[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8071-S8072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Crapo):
  S. 1925. A bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 
1994; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today, I am proud to introduce the 
bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 and to be 
joined by Senator Crapo in doing so. For almost 18 years, the Violence 
Against Women Act, VAWA, has been the centerpiece of the Federal 
Government's commitment to combat domestic violence, dating violence, 
sexual assault, and stalking. We should reauthorize and strengthen 
these programs.
  Since VAWA'S passage in 1994, no other law has done more to stop 
domestic and sexual violence in our communities. The resources and 
training provided by VAWA have changed attitudes toward these 
reprehensible crimes, improved the response of law enforcement and the 
justice system, and provided essential services for victims struggling 
to rebuild their lives. It is a law that has saved countless lives, and 
it is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together.
  As a prosecutor in Vermont, I saw firsthand the destruction caused by 
domestic and sexual violence. Those were the days before VAWA, when too 
often people dismissed these serious crimes with a joke, and there were 
few, if any, services for victims. We have come a long way since then, 
but there is much more we must do.
  Over the last few years, the Senate Judiciary Committee has held 
several hearings on VAWA in anticipation of this reauthorization. We 
have heard from people from all around the country, and they have told 
us the same thing I hear from service providers, experts, and law 
enforcement officers in Vermont: While we have made great strides in 
reducing domestic violence and sexual assault, these difficult problems 
remain, and there is more work to be done.
  The victim services funded by VAWA play a particularly critical role 
in these difficult economic times. The economic pressures of a lost job 
or home can add stress to an already abusive relationship and can make 
it even harder for victims to rebuild their lives. At the same time, 
state budget cuts are resulting in fewer available services. Just this 
summer, Topeka, Kansas, took the drastic step of decriminalizing 
domestic violence because the city did not have the funds needed to 
prosecute these cases. We can and must do better than that. Budgets are 
tight, but we cannot simply turn our backs on these victims. For many, 
the programs funded through the Violence Against Women Act are nothing 
short of a life line.
  In Vermont, VAWA funding helped the Vermont Network Against Domestic 
and Sexual Violence provide services to more than 7,000 adults and 
nearly 1,400 children last year alone. These women and men, and girls 
and boys, received shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and access to 
transitional housing--lifesaving services to help them recover from 
unspeakable trauma and abuse.
  In one case, a mother of three children living in rural Vermont 
endured a long and abusive marriage in which she was not allowed to get 
an independent job or even a driver's license. For most of her adult 
life, she was subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse by her 
husband. After she summoned the courage to call a domestic violence 
hotline, her husband was arrested. Advocates helped her find temporary 
housing and gain access to a lawyer who helped her navigate the 
criminal process and establish supervised visitation for her children. 
Because of funding provided by VAWA, she and her children are safe and 
living independently. The lives of this woman and her children are just 
a few examples of how VAWA is having a real impact in our communities.
  I have heard stories like this time and again from victims and 
advocates in Vermont and across the country. Without this critical 
funding, state and local programs like the Vermont Network Against 
Domestic and Sexual Violence will not be able to provide their services 
to victims in desperate need.
  The reauthorization bill that I am introducing with Senator Crapo 
reflects Congress's ongoing commitment to end domestic and sexual 
violence. It seeks to expand the law's focus on sexual assault, to 
ensure access to services for all victims of domestic and sexual 
violence, and to address the crisis of domestic and sexual violence in 
tribal communities, among other important steps. It also responds to 
these difficult economic times by consolidating programs, reducing 
authorization levels, and adding accountability measures to ensure that 
Federal funds are used efficiently and effectively.
  The Violence Against Women Act has been successful because it has 
consistently had strong bipartisan support for nearly two decades. 
Today, we build on that foundation. I hope that Senators from both 
parties will join us to quickly pass this critical reauthorization, 
which will provide safety and security for victims across America.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REID:
  S.J. Res. 30. A joint resolution extending the cooling-off period 
under section 10 of the Railway Labor Act with respect to the dispute 
referred to in Executive Order No. 13586 of October 6, 2011; read the 
first time.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
joint resolution be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the joint resolution was 
ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 30

       Whereas the labor dispute between numerous rail carriers 
     that are common carriers by rail in interstate commerce, and 
     certain of their employees represented by labor 
     organizations, threatens to interrupt essential freight rail 
     services of the United States;
       Whereas it is essential to the national interest that 
     essential freight rail services be maintained;
       Whereas Congress finds that emergency measures are 
     essential to maintaining the security and continuity of 
     freight rail services;
       Whereas the President, by Executive Order 13586 of October 
     6, 2011, and pursuant to the provisions of section 10 of the 
     Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 160), created Presidential 
     Emergency Board 243 to investigate the dispute and report 
     findings;
       Whereas the recommendations of the Emergency Board 243 
     issued on November 5, 2011, have been exhausted and have not 
     resulted in settlement of the dispute;
       Whereas Congress, under the Commerce Clause of the 
     Constitution, has the authority and responsibility to ensure 
     the uninterrupted operation of essential freight rail 
     services; and
       Whereas Congress has in the past enacted legislation for 
     such purposes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF COOLING-OFF PERIOD.

