[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 39 (Monday, March 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1374-S1375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, it was just one year ago last week that 
victims of violence, members of law enforcement and those committed to 
working against domestic and sexual violence celebrated the signing of 
the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Act reauthorization and the 
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. The signing of this 
important legislation on March 7 last year was an enormous 
accomplishment for a divided Congress, which came together to pass 
meaningful and historic legislation that protects all victims. One year 
later, we honor those victims and survivors by renewing our commitment 
to our shared goal of ending domestic and sexual violence.
  Our bipartisan effort last year is making lives better today. The new 
nondiscrimination provisions we fought so hard to protect are ensuring 
that all victims, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender 
identity, have access to lifesaving programs and cannot be turned away. 
As I have said many times, ``a victim is a victim is a victim.'' While 
some called for us to cast the most vulnerable groups among us aside 
and pass a watered down bill, I am proud that we held firm in our 
beliefs. This could not have been done without the leadership and 
commitment of Senator Crapo and Senator Murkowski, who fought within 
their caucus to preserve a fully inclusive reauthorization and stood 
with me in the Senate to protect all survivors. In the House, 
Congressman Tom Cole was a critical voice in calling for the 
particularly urgent need to address abuse on tribal lands. I thank them 
today, as I did 1 year ago, for their dedication and their partnership.
  Every week, we are learning more about the impact of this important 
law. Last month, the Department of Justice launched a pilot project in 
which three tribes--the Umatilla, the Pascua Yaqui, and the Tulalip--
will begin to exercise their authority to prosecute non-Indian 
offenders who commit acts of domestic violence against an Indian on 
tribal land. Until now, non-Indian abusers were essentially immune from 
prosecution, a fact they would use to terrorize their victims. This new 
authority marks the beginning of the end of those days and is a 
watershed moment in our commitment to end the epidemic of violence 
against Indian women that has for too long been ignored. We fought hard 
to ensure this provision remained in the bill and it will save lives. 
Attorney General Holder, associate attorney general West and deputy 
associate attorney general Hirsch deserve praise for making careful 
implementation of the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Act a top 
priority.
  Less than 2 weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security announced 
it was taking additional steps under our VAWA reauthorization to 
prevent the sexual assault and abuse of immigrants in our detention 
facilities. This was in response to a provision in the VAWA law 
requiring that all DHS facilities comply with the Prison Rape 
Elimination Act to prevent sexual abuse and assault. There is still 
much work to be done to protect immigrant women, and I look forward to 
continuing to work with DHS to ensure that they are doing all they can 
to protect those in their custody. I also remain committed to passing 
legislation to increase the number of U visas available for immigrant 
victims of violence. That powerful law enforcement

[[Page S1375]]

tool helps keep all of us safe by encouraging victims to report 
criminals who pose a danger to our communities.
  And last week, we heard about the impact services under VAWA have on 
victims--and how much more we must do. The National Network to End 
Domestic Violence, in their annual National Domestic Violence Counts 
Census, found that every day 9,000 service requests go unmet because of 
a lack of resources. This is not acceptable. Every day tens of 
thousands of victims turn to domestic and sexual violence services 
providers for support through emergency safe shelters, legal 
assistance, and child support groups, and we must do all we can to 
ensure these needs are met.
  In my nearly 40 years in the Senate, few issues have meant more to me 
than passing an inclusive Violence Against Women Act. The law is an 
example of how the Federal Government, in cooperation with state and 
local communities, can help solve problems. By providing new tools and 
resources to communities all around the country, we have helped bring 
the crimes of rape and domestic violence out of the shadows. I am proud 
of the work we did last year and I hope that a bipartisan Senate can 
come together this year to pass other, meaningful bills to support law 
enforcement and victims, like the Justice For All Act and the Runaway 
and Homelessness Youth Act.

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