[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3581]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SECURUS HOUSE IN CLAYTON 
                            COUNTY, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 1999

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and commemorate 
the anniversary of the Securus House in Clayton County, Georgia. In 
1983, three members of the Clayton County/Henry County Women's Council 
of Realtors, Tricia Capps, Jane Cox, and Betsy Ramsey discussed options 
for a community project with Anne Plant, Director of Family and 
Children Services. These concerned citizens joined together to 
establish a badly needed facility for battered women. On March 9, 1999, 
the Securus House will celebrate fifteen years of work to ease and 
overcome family violence.
  With well over 82,000 men, women, and children requesting assistance 
from this community project, the Securus House is a daily, working 
example of what local communities are capable of accomplishing.
  Every day, the Securus House makes strides toward the elimination of 
domestic violence. Although it has sheltered over 3,400 women and 
children, tragically, between 1988 and 1998 in Clayton County, one 
hundred and seventeen women, children, and men died as the result of 
domestic violence. Their lives will be remembered in a candlelight 
vigil as part of the anniversary commemoration.
  I congratulate and commend the Securus House and Clayton County for 
their tremendous efforts on behalf of the community and for the 
difference they make every day.

                          ____________________