Congressional Record, Volume 157 Issue 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)

[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

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.

____________________