[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 126 (Monday, October 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 
                           2006 THROUGH 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. SUE W. KELLY

                              of new york

                    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.

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, prior to my election to Congress, I was a 
patient advocate and rape crisis counselor in New York's hospitals. I 
saw first-hand the debilitating effects domestic violence, dating 
violence, and sexual assault can have on a woman. It was there, as I 
counseled thousands of victims of rape and assault, that I recognized 
that more resources need to be provided to prevent these types of 
attacks, to assist victims in receiving justice, and to help these 
women put their shattered lives back together. That is why I feel so 
strongly about the Violence Against Women Act.
  VAWA literally transformed the way our society deals with these types 
of attacks. Over the past ten years, it has provided vital resources 
and protections for victims. It has provided increased training for 
police, prosecutors, and court officials, and overhauled how the 
criminal justice system responds to victims of violence.
  I ask all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3402, which reauthorizes 
the Violence Against Women Act, because it works. It is an effective 
tool in reducing the number of women living with violence.
  H.R. 3402 develops new programs that meet the needs of battered women 
and creates a comprehensive approach to ending domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
  Congress must reauthorize these historic women protections, and I ask 
that all of my colleagues support it later today.

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