[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7865-H7868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TIME TO REAUTHORIZE FVPSA
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2017, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the
opportunity to join my colleagues on the
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floor here to reflect on a piece of legislation. It is a righteous
piece of legislation that is time to be reauthorized that has served so
many. I really rise today to talk about an issue that affects 1 in 4
women and approximately 15.5 million children every year--domestic
violence.
Domestic violence has been cast into the background throughout most
of our history, remaining a hidden problem, one that wasn't talked
about, and one, certainly, that wasn't properly addressed.
Survivors of domestic violence have often tolerated physical, mental,
and emotional abuse in silence, out of fear their spouses or partners
would retaliate.
Former battered women, civic organizations, and professionals began
to open shelters in the 1970s to provide services to abused women and
their children. After seeing the great results from these
efforts, Congress led a series of hearings in the early 1980s to
understand the scope of this violence and explore possible responses.
This led Congress to pass legislation that touched on all facets of
domestic abuse. As part of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984, the
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, or FVPSA, was enacted to
support lifesaving services, including emergency shelters, crisis
hotlines, counseling, and programs for underserved communities
throughout the United States, including the United States territories.
This critical legislation has been authorized seven times since its
enactment, most recently in 2010 for 5 years, through fiscal year 2015.
That is why I, along with 102 of my colleagues, introduced H.R. 6014,
which reauthorizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act an
additional 5 years through fiscal year 2023.
Congress sets aside funding for three purposes under FVPSA, and I am
going to look at these a little more in depth. But first, I want to
take the opportunity to say I am pleased that I am joined by a couple
of my colleagues this evening.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore),
my colleague who has been an original cosponsor of this reauthorization
legislation
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Thompson, and, indeed, it is my
pleasure to join him in cosponsoring the reauthorization of the Family
Violence Prevention and Services Act of 2018.
Mr. Speaker, I am so very, very pleased that this is a piece of
bipartisan legislation introduced by Glenn Thompson, Elise Stefanik,
and Lisa Blunt Rochester.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we have found the need to stick together
in a bipartisan manner because violence against women and children,
unfortunately, is not a partisan issue. It is not an issue that is
relegated to one race of people and to one economic class. It is
pervasive, and it is a detriment to our entire American community.
But fortunately, Mr. Speaker, since 1984, Congress has passed the
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act as the primary Federal
funding source to support emergency shelters and related assistance for
victims of domestic violence and their families. We have updated it
based on best practices that we have seen, and the monies are available
to community-driven solutions and a network of programs and services
dedicated to responding to domestic violence across the country.
This reauthorization would follow current authorization levels for
fiscal years 2019 through 2023. FVPSA, is, of course, at the heart of
the Nation's response to domestic violence, ensuring, Mr. Speaker, that
these shelters and programs are able to keep their lights on and their
doors open to serve more than 1.3 million victims of domestic violence
and their children every year.
Again, it serves nearly 1,600 community-based programs through State-
formula grants.
Not only do they serve shelters, the hotline, and crisis
intervention, but they also provide legal assistance and police
services as well. It is a multistate strategy, and we are very proud of
its effectiveness.
In fact, the National Institute of Justice funded a multistate study,
and it shows conclusively that the Nation's domestic violence programs
address not only the most urgent safety needs of victims to protect
themselves and their children, but it also asserts that, if this
funding did not exist, the consequences for the victims would be dire,
including homelessness; serious losses, as in mothers losing custody of
their children; and continued abuse.
As Mr. Thompson has pointed out, the abuse is not simply confined to
physical abuse, but the emotional abuse and economic abuse as well, and
even, sadly, death of some of these women.
Each year, the National Network to End Domestic Violence releases a
report called ``Domestic Violence Counts: A 24-hour National Census of
Domestic Violence Services.'' Sadly, it reports that in just 1 day last
year, 2017, 72,245 victims of domestic violence were happily receiving
services.
But you know what, Mr. Speaker? Another 11,441 requests for services
were left unmet because of the lack of funding and resources.
{time} 1815
So we do a pretty good job with this program, but there are always,
always, always a dearth of resources.
I appreciate Mr. Thompson providing me with the time, and I have
examples, if time will allow, for me to just share some of the stories,
just to give some face, Mr. Thompson, to some of the people who are
served by the local shelters, programs, coalition, funding for Tribal
governments to provide essential services to survivors.
In the State of Washington, we have Inez, who was 14 years old and
the only survivor of a fire that killed her entire family. She was
taken in by relatives, only to be raped by her uncle at age 15, as so-
called ``payment for her care.''
She gave birth to a son, Manuel, who was never allowed to call her
``Mother.'' At 16, she met Tomas, thinking this would be an escape for
her and Manuel. He promised her a life of love and security but, in
reality, that security meant a locked closet where she and Manuel were
routinely starved and sexually assaulted. When her second son, Miguel,
was born, Inez decided that she just had to get a way before she and
her two sons were further victimized.
