[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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