Supporting the Goals and Ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 29, 2005)

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support all the women and children who have survived domestic violence, and for all the women whose lives have been claimed by domestic abuse. It is abhorrent that violence within our homes continues to be prevalent today--nearly one in four American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. Violence against women is a profound and extremely pervasive problem, striking across borders, across economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and across all age groups. It is an epidemic that affects not only women, but their children and families as well.

* As we recognize National Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, it is time that we actively work to end violence against women. I would like to draw special attention to immigrant women who continue to lack access to many resources that would enable them to escape domestic abuse. While we were able to include many critical provisions of relief to battered immigrant women when we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act in 2000, there are still battered immigrants, like asylees and the elderly, who are forced to remain in abusive relationships, unable to appeal for protection from law enforcement and the courts for fear of deportation. I have introduced H.R. 3188, the Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act, which will allow them to safely escape their abusers without fear of deportation or other negative immigration consequences. This legislation would also provide a safety net for battered legal immigrants and their children by allowing them access to work permits, health insurance, food, and other benefits required to escape their abuser and gain economic independence.

* It is time that we change attitudes in this country so that violence against women is no longer tolerated. We are devoting extensive resources to ending terror around the world, while at the same time one in four women continue to be terrorized by domestic violence and sexual assault in their lifetime. It is time that we devote the same amount of resources to ending a form of violence that terrorizes over half the population of this globe. We must teach our sons that violence of any kind is unacceptable; we must give our daughters encouragement and support so they have the self-esteem to leave abusive relationships; and we must start to envision a world free of violence against women. I believe that if we all work together, we can turn this vision into reality. But it is going to take resources, hard work, and, most of all, incredible resolve. I challenge my colleagues to make the fight against domestic violence a top priority, and together we can make this country a safer place for our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.

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