[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 200 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6366-H6367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            AND STILL I RISE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Green) for 30 minutes.

[[Page H6367]]

  

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, and still I rise. And I rise on 
this occasion to bring to the attention of this House H. Res. 746, the 
Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2021.
  H. Res. 746 expresses support for National Domestic Violence 
Awareness Month and that Congress should continue to raise awareness of 
this issue.
  This resolution has 160 original cosponsors including 18 Republicans. 
It is a bipartisan resolution. I am honored to say that the lead 
cosponsor from Louisiana, Mr. Garret Graves, is a person who has been 
very helpful in helping to get this resolution presented and get 
signatures of persons who would be supportive.
  Domestic violence is a more prolific problem than many realize. 
Domestic violence is a problem that too often is concealed. Many people 
don't report the fact that they are being abused. People are locked in. 
They find themselves having to live with abuse because the abuse is 
being perpetrated by someone that they love and someone whom they care 
for but someone who does not care as much for them.
  Nearly one in three college women say they have been in an abusive 
dating relationship. Ninety-two percent of homeless women experience 
severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lifetimes.
  A 2020 survey by the National Network to End Domestic Violence 
reported that 76,525 violence victims were served by domestic violence 
shelters and programs around the Nation in a single day. Additionally, 
11,047 requests for services went unmet--went unmet--because of a lack 
of resources. We have to do more to help the victims of domestic 
violence. Congress can do more to help the victims of domestic 
violence. Congress should do more to help the victims of domestic 
violence.
  Domestic violence impacts individuals of any gender. One in four 
women and one in seven men ages 18 and older will experience domestic 
violence at some point in their lives. Women ages 18 to 34 experience 
the highest rates per capita of intimate partner violence.
  Domestic violence impacts individuals of any race. African-American 
women experience intimate partner violence at a rate 35 percent higher 
than that of White women and about 2.5 times the rate of women of other 
races.

                              {time}  1930

  Twenty-one to 55 percent of Asian and Pacific Islander women report 
experiencing domestic violence; that is, physical assault, sexual 
assault, or both, during their lifetimes.
  37.1 percent of Latinx females are victimized by intimate partner 
violence in a lifetime. One in three Native American women will be 
raped, and 6 in 10 will be physically assaulted in their lifetimes.
  Domestic violence impacts individuals of any sexual orientation. 
Sixty-one percent of bisexual women, 43.8 percent of lesbian women, 
37.3 of bisexual men, and 26 percent of homosexual men experience 
intimate partner violence during their lifetimes.
  Too often, children are affected by domestic violence and sexual 
assault. One in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence 
each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to such 
violence.
  Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to attempt 
suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, and become 
victims of human trafficking. Our children are suffering. Those who 
witness these acts of domestic violence need help. We need to provide 
more counseling for children.
  Even when this tragedy occurs, it is shameful for children to have to 
witness it. But more tragic than that, when children themselves are 
victimized, they have to carry that memory with them for a lifetime.
  One in 10 District of Columbia high school students reported 
experiencing physical violence from a dating partner in the past year. 
Half of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape 
attempt suicide, compared to 12.5 percent of non-abused girls and 5.4 
percent of non-abused boys.
  One large study found that men exposed to physical abuse, sexual 
abuse, and adult domestic violence as children were almost four times 
more likely than other men to have perpetrated domestic violence as 
adults.
  The point to be made is, those who suffer from domestic violence and 
abuse are likely to perpetrate domestic violence and abuse; not all, 
but a good many.
  There is a need for primary schools, secondary schools, and 
postsecondary schools to educate students about the issues of domestic 
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Education is 
the means by which many can avoid becoming victims. We must do more to 
educate our young.
  The term domestic violence is often inadequate because it fails to 
capture the full extent of the impacts that the event can have on a 
victim's life. The average cost of intimate partner violence over a 
victim's lifetime for medical and mental healthcare services is about 
$103,000-plus--that is for women--and $23,000-plus for men.
  The term domestic violence also fails to capture how, in some 
instances, domestic violence literally means domestic murder because, 
on average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or 
their boyfriends in the United States every day.
  Most murdered transgender women are killed by intimate partners.
  However, in spite of all of this, there is hope. Survivors of 
domestic violence are strong, courageous, and resilient, but they need 
help. Surviving the physical and mental abuse requires more than simply 
relocating. Many times, counseling is needed.
  The strength that they have is something that we can admire, but that 
strength can be fortified if they can have proper counseling so that 
they can get the assistance that they need, not only to stabilize 
themselves mentally, but also to understand that they are not the 
reason for the violence being perpetrated upon them. Too often, the 
victims believe that they are responsible for the actions of the 
persons who are abusing them. They need help.
  This is what we can do. We can help to make sure people understand 
that victims are not responsible for what perpetrators do.
  A recently released multistate study shows that the Nation's domestic 
violence shelters are addressing victims urgent and long-term needs, 
and are helping victims protect themselves and their children. Domestic 
violence advocates provide lifesaving essential services. There is a 
need to increase, not reduce funding for programs aimed at intervening 
in and preventing domestic violence in the United States.
  So therefore, I am so proud tonight to say that we should resolve 
that the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month are 
important; that these goals and ideals should be pursued; that this 
House of Representatives can do more to help the victims of domestic 
violence.
  I would also add that this resolution expresses the sense that the 
House of Representatives--that Congress--should continue to raise 
awareness of domestic violence and its devastating effects on 
individuals, families, communities, and support programs designed to 
end domestic violence in the United States.
  Madam Speaker, people ought not have to live in fear because they 
happen to be in an abusive relationship. Yes, people can take their 
issues to the police. Women can. But too often they have to debate 
within themselves the consequences of going to the police, the 
authorities, because they understand, many of them, that they have no 
other place to turn to.
  But thank God this Congress has provided enough money for shelters so 
that many can leave the environment where the abuse is being 
perpetrated.
  This is a serious issue that we should all be concerned with. If we 
allow the perpetration and perpetuation of domestic violence to 
continue, it does not bode well for the fiber and fabric of our 
country. This is a great country, and a great country can protect 
people who are being abused in their own homes.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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