[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REMARKS IN RECOGNITION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF CORA

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                          HON. JACKIE SPEIER-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2008

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, this week, CORA--Community Overcoming 
Relationship Abuse--celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of 
comprehensive domestic violence support in San Mateo County.
  Three decades ago, a victim of domestic violence on the San Francisco 
peninsula had no resources outside of hospitals and the police. Then in 
1978, La Casa de San Mateo opened its doors to become the county's 
first and only emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors and 
their children. La Casa later changed its name to the Center for 
Domestic Violence Prevention and in 2003, partnered with Sor Juana 
Ines, the first toll-free domestic violence hotline in the county, to 
become CORA.
  CORA's mission is to end domestic violence and abuse through 
intervention and prevention. The dedicated staff and volunteers respond 
to thousands of calls on the CORA hotline, and answer an equal number 
of requests for legal assistance each year. They serve more than 6,000 
clients annually, providing legal, medical and mental health services, 
as well as counseling and safety in the county's only shelter for abuse 
victims and their children. This operation is overseen by the CORA 
governing board and a diverse staff of 35 who represent the vibrant 
cross-section of the county and region. Besides English and Spanish, 
CORA staff-members speak Tagalog, French, Mandarin, Italian, Korean, 
Hindi, and Farsi.
  Madam Speaker, domestic violence is a silent epidemic. Every nine 
seconds, a woman in our country is abused by someone she knows. 
Millions of children witness acts of violence involving one or more 
parents every year. And one in five female high school students reports 
being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
  Domestic violence impacts all of us. It is a significant drain on 
police and emergency resources and costs the national economy eight to 
ten billion dollars annually in medical bills, community support and 
lost wages and productivity. It is also a leading cause of homelessness 
and often leads to depression, substance abuse and--most troubling--an 
increased likelihood that victims and young witnesses will go on to 
become abusers themselves.
  Madam Speaker, thanks to increased public awareness, domestic abuse 
is emerging from the shadows of shame and ignorance. Still, there are 
far too many instances of cruel and dehumanizing behavior within what 
should be the security of the family home. Because of this, society 
will always need an organization like CORA. My sincere hope is that, 
someday, we will need them less.

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