family fight, that is what they called it then,
a family fight, you would drive up and meet the people standing in the
yard or screaming in their house and the kids in the corner cowering
because they are afraid that their mom or dad might be hurt, their mom
or dad might go to jail, or they might be hurt.
{time} 1530
The police officer back then only would separate the parties and wish
them well and they would be on their way; no counseling, nobody went to
jail, nobody held accountable, nobody held responsible in 1972 in
Seattle. Today, we now have many, many laws in place that hold people
accountable who commit these crimes. It is about time.
We need to do this. We need to remember. We need to remember the
crimes of domestic violence because it will rip our Nation apart. It
rips families apart, it will rip our Nation apart, and I look forward
to continuing my work in stomping out domestic violence.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Many law enforcement officers will tell us that responding to a
domestic violence call is one of the most dangerous crimes to be called
to investigate. My husband was a law enforcement officer for 20 years,
and they were the calls that he felt threatened by and that he always
felt so sorry for the family members involved, and certainly for the
children.
I have served on several boards of domestic violence shelters, and I
know how important it is to shine that light, the public light of
scrutiny on the victim, to bring information about victims, how they
are abused, and also, the perpetrator, so that by shining this light on
domestic violence and having Domestic Violence Awareness Month, that
the public will be better informed, and that we will continue to see a
reduction in the number of abusive situations.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House
Concurrent Resolution 209.
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 209
recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I would like
to thank my colleague from Texas for offering this important
resolution.
In 2002, family members were responsible for 43 percent of murders of
females. Twenty-two percent of murders in 2002 were by family members.
The average age for a child killed by a parent is 7 years old and four
out of five victims killed by a parent were younger than 13 years old.
I could go on for hours with alarming and truly sad statistics similar
to these. As a Member of Congress, I believe it is my duty to stand
here on the House floor and draw attention to these startling
statistics. It is important to keep reiterating these numbers because
they aren't just statistics--they are women, men, and children. They
are our mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins and nieces. In some
cases they are our fathers, brothers and sons.
Across the country, day in and day out, individuals work tirelessly
to eradicate domestic violence by not only participating in domestic
violence help and support groups but by educating those on domestic
abuse prevention. In central New Jersey, there are many exemplary
organizations that provide valuable services to victims of domestic
violence.
One organization in Monmouth County, New Jersey is 180 Turning Lives
Around which provides training and education to both victims and
offenders of domestic violence. Some of the many services provided by
the group are a School-Based Abuse Prevention Program designed to raise
the awareness of abuse among adolescents and provide tools to reduce
the risk of teens entering into abusive relationships, a temporary Safe
House for women and children who are forced out of their homes because
of violence and a 180's Families in Transition Program aimed at
providing longer term housing for women and children who face economic
instability if they leave their abusive relationship permanently. At
these homes, counseling services and training is provided to get women
who have been abused on their feet again.
Womanspace is a similar organization aimed at serving all victims of
domestic and sexual assault in Mercer Country, New Jersey. Womanspace
provides counseling and support services, emergency services designed
to assist victims immediately following the initial crisis through
hotlines, Domestic Violence Victim Response Teams and a confidential
and secure short term shelter.
Since we passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994 the
number of reported incidences of domestic violence has decreased. In
New Jersey the cases of reported domestic violence decreased by 2
percent from 2004. Although these figures are encouraging, we cannot
reduce our attention to this problem. We must continue to support
organizations that work day in and day out to educate others on the
dangers of domestic violence and counsel those who are already victims.
We can do this by reauthorizing full funding for the VAWA which should
come to the House floor soon.
I also hope that we will have the opportunity to consider other
important legislative measures that will combat this problem. For
example, Rep. Capps, offered in the 108th Congress the Domestic
Violence Screening, and Treatment Act of 2003 that gave States the
option to cover domestic violence screening and treatment services
under Medicaid. One hundred and twenty two of our colleagues supported
this bill, yet it was never brought to the House floor for
consideration. Rep. Rothman offered in the 108th Congress the Domestic
Violence Victim Protection Act that among other things would allow
States that authorize law enforcement to confiscate guns in certain
domestic violence to receive Federal grants. As legislators, we must be
leaders and take sensible and needed actions to renew our commitment to
eliminate domestic violence.
Recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an
important first step but it should not be only action in the 109th
Congress. I urge my colleagues to support this necessary resolution and
by supporting this resolution today make, a commitment to taking even
more steps to eliminating domestic violence.
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues today
speaking in support of H.
[[Page H8374]]
Con. Res. 209, a Resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Domestic
Violence Awareness Month and helping to raise awareness of the impact
of domestic violence on families across the nation.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence began to observe the
concept of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1987--the year that the
first national toll-free telephone line was established. In 1989,
Congress passed the first legislative recognition of Domestic Violence
Awareness Month, expressing the importance of awareness and education
and encouraging preventative actions in every community around the
Nation. And each year since that time, we have renewed the commitment
of Congress and the Federal Government to those goals, as we are doing
today in passing H. Con. Res. 209.
This legislation is also particularly timely because we are now in
the process of renewing the Violence Against Women Act as part of the
Justice Department reauthorization. That legislation, originally passed
and signed into law in 1994, allocated a substantial amount of Federal
funding for prevention efforts, and it broadened the range of services
and counseling available to women who become victims of abuse. In 2000,
Congress reauthorized the bill and strengthened it, as we must again
this year, driven by the goal of eliminating entirely the scourge that
still wrecks far too many families across America including,
tragically, many innocent children who witness the violence.
One such tragic example occurred in my congressional district in
April 2003, when the troubled Chief of Police of Tacoma, Washington,
murdered his wife in the parking lot of a suburban shopping center just
a few feet away from the couple's two young children. This man, Chief
David Brame, ultimately took his own life that day, but he left those
two kids with scars that will remain with them for the entirety of
their lives. He also left the community questioning why and how such a
tragedy could have occurred. An investigation later uncovered serious
problems within the Tacoma Police Department which not only allowed the
hiring of this individual with a history of domestic violence but
continued to promote him despite serious and repeated violent acts
against his wife, Crystal Judson Brame. Clearly, something was wrong
here. The Tacoma Police Department lacked a strong and enforceable
policy to address domestic violence committed by a member of its own--
in fact the Chief. And this was not a deficiency exclusive to Tacoma.
As a result, the Washington State Legislature passed a law establishing
strong standards for law enforcement agencies within the state to
prevent and punish future incidents of domestic violence committed by
law enforcement officers. We can and we should do more to call
attention to the problems, to address the deficiencies that exist, and
to stop these pernicious instances of domestic violence from ever
occurring.
It is in this spirit that I am pleased today to join my colleagues in
supporting H. Con. Res. 209, and in working later this week and this
month to improve and strengthen the provisions of the Violence Against
Women Act which expire at the end of this year.
Mr. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire). The question
is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny
Brown-Waite) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 209.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________