[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 92 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1500-E1501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2847) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chair, I would like to take this opportunity to 
thank the members of the Appropriations Committee for their inclusion 
of language that I requested in the Commerce, Justice, Science and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010. This 
language, which emphasizes the importance of federal support for crisis 
hotlines for rape victims, states as follows:
  ``Services for Victims of Rape.--The Committee is aware that an 
estimated one in six women in the United States will experience a 
sexual assault in her lifetime, and that the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation ranks rape as the second most violent crime, second only 
to murder. The Department of Justice is encouraged to continue 
supporting programs, including hotline programs, that facilitate the 
delivery of confidential recovery services to rape victims.''

[[Page E1501]]

  The above language is specifically intended to express the House's 
support for the continuation of funding for the National Sexual Assault 
Hotline programs. These programs include the National Sexual Assault 
Hotline, accessible at 800-656-HOPE, the National Sexual Assault Online 
Hotline, a Web-based hotline at www.rainn.org, as well as the other 
education and outreach programs created and carried out by RAINN (the 
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). RAINN, a 501(c)(3) not-for-
profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, currently receives 
funding from the Office for Victims of Crime to carry out its programs. 
In the past, RAINN also has received funding from the Office on 
Violence Against Women and the Office for Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention for this purpose.
  While rape crisis centers in every state and the District of Columbia 
play a very important role in partnering with RAINN to support the 
operation of these national hotlines, it is important to note that they 
are truly national in scope. RAINN launched, and continues to operate, 
both hotlines from its headquarters in Washington, DC. As a result, 
every American, regardless of where they are located, who becomes a 
victim can seek immediate, confidential support services at any time of 
the day or night by calling 800-656-HOPE or by going to rainn.orit for 
Web-based information, referrals and support.
  We specifically authorized RAINN to operate these programs for rape 
victims through fiscal year 2010, when Congress passed, and then 
President Bush signed into law, Section 628 of the Adam Walsh Child 
Protection and Safety Act of 2006. It is critical that Congress 
continue to provide the funding necessary to ensure RAINN's operation 
of these programs in fiscal year 2010. Absent such funding, victims of 
crime will not receive the resources they so desperately need in the 
aftermath of an attack. The House did not specifically include a dollar 
amount in the fiscal year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science 
Appropriations Act for RAINN to continue to operate such programs, and 
it is vital that the Department of Justice find a way to ensure that 
the organization can continue to carry out the important work it does 
to support rape victims in the aftermath of attack.
  Vice President Biden, who sponsored a resolution honoring the 
National Sexual Assault Hotline in 2006, during his tenure in the 
United States Senate, described it as follows: ``[a] critical partner 
in our fight to end sexual assault has been the National Sexual Assault 
Hotline operated by RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. 
RAINN created this toll-free telephone hotline 1-800-656-HOPE--in 1994 
and manages it with 1,100 local affiliates in 50 States and the 
District of Columbia. Victims from across the country can telephone the 
Hotline and receive confidential, trained expertise from experienced 
professionals with the assistance of over 10,000 volunteers. In June 
2006, the Hotline received its millionth call since it answered its 
first call in 1994.
  ``The National Sexual Assault Hotline is truly a national treasure. 
It helps individuals and families recover from a horrendous violation. 
It provides a safe haven for victims to talk about the crime, and 
offers referrals on local psychological and physical help. A call to 
the National Sexual Assault Hotline is often the first step towards 
justice for a victim. . . . The hotline's volunteers are doing God's 
work and deserve our gratitude.'' I would agree, Madam Speaker.
  In closing, I thank the gentleman from West Virginia for his 
inclusion of the above-mentioned language in this year's appropriations 
bill. I look forward to continuing to work closely with him during 
conference negotiations to ensure that the bill recommends a specified 
dollar amount of funding for the Department of Justice to support RAINN 
in its efforts to operate national hotline programs for victims of 
sexual assault.

                          ____________________