Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT REAUTHORIZATION -- (House of Representatives - September 27, 2005)

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) for yielding to me, and for her steadfast support of women's issues, and particularly the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. She has been a leader in this area and, as she said, she legislates from the heart on this issue. I appreciate her and all of the bipartisanship that has been shown in the reauthorization of this bill.

In the 5 years since the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 was enacted, we have made remarkable gains towards stopping domestic and sexual violence. But the Violence Against Women Act is due to expire at the close of September and it is time for Congress to renew its commitment.

Since its inception in 1994, VAWA funding has provided tremendous resources and protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in my home State of West Virginia and nationally. Violence against women programs provide increased training for police, prosecutors, and court officials, and greatly improves the response of the criminal justice system to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. These programs have been successful at providing victims with emergency shelters, hotlines, and supportive services.

In my hometown of Charleston, West Virginia, we have a domestic violence shelter that is run very well by the YWCA of Charleston, West Virginia. It is professional, it is safe, and it is that harbor for women and families who are subjected to the violence that occurs in so many of our families and in domestic situations.

Due to the Violence Against Women Act's worthy accomplishments, many more victims are now referred for services, and demand has steadily risen for the services provided by the grants. The Violence Against Women Act has helped transform the perception of domestic abuse as a situation that should be dealt with in the home. It has moved it to a serious crime that should be addressed in the courtroom. What used to be considered a family matter is now a crime. This bill is a crucial part of this perception change.

At issue now is more than just a reauthorization. Rather, Congress has an opportunity to make a statement by expanding and improving VAWA Acts passed in 1994 and 2000. This year's reauthorization builds on the successes, just what we want to see when we are reauthorizing legislation; to find out what is working, build on that, and remove those elements of a law that maybe are not working or not working as we had thought they might.

Reauthorization of VAWA will improve the help victims receive from the Department of Justice in several ways. One of its more important provisions gives grants to States to ensure victims have better access to trained attorneys and lay advocacy services, such as the one at the YWCA in Charleston, West Virginia. This means grief-stricken victims of violence, stalking and sexual assault will receive vital professional support in the moment they need it the most. This support can make all the difference in the time of tragedy.

Domestic violence, unfortunately, strikes everywhere, among the rich, the poor, within urban and rural communities. As a West Virginian, I have been especially sensitive to the needs of rural communities. That is why I am pleased that the reauthorization of VAWA will expand assistance to rural areas through amendments made to the rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement assistance program. The Department of Justice is authorized to award 3-year grants for education, training, and services to combat violence against women in rural areas.

All told, $50 million in funding each year from 2006 to 2010 is authorized and will go to VAWA programs that address rural domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault. And when it comes to grants that address sexual assault, rural communities are guaranteed to receive a minimum of 25 percent of the funds allotted.

In addition, when we reauthorize VAWA, the Federal Government will be sending a strong message to the criminals who have committed violence against women. Reauthorization will permit the doubling of applicable penalties for repeat Federal domestic violence offenders.

This bill also addresses the accessibility of funding and program dollars for colleges. As the mother of a college student, a young woman college student, I know that the area of sexual assault and dating violence is something that is ever present on the mind of every mother of a young daughter in college.

So this bill recognizes that and will help strengthen our institutions to deal with this problem.

This October will be the 19th annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I cannot wait for the day we no longer need a month to recognize domestic violence. For years, we in Congress have told women that domestic violence is not their fault and is no cause for shame. I believe we have the opportunity this year to redouble our efforts, to say that domestic violence is not just the victim's problems, it is America's problems. That means we in Congress must demonstrate to all Americans that it is incumbent on us as a Nation to stop this violence.

This year, let us usher in Domestic Violence Awareness Month by reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

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