[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 137 (Friday, October 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 19, 2012

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of victims of 
domestic violence and in recognition of October as Domestic Violence 
Awareness Month. For far too long, domestic violence victims have been 
ignored, afraid to speak up, and scared of being stigmatized. Battered 
immigrant women have been particularly vulnerable to domestic violence 
due to their temporary immigration status or lack of status. These 
women often suffer in silence because they fear threats of deportation, 
fear being separated from their children, and are afraid to come out of 
the shadows.
  We have made significant progress in both reducing incidents of 
domestic violence and in offering support to victims. Eighteen years 
ago, Vice President Biden led the bipartisan effort to enact the 
Violence Against Women Act. As we all know, VAWA has strengthened 
communities and provided critical, life-saving support to victims of 
domestic violence, including battered immigrant women.
  Obamacare expands access to critical domestic violence services. 
Under Obamacare, health insurers must provide women with access to 
domestic violence screening and counseling services without any cost-
sharing and they cannot charge higher premiums to victims of domestic 
violence. This eliminates cost as a barrier to accessing these 
important services.
  Nonprofit organizations are also doing inspiring work to aid victims 
of domestic violence. One such organization is Second Chance Employment 
Services. I want to recognize the extraordinary work done by this 
organization, and its founder Dr. Ludy Green. SCES offers survivors of 
domestic violence counseling and individualized job training services. 
SCES provides these women with both emotional support and the resources 
needed for financial security.
  Despite all of these efforts, we still have a long way to go. Every 
day, three women in the United States die as a result of domestic 
violence. We must do everything we can to combat these unconscionable 
acts and support victims of this horrible crime. As the President noted 
in his Proclamation in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness 
Month of 2012, ``Let us renew our efforts to support victims of 
domestic violence in their time of greatest need, and to realize an 
America where no one lives in fear because they feel unsafe in their 
own home.''
  In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we all must 
recommit to continuing to fight for all survivors of domestic violence. 
We must all work together to reauthorize VAWA before the end of this 
Congress and ensure that we expand rather than erode protections for 
all victims of domestic violence. I urge my Republican colleagues to 
pass the bipartisan Senate bill, which passed the Senate on April 26 by 
a more than 2-1 vote, so that we can expand rather than roll back 
protections for victims of domestic violence.

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