[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 132 (Thursday, September 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING GAIL-BURNS SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2009

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
achievements of Gail Burns-Smith, a tireless advocate for victims of 
sexual assault and abuse. When Gail passed away unexpectedly on 
September 5th, our country lost an unspoken hero for women everywhere.
  As the Executive Director of Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis 
Services for twenty-two years, Gail drew critical attention to the 
prevalence of sexual abuse and the need to end assault and support its 
victims. She successfully secured federal funding for organizations 
working to end sexual abuse and assist victims and was instrumental in 
passing numerous laws in Connecticut that work to protect our residents 
against assault. A leader in her field, Gail recognized early on the 
need for collaboration between victim advocates and sex offender 
treatment providers.
  On the national level, Gail worked with the Center for Treatment of 
Problem Sexual Behavior to develop the first Victim Advocate Program 
for sex offender treatment, which became recognized as the national 
model for such programs. She cofounded the National Alliance to End 
Sexual Violence, an organization that helped to secure passage of the 
National Violence Against Women Act. Gail also helped to establish the 
national Women of Color Leadership Project which evolved into the 
nonprofit Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA).
  While we have made great strides thanks to champions like Gail, the 
work to protect and support sexual assault victims is not over. Today, 
nearly one in five Connecticut residents has experienced a sexual 
assault. Twenty-six percent of Connecticut women and 10 percent of 
Connecticut men are sexual assault survivors. Further, many sexual 
assault treatment centers are experiencing dramatic cuts to their 
funding and have become limited in their outreach efforts. Just as Gail 
did, we must continue to champion efforts to end sexual assault and 
provide help and compassion to victims. She was a true role model and 
will be dearly missed.

                          ____________________