[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 139 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2005

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
millions of Americans whose lives have been touched by domestic 
violence. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we 
must continue to raise awareness and address the problem of violence 
that still affects so many American families. One out of every four 
American women will experience violence by an intimate partner at some 
point in her life, and one out of every six women will be raped during 
her lifetime. Domestic violence crosses ethnic, racial, age, national 
origin, sexual orientation, religious, and socio-economic lines. 
Although great strides have been made toward breaking the cycle of 
violence, much work remains to be done.
  During the past decade, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 
and 2000 have provided tremendous protections and support for victims 
of domestic violence and sexual assault. VAWA funding has provided law 
enforcement agencies, the judicial system, rape crisis centers, and 
domestic violence shelters with the expertise and services they need to 
do the work of prevention and protection of those affected by violence. 
Both the House and the Senate have passed bills reauthorizing VAWA, 
which will provide important prevention initiatives that have the 
potential to keep millions of women and children safe.
  As both chambers meet to work out differences in the respective 
pieces of legislation, I encourage the Committee to retain the Senate 
provision that addresses the needs of girls in the juvenile justice 
system and correct flaws in the bills, such as improving the immigrant 
provisions and restoring the funding stream for communities of color, 
including key health, housing, and economic security provisions.
  I am particularly concerned about violence against women of color. In 
Santa Clara County, of the women killed in domestic-violence related 
homicides between 1993 and 1997, 7 percent were African Americans, 31 
percent were Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, 22 percent were 
Hispanic/Latino, and 35 percent were White. Asian American and Pacific 
Islander women had the highest rates of domestic-violence related 
homicides when compared to their proportion of the population. The 
Congressional Hispanic, Black and Asian Pacific American Caucuses 
(``Congressional Tri-Caucus'') continue to work together to address 
issues that disproportionately affect people of color. Last month, the 
National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault, in 
collaboration with the Congressional Tri-Caucus, held an educational 
briefing about the needs of victims of color and the importance of 
culturally-specific messaging that ultimately provides a more 
comprehensive response to addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, 
stalking, and dating violence in racial and ethnic communities.

  The needs of immigrant women are also important to consider. Although 
VAWA 1994 and 2000 made significant progress in reducing violence 
against immigrant women, many women and children who are victims of 
domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, or trafficking are 
still being deported. Others remain economically trapped by abusers or 
traffickers in life-threatening environments. I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 
3188, the Immigration Victims of Violence Protection Act, which would 
stop the deportation of immigrant victims of violence, extend 
immigration relief to all victims of family violence, and guarantee 
economic security for immigrant victims and their children.
  Domestic violence is not solely a woman's issue--it is also a health, 
social, economic, and criminal justice issue, and must be addressed on 
multiple levels. We must all do our part to prevent and address 
violence in our homes, in our communities, and in our society in order 
to build a safe and healthy nation.

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