[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5426-S5427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT 20TH ANNIVERSARY

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, today we commemorate the 20th 
anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark piece of 
legislation that continues to improve the lives of millions of women, 
their families, and the communities that support them. I was proud to 
cosponsor this legislation when it was originally enacted in 1994, led 
by then-Senator, now-Vice President Biden. And I was proud to fight for 
its reauthorizations in 2000, 2005,

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and 2013, each time refining and building upon the great work that VAWA 
does each day.
  This legislation stands today as an as an example of what we are 
really called here to do--meeting people's day-to-day needs. That means 
protecting people, making their lives better, and providing vital 
resources to those in need. No woman in this country should live in 
fear that her partner will hurt or kill her or her kids. I have zero 
tolerance for domestic violence. If you are beaten and abused, you 
should have somewhere to turn for help and a path to recovery.
  VAWA is crucial in all of our communities. Every day VAWA is 
providing services to families in desperate need. I hear from my 
constituents far too often about the challenges they are facing, often 
involving significant economic struggles only to be complicated by deep 
emotional pain and fear.
  Here are the statistics: 1 in 4 women will be victims of domestic 
violence. 16 million children are exposed to domestic violence every 
day. And over 2 million will be victims themselves of physical or 
sexual violence each year. 20,000 of these cases are in my own State of 
Maryland. Since we created the legislation in 1994, the national 
hotline has received millions of calls. Millions of women felt in 
danger and had the chance of being rescued.
  In my own State of Maryland VAWA is making recovery possible for 
victims by finding them legal help to separate from their abusers. They 
are also getting vital services at rape crisis centers and navigating 
our immigration system to ensure protection.
  Through the years I have heard from too many Marylanders about their 
struggles. Fortunately, VAWA programs existed to help them. I heard 
from one of my constituents, Jean on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. 
Jean was married to her husband for 10 years and shared 2 children. She 
benefited from VAWA's Legal Assistance for Victims Grant after being 
abused so brutally one evening. Jean called the hotline and got the 
legal assistance to file for a protective order, which she ultimately 
was awarded and is now living her life safely with her children.
  I also heard from Danielle. Danielle was sexually assaulted at the 
age of 19 by an associate that she knew. She was aided by VAWA's Sexual 
Assault Services program when she made the connection with the rape 
crisis center a few days after her attack. Danielle got the support she 
needed at the crisis center. She received personalized safety planning 
and counseling and was provided a lawyer to help her get a peace order.
  I also hear from law enforcement in Maryland who say VAWA is helping 
them make communities safer. The Lethality Assessment Program, 
pioneered in Maryland and now a model for the Nation, was strengthened 
in the last VAWA reauthorization. The program is used to identify high 
risk situations at the outset to link up local police with domestic 
violence professionals to provide wrap around services and empowerment 
to get victims out of harm's way and reduce homicides. This was made 
possible because of VAWA which provided the Federal funding to make 
this a reality.
  As chair of the appropriations subcommittee that funds the Justice 
Department, I have secured funding for the Violence Against Women Act 
programs at the highest levels ever. These programs ensure tougher 
penalties for abusers, coordinated assistance with community 
organizations, and court advocates for abused women to boost reporting 
and prosecution.
  In the fiscal year 2015 CJS spending bill I provided a robust $430 
million for Violence Against Women grants, continuing a strong 
commitment to VAWA programs. I also provide strong investments in core 
VAWA programs including: $195 million for STOP formula grants, which 
coordinates community response to domestic violence and also trains 
police, prosecutors and judicial staff; $30 million for sexual assault 
services that direct services for victims of rape; $26 million for 
transitional housing grants so victims have safe and affordable housing 
after shelters; and $50 million for Grants to Encourage Arrests, which 
teaches police and prosecutors how to support victims and ensure 
offender accountability.
  So today, as we mark 20 years of VAWA, we reflect on what it has done 
for families across our country and women in desperate need. But we 
also reflect with the renewed knowledge that the programs that have 
been in place are reducing domestic violence and improving outcomes. If 
it is anything that the last 20 years have shown us, it is that VAWA 
works. I am proud of it and am so happy to mark this important 
milestone.

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