[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11296-S11297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to applaud my Senate
colleagues for unanimously passing legislation to protect American
women from domestic violence.
The Violence Against Women Act expired this past Saturday, October 1.
I cosponsored the renewal of this vital legislation because it
strengthens Federal and State efforts to prevent domestic violence and
assist victims of domestic violence. It focuses resources and attention
on some of the most vulnerable women in our society--women who too
often suffer in silence.
I am so pleased that by passing this bill the Senate has reaffirmed
its commitment to helping women, men, and children prevent and cope
with domestic abuse.
The Violence Against Women Act responds to an ongoing crisis within
many American families. Too many of our grandmothers, mothers, and
daughters, and too many of our grandfathers, fathers, and sons are
abused at home by a partner or family member. Every day in America some
women and men, some elderly, are beaten, have objects thrown at them,
suffer emotional and verbal abuse. Teenagers suffer abusive dating
relationships. Many victims of domestic violence feel trapped and need
support and assistance to leave their abusers and start violence-free
lives.
The image of a severely battered woman spurs many of us to stop
domestic violence, but what is also disturbing is the prevalence of
domestic violence. Domestic abuse is the common cold of violence.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Women's Association,
nearly one in every three women will experience a physical assault by a
romantic partner. And of this group, one in three will experience a
severe physical assault. Every day more than three women in this
country are murdered by their husbands and boyfriends. Children also
suffer. Half of women who report rape are under the age of 18.
Shockingly, 22 percent are under the age of 12. And I know that
violence against the elderly is a serious and growing problem.
For the past decade, the Violence Against Women Act has provided
crucial aid to women, men, and children experiencing violence. Between
1994 and 2000, Congress distributed over $3.8 billion to States and
local communities to train and support police, lawyers, judges, nurses,
shelter directors and advocates to end domestic violence and sexual
assault. Our efforts contributed to almost a 50 percent drop in
domestic violence.
The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 renews several successful
programs and provides funding for training, education and outreach to
protect women. It encourages collaboration among law enforcement, the
courts, and public and private services providers to victims of
domestic and sexual violence. It stiffens criminal penalties for repeat
Federal domestic violence offenders, and updates the criminal law on
stalking to incorporate new surveillance technology like global
positioning systems. It incorporates prevention strategies targeted at
men and boys. And it strengthens rape crisis centers and the health
care system's response to family violence.
The bill also addresses the special needs of victims who are elderly,
disabled, children, immigrants, residents of rural communities, and
members of ethnic and racial communities. It provides emergency leave
and long-term transitional housing for victims.
The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 will save lives. It also will
save money. A 2002 university study found that money spent to reduce
domestic violence saved nearly ten times the potential costs incurred
between 1995 and 2000 for medical, legal, and other victimization
costs. On an individual level, the bill costs roughly $15.50 per woman
in the United States and saves an estimated $159 per woman.
Despite the funding provided by the Violence Against Women Act, I
believe that reducing the scale and alleviating the human toll of
domestic violence requires stronger Federal support. In my own State of
New York, in Albany, an award-winning organization dedicated to
providing legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual
assault faces the possibility of shutting down. Just this past
September, the Department of Justice informed the group,
[[Page S11297]]
The Capital District Women's Bar Association Legal Project, that its
application for continued funding had been denied. The Department of
Justice has supported the CDWBA Legal Project's efforts on behalf of
battered women for nearly a decade. With this financial assistance, the
group has provided critical services for more than 4,000 poor, battered
women and their children since 1996. The program has been so successful
that the United States Office of Justice Programs identified it in 2003
as a ``best practices program'' as a model for communities striving to
better serve and protect victims of domestic violence and sexual
assault. Yet this program and, Director Lisa Frisch told me, other
programs like it, are losing their funding and ability to prevent abuse
and assist victims.
We critically need to provide this funding--to stop domestic
violence, and aid its victims.
Domestic abuse is an ongoing crisis for many American families. It is
the common cold of violence for Americans today. But working together,
as Federal, State, and local officials, as governmental and
nongovernmental organizations, as individuals, we can reduce the
severity and the prevalence of domestic violence. We can protect the
most vulnerable members of our society women, the elderly, children. I
applaud Senators Biden, Hatch, and Specter who introduced the Violence
Against Women Act of 2005 in June, and the nearly 60 Senators who
cosponsored the legislation, Members on both sides of the aisle. Their
hard work helps to strengthen American families.
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