[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2673-2674]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    VERA HOUSE WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN

  (Mr. KATKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an important 
issue that faces our society: domestic violence and sexual abuse. 
Violence against women is a worldwide but underexamined problem. Sadly, 
we are still far from a world where women are free from the threat of 
harassment, battering, and sexual assault.
  Consider some of these statistics: according to the FBI, a woman is 
battered every 15 seconds; 2 to 4 million American women are abused 
each year; up to 50 percent of homeless women and children in this 
country are fleeing domestic violence.
  Our country has a moral obligation to stand up against those who 
exploit their power to commit violence against women and children.
  In an effort to raise awareness and put an end to domestic violence 
and sexual abuse, the Vera House in Syracuse will be kicking off the 
White Ribbon Campaign. This campaign is one of the largest efforts in 
the world to prevent and end domestic violence and

[[Page 2674]]

sexual assault. The campaign will begin Friday, March 4, and run 
through March 31.
  During this month, thousands of my constituents in central New York 
will be wearing a white ribbon or white wristband to raise awareness 
about domestic violence and sexual abuse. Wearing the white ribbon 
demonstrates a personal pledge to never commit, condone, or remain 
silent about violence against women or children.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in this effort.

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