       With respect to the dispute referred to in Executive Order 
     No. 13586 of October 6, 2011, the time period described in 
     the third paragraph of section 10 of the Railway Labor Act

[[Page S8072]]

     (45 U.S.C. 160) shall be extended until 12:01 a.m. on 
     February 8, 2012, so that no change, except by agreement, 
     shall be made by the rail carriers represented by the 
     National Carriers' Conference Committee or by the employees 
     of such carriers represented by labor organizations that are 
     a party to such dispute, in the conditions out of which the 
     dispute arose as such conditions existed prior to 12:01 a.m. 
     on December 6, 2011.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REID:
  S.J. Res. 31. A joint resolution applying certain conditions to the 
dispute referred to in Executive Order 13586 of October 6, 2011, 
between the enumerated freight rail carriers, common carriers by rail 
in interstate commerce, and certain of their employees represented by 
labor organizations that have not agreed to extend the cooling-off 
period under section 10 of the Railway Labor Act beyond 12:01 a.m. on 
December 6, 2011; read the first time.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
joint resolution be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the joint resolution was 
ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 31

       Whereas the labor dispute between numerous rail carriers 
     that are common carriers by rail in interstate commerce, and 
     certain of their employees represented by labor 
     organizations, threatens to interrupt essential freight rail 
     services of the United States;
       Whereas it is essential to the national interest that 
     essential freight rail services be maintained;
       Whereas Congress finds that emergency measures are 
     essential to maintaining the security and continuity of 
     freight rail services;
       Whereas the President, by Executive Order 13586 of October 
     6, 2011, and pursuant to the provisions of section 10 of the 
     Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 160), created Presidential 
     Emergency Board 243 to investigate the dispute and report 
     findings;
       Whereas the recommendations of the Emergency Board 243 
     issued on November 5, 2011, have been exhausted and have not 
     resulted in settlement of the dispute;
       Whereas Congress, under the Commerce Clause of the 
     Constitution, has the authority and responsibility to ensure 
     the uninterrupted operation of essential freight rail 
     services; and
       Whereas Congress has in the past enacted legislation for 
     such purposes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REQUIRED CONDITIONS.

       The following conditions shall apply to the dispute 
     referred to in Executive Order 13586 of October 6, 2011, 
     between the enumerated freight rail carriers, common carriers 
     by rail in interstate commerce, and certain of their 
     employees represented by labor organizations that have not 
     agreed to extend the cooling-off period under section 10 of 
     the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 160) beyond 12:01 a.m. on 
     December 6, 2011:
       (1) The parties to such dispute shall take all necessary 
     steps to restore or preserve the conditions out of which such 
     dispute arose as such conditions existed before 12:01 a.m. on 
     December 6, 2011, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and 
     (3).
       (2) The report and recommendations of the Emergency Board 
     243 shall be binding on the parties upon the enactment of 
     this joint resolution and shall have the same effect as 
     though arrived at by agreement of the parties under the 
     Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), except that 
     nothing in this joint resolution shall prevent a mutual 
     written agreement to any terms and conditions different from 
     those established by this joint resolution.
       (3)(A) If there are unresolved implementing issues 
     remaining with respect to the report and recommendations or 
     agreement under paragraph (2) after 10 days after the date of 
     enactment of this joint resolution, the parties to the 
     dispute shall enter into binding arbitration to provide for a 
     resolution of such issues.
       (B) The National Mediation Board established by section 4 
     of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 154) shall appoint an 
     arbitrator to resolve the issues described in subparagraph 
     (A). Except as provided in this joint resolution, such 
     arbitration shall be conducted as if it were under section 7 
     of such Act, and any award of such arbitration shall be 
     enforceable as if under section 9 of such Act.
       (4) Within thirty days after the date of enactment of this 
     joint resolution, the binding arbitration entered into 
     pursuant to paragraph (3) shall be completed.

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