[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4240]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2001

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, during Women's History Month, I would like 
to highlight one of the cruelest and most widespread forms of violence: 
violence against women. In 1999, there were over 59,000 domestic 
violence calls for assistance in Los Angeles County--755 in my district 
alone. And those are just the women who call.
  I am taking this opportunity to mention two shelters located in my 
district. Rainbow Services, a shelter in San Pedro, California, was the 
first shelter to establish an emergency response program in Los Angeles 
County for battered women and children. Rainbow Services provides 
resources and guidance that help battered women end abuse. Women at the 
shelter are given help obtaining a restraining order and there is a 
large network of almost 20 weekly peer support groups. As important, 
all services are offered in Spanish, allowing access for more women to 
seek help.
  A second shelter, the 1736 Family Crisis Center in Hermosa Beach, 
also offers unique and important help. The Center aids women and 
children who need to use emergency services by allowing them to stay 
one month with confidential shelter. Second Step Shelters also provide 
transitional abuse counseling and offer independent living skills 
training, which allows women to become self-sufficient after their time 
at the shelter.
  Mr. Speaker, violence against women is still an epidemic in this 
country. It is my hope this important issue continues to receive 
government attention. Shelters, like those in my district, must receive 
the necessary resources so all women in need have access to a safe and 
confidential home. We cannot ignore this issue, or sweep it under the 
rug. Only constant vigilance and providing women with tools and 
knowledge will be successful in ending the cycle of domestic violence.

                          ____________________