[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2001]
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. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2005

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support all the women 
and children who have survived domestic violence, and for all the women 
whose lives have been claimed by domestic abuse. It is abhorrent that 
violence within our homes continues to be prevalent today--nearly one 
in four American women report being physically or sexually abused by a 
husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. Violence against 
women is a profound and extremely pervasive problem, striking across 
borders, across economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and across 
all age groups. It is an epidemic that affects not only women, but 
their children and families as well.
  As we recognize National Domestic Violence Awareness Month this 
October, it is time that we actively work to end violence against 
women. I would like to draw special attention to immigrant women who 
continue to lack access to many resources that would enable them to 
escape domestic abuse. While we were able to include many critical 
provisions of relief to battered immigrant women when we reauthorized 
the Violence Against Women Act in 2000, there are still battered 
immigrants, like asylees and the elderly, who are forced to remain in 
abusive relationships, unable to appeal for protection from law 
enforcement and the courts for fear of deportation. I have introduced 
H.R. 3188, the Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act, which will 
allow them to safely escape their abusers without fear of deportation 
or other negative immigration consequences. This legislation would also 
provide a safety net for battered legal immigrants and their children 
by allowing them access to work permits, health insurance, food, and 
other benefits required to escape their abuser and gain economic 
independence.
  It is time that we change attitudes in this country so that violence 
against women is no longer tolerated. We are devoting extensive 
resources to ending terror around the world, while at the same time one 
in four women continue to be terrorized by domestic violence and sexual 
assault in their lifetime. It is time that we devote the same amount of 
resources to ending a form of violence that terrorizes over half the 
population of this globe. We must teach our sons that violence of any 
kind is unacceptable; we must give our daughters encouragement and 
support so they have the self-esteem to leave abusive relationships; 
and we must start to envision a world free of violence against women. I 
believe that if we all work together, we can turn this vision into 
reality. But it is going to take resources, hard work, and, most of 
all, incredible resolve. I challenge my colleagues to make the fight 
against domestic violence a top priority, and together we can make this 
country a safer place for our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.

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