[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1983]]
 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 
                           2006 THROUGH 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MELISSA A. HART

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3402) to 
     authorize appropriations for the Department of Justice for 
     fiscal years 2006 through 2009, and for other purposes:

  Ms. HART. Mr. Chairman, in 1994, Congress took a significant step 
forward in the fight against domestic violence by enacting the Violence 
Against Women Act (VAWA). Today, as part of the DOJ reauthorization, we 
are considering the reauthorization of VAWA (VAWA 2005), making it a 
stronger and more effective tool in the struggle to end domestic 
violence.
  I have met with many of the domestic violence shelters and advocates 
in my district who tell me that VAWA is working. Victim Outreach 
Intervention Center provides services to survivors of domestic 
violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes. On an average year, 
VOICE provides services to over 3,000 people in Butler County.
  The VAWA funding they receive has made a tremendous improvement in 
both the types of services they provide and also to the scale on which 
they are able to serve. Their counseling and advocacy services are 
substantially funded by VAWA. Without this money, VOICE would be unable 
to serve survivors at current levels; a waiting list for direct 
services, which could contain 20-25 survivors at a time, would have to 
be established.
  In order to provide that basic level of service, VOICE would have to 
substantially decrease or eliminate programs, such as their Prevention/
Education programming. Without the re-authorization of VAWA, the past 
28 years of progress they have made in service to survivors would be 
set back tenfold.
  Nearly one in four women experiences at least one physical assault by 
a partner during adulthood. As resources become stronger, more victims 
gain the courage to seek help. Now is not the time to retreat. The work 
at the state and local level has become more, not less, complex.
  The programs and provisions of VAWA will continue the progress made 
over the past 10 years in three ways.
  First, VAWA 2005 reinforces existing core programs like the STOP 
grants which have brought communities together to solve the problem of 
domestic violence. VAWA programs have provided training for hundreds of 
law enforcement officers on the dynamics of domestic violence and VAWA 
2005 will attempt to solve the problem attrition among domestic 
violence professionals.
  Second, with VAWA 2005 we ensure that the needs of uniquely 
vulnerable communities are met. One of the lessons we have learned over 
the past 10 years is that many victims face unique obstacles.
  VAWA has helped fund specialized services to improve victim safety in 
rural areas, such as paying for ``attorneys on wheels'' to help rural 
women get to court or effective outreach programs in remote 
communities.
  VAWA 2005 also addresses the unique challenges faced by persons with 
disabilities and elder victims of abuse, by offering services tailored 
to their circumstances and by educating their communities on how to 
best provide services.
  Third, VAWA 2005 provides greater opportunities for victims to 
rebuild their lives. While domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 
assault, and stalking are fundamentally criminal justice problems, the 
solutions are not to be found in the criminal justice system alone.
  VAWA 2005 will help victims rebuild their lives and create long term 
security for themselves and their children. It works to educate 
domestic violence prevention professionals, child welfare workers, and 
home visitors on how to identify and serve victims of domestic 
violence. Further, it provides guidance on preventing violence, rather 
than reacting to it.
  We've come a long way since 1994, but people from my district tell me 
that our shelters are full and our hotlines are ringing off the hook. 
We need to continue with our mission to end violence against women and 
children. VAWA 2005 is an important step in that mission.

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