Inez learned of the domestic violence hotline from women she had
worked with in the orchards, and a coworker called and helped Inez and
her children go to a local YWCA shelter. She lived there for 2 years to
get back on her feet while she gained her U visa and rebuilt her life.
Inez now has her green card and a home of her own, and her boys are
thriving in school and preschool.
You know, there are many, many stories that I can go on with. I just
want to say that the #MeToo movement has given all of these survivors a
renewed hope and courage to come forward to tell their stories.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Thompson so much for his time, for his
stewardship over this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues
to stand with these survivors by cosponsoring H.R. 6014, the FVPSA
Reauthorization Act, and to push for the passage of this bipartisan
legislation in this 115th Congress.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague,
Congresswoman Moore, for sharing Inez's story. It is a story that
occurs in a frightening way so many times, where victims of abuse--but
at the same time, it is an inspiring story because it illustrates how
these important services that we fund through this piece of legislation
can help save lives, saved the lives of this woman and her son, to be
able to change their lives around, you know, really, being caught in
such a long history of abuse and how it makes a difference.
So I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and for sharing that,
the story of Inez--much appreciated.
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, if I just might add, Mr. Thompson, it is
because of us. I mean, as legislators, we get a bum rap sometimes. We
don't know Inez necessarily, but it is because of us and this funding
that there is someone on the other end of that telephone who can answer
the call. It is because of the work and this authorization that there
is a place for Inez to go.
This did not always exist before 1984. And while we can't end every
single act of violence, we do deserve the credit for creating the space
and the opportunity for these victims to be able to come
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forward and, when they gain the courage, to leave these domestically
violent situations.
The most dangerous moment for any of these women is that point in
time when they decide to do something about their situation, and that
is the point in which there has just got to be a resource there.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Absolutely. So when they make that
courageous decision, they quickly find they are not alone; there is
someone there reaching out.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for being a part of this Special
Order this evening. Again, I want to thank my colleague and commend her
for her leadership on this important issue.
Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate the importance of FVPSA. This
legislation is at the heart of our Nation's response to domestic
violence services. This program ensures that local domestic violence
shelters and programs are able to keep their lights on and the doors
open to serve more than 1.3 million victims and their children every
year.
FVPSA funds nearly 1,600 community-based programs through State
formula grants, including 60 programs located throughout the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, my home State. These programs provide the
necessary resources to local communities that help educate individuals
on healthy relationships, as well as offer legal assistance, crisis
intervention, and counseling.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), an
esteemed colleague, a good friend of mine. I have the privilege and
honor of serving with him on the Education and the Workforce Committee.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Thompson for this
Special Order but, even more importantly, for sponsoring this
legislation and giving many of us the opportunity to join with him
because, indeed, this is not simply a piece of legislation that changes
lives and saves lives, as it does, but it also changes history--the
history of individuals, the history of families we trust, and the
history of communities and this country--by doing the right thing.
This Special Order on the importance of the Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act takes this from just simple legislation and
the effort that goes there and puts human faces on it, and so I thank
the gentleman for that.
I am proud to be a cosponsor of this vital legislation that, for over
30 years, has been protecting and seeking justice for victims of
domestic violence, especially women and children, though also for men
and parents who are caught in a trap that, sadly, too often takes place
within a so-called family situation.
FVPSA was the first Federal law to address domestic violence; and
since the law was enacted in 1984, it has continued to focus on
providing shelter and services for survivors and children exposed to
domestic violence.
Every year, the National Network to End Domestic Violence conducts
its annual census, which provides snapshot of domestic violence
services provided nationwide during a 24-hour period. Last year, the
survey found that, in Michigan, my home State, on just 1 day, 2,359
Michigan residents were given shelter or provided services through a
domestic violence program. These are lives. 2,359 lives were touched
with this program. This included over 1,600 victims finding refuge at a
shelter or temporary housing arrangement, and over 400 calls to the
Michigan Domestic Violence Hotline.
I have had the opportunity to visit the SIREN/Eaton Shelter, which
provides indispensable services to the community surrounding Charlotte,
Michigan. The mission of SIREN/Eaton Shelter is to promote the
elimination of domestic violence and homelessness by providing
temporary housing, support, advocacy, education, counseling, and
information to victims and the community.
Whenever a victim reaches out for help, it is vitally important that
they have access to safe refuge, the support services they need to
protect themselves and their family, and hold their abusers
accountable.
Congress plays an important role in protecting victims of domestic
violence as well as children who are the victims of abuse. This
important legislation helps keep the lights on at domestic violence
shelters across the country so they can continue their efforts to break
the cycle of abuse for generations to come and, ultimately, change
history.
