[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

  (Ms. KELLY of Illinois asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the 
millions of men, women, and children victimized by domestic violence.
  This is an issue that is very personal to me. Nine years ago, my 
cousin, Dr. Robin Lynn Mitchell, my namesake, was murdered in her sleep 
by her husband in an act of domestic violence. A few months later, a 
campaign volunteer of mine, Velton Lacefield, was shot and killed by 
her husband in a similar crime.
  Their stories, however heartbreaking, are, unfortunately, not unique. 
These tragedies play out over and over every day in our communities 
across America. The National Network to End Domestic Violence estimates 
that three women are killed each day as a result of domestic violence. 
It touches just about every home, no matter your ZIP code or your 
income bracket. Nearly three-quarters of Americans know a victim of 
domestic violence.
  But that is just the human toll. Domestic violence also costs the 
U.S. economy over $8 billion annually in emergency room visits, mental 
health services, and lost productivity.
  So as we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let's commit 
ourselves to working to put an end to these tragedies, for Robin, for 
Velton, for all of us.

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