[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 168 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2645]
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. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, December 17, 2005

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the 
reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA, as part of the 
Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act. In particular, 
I thank the conferees for including my provision to establish a 
national resource center to help employers address the negative 
consequences of domestic and sexual violence in the workplace.
  Since the Violence Against Women Act was first passed in 1994, law 
enforcement has enhanced its response to crimes involving violence 
against women, Federal prosecutors have increased actions against 
perpetrators of domestic violence, and many critical services and 
programs have been created to assist victims of such violence.
  Yet, despite the protections of VAWA, every year thousands of women 
are forced to stay in abusive relationships because they lose their 
jobs and therefore are unable to provide for themselves and their 
children. To protect them from this negative economic impact the 
national resource center will provide employers with the information 
and expertise they need to keep their employees while helping them 
address the violence in their lives. This will also benefit employers 
who, according to the Bureau of National Affairs news service, lose $3 
to $5 billion annually in lost time and productivity. I am very pleased 
that starting in 2007 the center is authorized to receive $1 million 
annually for 5 years.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I thank my colleagues for working with me to 
include the creation of a national resource center in the 
reauthorization of VAWA. The center will be a critical step in 
protecting the economic security of victims of domestic violence and 
empowering them to end their cycle of violence. I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to further ensure the financial independence 
of domestic violence victims by passing my bill, H.R. 3185, the 
Security and Financial Empowerment, SAFE, Act.

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