Mr. Speaker, a thank-you again to Representative Thompson for
sponsoring this bill and giving us the opportunity to join with him,
and also for holding this Special Order tonight to put faces, connect
faces and lives to legislation that can make a difference.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Walberg) for his leadership on issues related to
Education and the Workforce, serving that committee, as you do, and I
am proud to serve there with you, but also for having that heart for
individuals who are facing abuse and those victims that we know are out
there who are struggling as a result of the various types of abuses
that occur. I know the gentleman has a heart of service, of trying to
provide this, so I am certainly proud to work with him on this
important reauthorization of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, as a part of this, of the Family Violence Prevention and
Services Act, Congress sets aside funding for three purposes under
FVPSA. This includes a national domestic hotline which receives calls
for assistance related to domestic abuse, incredibly important, being
able to, 24/7, reach out for help when finding themselves in these
tragic circumstances.
Another area, another purpose is direct services like housing,
counseling, legal advocacy, and referrals through State grants for
victims of domestic abuse and their children and efforts to prevent
domestic violence through a program known as Domestic Violence
Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Allies.
Now, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight one of these
programs, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, more commonly
referred to as The Hotline.
Beginning in 1996, this 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service provides free
and confidential support for individuals who call for assistance
related to domestic violence issues. The Hotline also provides
referrals and connects individuals to the most comprehensive resource
base in the country, with over 4,800 service providers in the United
States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, all possible
through the continuous support of FVPSA funding.
The Hotline is the only 24/7 center in the Nation that has access to
service providers and shelters across the United States, including our
territories. This service also helps with safety planning and support
related to questions related to healthy relationships.
Not only does The Hotline answer calls from victims, but it also
provides services and support to helpers, who are individuals who
contact The Hotline on behalf of a person who is now or has previously
been the victim of abuse, in addition to abusive partners, service
providers, and law enforcement officials.
One project The Hotline has introduced is the Love Is Respect
program. The purpose of this program is to engage, educate, and empower
young people to prevent and end abusive relationships. This online
resource helps millions of teens and 20-somethings learn about healthy
relationships and dating violence. Providing hotline services to youth
is also authorized as a part of FVPSA, another critical need covered by
this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, in 2017, The Hotline and Love Is Respect answered over
300,000 calls for help, 300,000 calls, texts, and chats from survivors
of domestic abuse on a range of issues, including physical abuse,
emotional and verbal abuse, economic and financial abuse, digital
abuse, and sexual abuse.
{time} 1830
The National Domestic Violence Hotline also partners with the
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center's expertise to operate the
StrongHearts Native Helpline.
This important program provides culturally appropriate, confidential
services for Native Americans affected by domestic abuse and dating
violence.
Although The Hotline has made significant strides over its lifetime
offering support to victims, more than 98,000 contacts in 2017 went
unanswered due to a lack of resources and capacity.
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Mr. Speaker, that is unacceptable. It is imperative that we pass this
legislation to continue funding programs like these that have a proven
record of success.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight one of the organizations that
provides great resources on domestic violence issues, the National
Network to End Domestic Violence.
Each year, this organization releases a report entitled ``Domestic
Violence Counts: A 24-hour National Census of Domestic Violence
Services.'' This report revealed that, in just one day, Mr. Speaker,
one day in 2017, more than 72,000 victims of domestic violence received
services.
In my home State and your home State, Mr. Speaker, of Pennsylvania,
in that State alone, 1,278 victims of domestic violence found refuge in
emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic
violence programs; 1,208 victims of domestic violence received support
through counseling, legal assistance, and children's support programs;
760 hotline calls received that day were answered, which equals about
32 calls answered per hour; and 1,841 individuals, Mr. Speaker,
attended prevention and education training sessions on that day across
Pennsylvania, gaining critical information on domestic violence
prevention, early intervention, and other related services.
Although this report showed the great success of our local community-
based programs, more than 11,000 requests for services went unmet that
day because programs lacked the resources and the funding to carry out
these services.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear these programs are working for the American
public. Let us pass this legislation to continue supporting victims of
domestic violence and providing them with all the necessary resources
they need on their way to recovery.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Representative
Moore and Representative Walberg, for taking time out of their busy
schedule to talk about this important issue with us today. And, Mr.
Speaker, I would like to thank the more than 100 Members of Congress
who have stepped up and stepped forward to put their name on this
legislation as cosponsors of this reauthorization bill. It is a strong
bipartisan bill for a righteous purpose.
FVPSA was the first Federal law to address domestic violence. Since
its enactment in 1984, it has continued to have a primary focus on
providing shelter and services for survivors and has increasingly
provided support to children exposed to domestic violence and teen
dating violence.
It is my hope this legislation will continue to support those who are
facing domestic violence and continue to create healthy and safe
pathways to recovery.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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