[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO TERESEANN LYNCH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 9, 2009

  Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to remember 
a woman from Iowa who personified the courage and spirit of a working 
mother and Member of the United States Military. TereseAnn Lynch was 
killed on November 11, 2009, due to an act of domestic violence. 
TereseAnn, 30, was a mother of an 8-month-old son. As a member of the 
Iowa Air National Guard for more than a decade, she served tours of 
duty in Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia working as a weapons specialist. 
Most recently, TereseAnn served her country with honor providing aid in 
the Iraq War as a technical sergeant. She was also an active and 
committed employee at the Department of Human Services in Iowa where 
she provided help to young children and mothers trying to recover lost 
child support payments.
  On behalf of my family, and the United States Congress, I would like 
to extend my condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones. 
TereseAnn embodied the character and values of a servicewoman and 
loving mother.
  A tragedy like this is a painful reminder of the frequency of 
domestic violence cases. Domestic violence is a willful act of abuse 
that results in many reactions such as fear, anger, depression, and 
even death. In the U.S., an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of 
physical assault by an intimate partner each year. In Iowa over the 
past decade, domestic violence has affected nearly 6,000 women annually 
and 1,200 men. Structured to fight the battle against domestic 
violence, the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is an 
organization established to reach out and help Iowans with domestic 
violence issues. With 28 direct service programs across the state, the 
coalition offers counseling and community outreach. The ICADV 
institutes a 24-hour statewide hotline for those needing help. The 
phone number is 1-800-942-0333.
  Domestic violence is a horrific act that no one should have to deal 
with, and it is my hope that the resources and help available will 
offer guidance and aid to those affected.

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