Pelosi: Violence Against Women Act Has Strengthened Communities and Provided Critical, Life-saving Support to Victims of Violence

Pelosi: Violence Against Women Act Has Strengthened Communities and Provided Critical, Life-saving Support to Victims of Violence

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi submitted the following statement into the Congressional Record this afternoon in support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which was approved by the House today:

â€Å"For 10 years, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has strengthened communities and provided critical, life-saving support to victims of violence. VAWA has meant that no victim of violence has to suffer in silence. This legislation has been a tremendous success in addressing an appalling problem: since VAWA was enacted in 1994, states have passed more than 660 laws to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has answered more than 1 million calls. VAWA has strengthened communities across the country and saved countless lives. But we can and must do more.

â€Å"Women should feel safe whether in public or private: in their workplace, in their homes, and walking on the street. Yet many women continue to live in fear. One in three American women report being physically or sexually abused by a partner at some point in their lives, and more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day. We cannot tolerate the violence, abuse, and sexual assault that pervade our communities. As a nation, we must fight this epidemic in every way possible.

â€Å"Today, the House reauthorized VAWA, making dramatic improvements to the existing law by establishing new rape crisis centers and increasing grants for community organizations that work to prevent and eliminate domestic violence. The reauthorization of VAWA is a critical step and a national commitment to keep future generations of women and children safe.

â€Å"Unfortunately, the spirit of VAWA came under attack today by the House Republicans. Judiciary Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner offered an amendment that eliminated carefully crafted provisions of the bipartisan bill that recognized that racial and ethnic minorities face unique challenges in reporting and getting help for domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking and stalking. With this change, domestic violence prevention and treatment services specifically targeting women of color and immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault will continue to be shortchanged.

â€Å"VAWA is one of the crowning achievements of the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues and a truly bipartisan success. I urge the Senate to reject the Sensenbrenner amendment and return the bill to its original, bipartisan version.”