[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 27, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  (Ms. MENG asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to pass the 
bipartisan, Senate-passed Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
  Early in my career, one of my first experiences was working with 
victims of domestic violence who were struggling and in desperate need 
of help. Having personally helped victims fill out VAWA petitions so 
they wouldn't be forced to live under the same roof as their abusers, 
I've seen firsthand the long-term human devastation this kind of 
violence can cause, and we cannot continue to ignore its toll on women 
and families.
  VAWA funds have trained over 500,000 law enforcement and judicial 
officers on the realities of domestic and sexual violence, helping to 
protect survivors across the country. VAWA saves money, and it saves 
lives.
  Since VAWA was first enacted, over 600 State laws have been passed to 
combat domestic violence, and reported incidents of violence have 
decreased by 60 percent. Despite these successes, there's much work to 
be done, and all victims of domestic violence, including those in the 
LGBT community and those without documentation, must feel safe seeking 
help from our criminal justice system.

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