[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8432]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 8432]]

               VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today to call for Senate action 
on reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Earlier this 
week, the Supreme Court in its decision in United States versus 
Morrison struck a specific provision from the Violence


Against Women Act of 1994. But that decision leaves intact the bulk of 
this landmark law. For the past five years, VAWA has funded and 
promoted significant innovations in federal, state and local programs 
to assist victims of violence, enhance prosecution of domestic violence 
and sexual assault crimes, and prevent violence against women and 
children in their homes and on our streets. This support has enabled 
shelters, rape crisis centers, health care professionals, schools, 
police forces and communities across the country to address and prevent 
violence against women. I commend my distinguished colleague from 
Delaware, Senator Biden, for his authorship of the original Violence 
Against Women Act and for his commitment to ensuring that this 
important legislation is re-authorized.
  Women across the nation, including in my home state of Wisconsin, 
have benefitted from this important legislation. Women's lives have 
been saved. Countless victims of domestic violence or sexual assault 
are receiving the services they need. Police are participating in 
training programs to arrest and bring abusers to justice. Both men and 
women are learning about the problem of domestic violence and sexual 
assault. In short, women are safer today because of this legislation.
  Our nation's progress in preventing violence against women, however, 
is now in serious jeopardy. Authorization for the Violence Against 
Women Act ends this year. I understand that Senators Biden and Hatch 
have been working closely to craft a compromise re-authorization bill. 
I commend both of my colleagues for their commitment to this issue. But 
with only weeks remaining in this abbreviated session, I urge the 
Senate leadership to take action on this legislation without further 
delay.

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