[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. CLINE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Domestic 
Violence Awareness Month to acknowledge the strength of survivors and 
to call for an end to the abuse experienced by more than 2 million 
Americans each year.
  Throughout my career, I have fought to end the cycle of domestic 
violence.
  My contributions in the House of Delegates in Virginia have helped 
make the State have some of the toughest criminal penalties for 
domestic abusers. During that time, I patroned legislation requiring 
domestic abusers to undergo counseling and a court-mandated treatment 
program. I also worked across the aisle to make strangulation a felony 
in Virginia's criminal code and make sure that abusers charged with 
such a crime would have the presumption against bail.
  Congress must strive to protect victims and survivors, and I look 
forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
pass commonsense reforms that ensure safety and security of those who 
suffer abuse.

                          ____________________