[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                VICTIMS ECONOMIC SECURITY AND SAFETY ACT

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, today I am going to introduce 
legislation, the Victims Economic Security and Safety Act, with Senator 
Murray--she probably will not be able to be at the press conference 
because she is doing such an admirable job of standing her proper 
ground for safety--Senator Schumer and Senator Dodd; and 
Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Lucille Roybal-Allard on the House 
side.
  Basically, this legislation deals with what is a huge problem; that 
is to say, estimates are that as many as 50 percent of the victims of 
domestic violence have lost jobs in part due to their struggle. The 
same thing holds true for victims of sexual assault.
  The legislation addresses three or four issues. No. 1, it would 
provide emergency leave for those women--sometimes men, almost always 
women--who are having to deal with the battering and with the violence, 
be it in the home, be it sexual assault, be it stalking. It will allow 
them to take some time off from work to see a lawyer, to see a doctor, 
to do what they need to do.
  No. 2, it would extend unemployment compensation to people who are 
forced to leave their jobs in order to provide for their own safety and 
their children's safety. Amazingly, this happens in about 50 percent of 
the cases: Quite often for these women, the man--be it the former 
husband, a stalker, somebody who has assaulted them sexually--will come 
to their workplace and constantly be there. And in order to be safe, in 
order sometimes literally to save their lives, in order for their 
children to be safe, they then have to leave work. We want to, with 
documentation, be able to provide some unemployment compensation.
  No. 3, it would prohibit discrimination against victims of domestic 
and sexual assault. This is critically important. What happens is the 
employer--and some of the employers are great--sometimes says: This is 
creating a lot of trouble. Therefore, we fire you.
  That is the last thing in the world you want to do.
  It also provides protection from insurance company discrimination. 
There is no reason why women should be battered again by an insurance 
company that says: We understand that this guy has come to work, is 
threatening you, that you have this problem. We don't think you are a 
good bet for health insurance.
  Finally, it provides tax credits to companies that will provide the 
programs and the help.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
  The Senator from Nevada.

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