[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16935]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        NOW IS THE TIME TO RENEW THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, we've had a busy agenda this 
week. But one important bill has been missing--the bill to reauthorize 
the Violence Against Women Act, or ``VAWA.'' The House should take it 
up without delay.
  VAWA is very important for Colorado. Through last year, our state 
received almost $15 million in VAWA grants. That money has helped 
assist victims of domestic violence, but it has also done much more.
  In fact, according to a letter from our Attorney General, Ken 
Salazar, and his colleagues from other states, VAWA ``has enabled us to 
maximize the effectiveness of our state programs that have made a 
critical difference in the lives of women and children endangered by 
domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.'' The current 
authorization for VAWA expires this year. Because I know the importance 
of renewing and strengthening this vital measure, I have joined in 
cosponsoring H.R. 1248, the VAWA reauthorization bill. I was encouraged 
when the Judiciary Committee approved it for consideration by the full 
House. But that happened on June 27th--a full month ago--and still the 
bill has not reached the floor, even though many less important 
measures have been considered.
  I call on the leadership of both parties to bring the VAWA 
reauthorization bill to the floor without further delay. This is too 
important a matter to neglect.

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