[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 26, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H7083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As you know, 
violence against women in the United States is as insidious as it is 
destructive. And according to a study by the U.S. Department of Justice 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are as many as 3 million cases of 
domestic violence across the United States every year.
  Due to the nature of the crime, the mental and physical cost of 
domestic violence are difficult to quantify, but they are far too 
obvious to ignore. Women suffering from domestic abuse average more 
emergency room visits, a significantly higher rate of unemployment, are 
more likely to lose the jobs they have, and are also more likely to 
rely on welfare.
  Various studies find the monetary costs to the Federal Government of 
only the reported cases of domestic violence to be estimated in 
billions of dollars.
  Regrettably, hard economic times make even more crimes of this sort 
likely to occur, which is why the Congress must ensure not only to 
address this growing epidemic but to protect the necessary funds to 
protect the women of this country from domestic abuse.

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