[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1975-E1976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
this resolution to recognize the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence 
Awareness Month.
  This week we will also be considering legislation that will 
reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. It is my hope that we will 
strengthen and improve measures to ensure safe homes and communities 
for children and families.
  Congress must continue to raise awareness of domestic violence in the 
United States and the devastating effects violence has on too many of 
our American families. We must also ensure that the organizations 
working to end domestic violence in our communities have the resources 
they need to provide services to the survivors of family violence, 
sexual assault, and stalking. These families and organizations deserve 
our commitment.
  In my own State of Minnesota, VAWA funding went to programs and 
services for battered women and their children. Some of those projects 
in my own District include:
  The St. Paul based Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, which 
provides legal

[[Page E1976]]

advocacy services to young Native American women in collaboration with 
the Ain Dah Yung Center.
  Breaking Free in St. Paul: A transitional housing program for women 
of color escaping prostitution.
  St. Paul-based Minnesota Coalition of Battered Women, which links 
battered women's programs across the state to help fulfill the goals of 
VAWA, including legal assistance; training for police, prosecutors, and 
court officers; and protection for battered women and their children.
  Other projects in Minnesota include:
  The Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth--a comprehensive 
review of the criminal justice and civil court response to battered 
women.
  The Women's Rural Advocacy Program in Southwest Minnesota, which 
purchases and implementation of digital cameras and printers for 
improved prosecution of domestic violence cases.
  Migrant Health Services in Crookston, which provides domestic 
violence and sexual assault services to Hispanic migrant farm workers 
in the Red River Valley.
  In addition to the lives saved by improved responses to violence 
against women, VAWA has saved our country nearly $15 billion in social 
costs, such as savings in the judicial and health care systems.
  The month of October also marks the anniversary of a great loss to 
the domestic violence community--the untimely deaths of Paul and Sheila 
Wellstone. Not only were Paul and Sheila tireless advocates for abused 
women and children, they were also instrumental framers of VAWA. The 
Wellstones are greatly missed by Minnesotans and people throughout our 
Nation.
  It is in recognition of those who continue the legacy of a commitment 
to ending domestic violence in homes and communities across our Nation, 
and in honor of survivors of domestic violence, that I stand today in 
support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

                          ____________________