[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20188-20189]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, tomorrow marks the beginning of October, 
celebrated nationally as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 
Earlier this week, this body unanimously passed a resolution that 
commemorates National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and renews the 
Senate's commitment to raise awareness about domestic violence and its 
devastating impact on families. While the Violence Against Women Act 
has been law for 10 years, none of us can afford to stop talking about 
domestic violence and encouraging victims to come forward and seek 
help.
  Throughout the month, cities, organizations, businesses, religious 
institutions, and many others are organizing events to commemorate 
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For instance, Marie Claire 
magazine and Liz Claiborne Inc. have joined forces to create ``Its Time 
to Talk'' Day on October 14 to encourage greater public dialogue about 
domestic violence. Around the country, media personalities, 
governmental officials, domestic violence advocates, businesses and the 
public-at-large will be taking a moment--or more--to talk openly about 
this ``dirty little secret'' that affects nearly one in three women in 
this country.
  The health care community has designated October 13 as Health Care 
Cares About Domestic Violence Day to raise awareness, and encourage 
doctors and nurses to screen for domestic violence while delivering 
routine and emergency care. On October 7, Marshall's will donate a 
percentage of that day's sales from all of its stores to organizations 
fighting domestic violence. Many communities, from Morrisville, VT to 
Lake Charles, LA, are holding candlelight vigils to remember and honor 
victims of domestic violence.
  I cannot overestimate the importance of these local and national 
events that spotlight domestic violence and enlist the whole community 
to get involved. While much progress has been made at the local, State 
and Federal level to hold batterers accountable with serious 
consequences and treat victims with dignity, the scourge of domestic 
violence is far from over. Progress is not mission accomplished.
  Tragic statistics reveal the stark truth that we cannot turn our 
attention away from fighting domestic violence. On average, each day 
more than three women are murdered by this husbands or boyfriends. 
Nearly one in three women experience at least one physical assault by a 
partner during her lifetime. In a recent poll, nine in ten women said 
that ending domestic violence was their number one priority. One in 
five adolescent girls becomes a victim of physical or sexual abuse, or 
both, in a dating relationship. In addition to the incalculable human 
costs of domestic violence, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention recently found that violence against women costs our country 
in excess of $5.8 billion each year.
  As resolute police chiefs retire, State task forces reorganize or 
committed district attorneys are replaced by newly elected leaders, we 
must ensure that the messages, protocols, policies, and dialogues 
fostered by the Violence Against Women Act become institutionalized 
across the country. We need to usher the Act into the 21st century and 
implement it with the next generation--recent police academy graduates 
who want to be trained on handling family violence, newly elected state 
legislators who want to update State laws on stalking, and the next 
generation of children who must be taught that abuse will not be 
tolerated.
  Next year the Senate will have the opportunity to reauthorize the 
Violence Against Women Act which may

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make improvements to core programs, tighten criminal penalties and 
create new solutions to challenges facing battered women. Some of the 
initiatives suggested include school-based programs to treat the 
millions of children who witness domestic violence, home visitation 
programs to prevent family violence, targeted training and education 
about domestic violence for health professionals, and greater 
transitional housing resources. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues to craft a comprehensive and balanced Violence Against Women 
Act of 2005.
  In the meantime, I thank the countless men and women working 
tirelessly in their hometowns to end domestic violence. As I have said 
before, these advocates, lawyers, service providers, judges, police, 
nurses, shelter directors and many more, are saving lives, one woman at 
a time. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we have a 
chance to acknowledge their hard work, talk loud and clear about 
domestic violence and support the courageous women escaping violent 
homes.

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