[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16100]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Wagner). The Chair recognizes the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, October is a time to highlight the 
corrosive effects that domestic violence has on our country and to 
remind our fellow citizens of the work that still needs to be done to 
reduce and, indeed, eliminate violence against women and girls.
  Earlier this year, I was proud to support the bipartisan efforts to 
pass the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. One of the 
new provisions included in this bill will open up funding for 
organizations that provide employment placement and training programs 
for domestic violence victims.
  I would like to highlight the work of Second Chance Employment 
Services, the first and only nonprofit in the United States that 
focuses exclusively on empowering women by helping them find stable 
jobs. Dr. Ludy Green is the founder of Second Chance, and this 
organization and many others like it promote financial security for at-
risk women. I believe that employment is a key component needed to 
break the cycle of violence that plagues too many women in too many 
homes in too many neighborhoods.
  I acknowledge the work that Ludy and so many do each and every day to 
make a positive difference in the lives of women, and I will continue 
to support their work. We must all do everything possible to reduce 
domestic violence in America, as well as to end the human trafficking 
of vulnerable girls and young women. Sexual trafficking is modern-day 
slavery, and this scourge, along with domestic violence, must be 
eradicated before further harm is done in our communities, our Nation, 
and worldwide.
  Madam Speaker, young girls and women deserve better. We must do 
better.

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