Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 Through 2009

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 THROUGH 2009 -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2005)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). Pursuant to House Resolution 462 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 3402.

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of provisions of my bill, H.R. 3188, the Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act, which are included in the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. These immigrant provisions reflect hard, bipartisan work of many Members of Congress, and I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for his leadership on this issue.

This bill is a good start. It would help immigrant women who need to leave their abusive spouses by preventing their deportation while their application is being considered. It would provide them access to work permits, so that they can get a job on their own and gain economic security independent of their abusers. In addition to spouses, this bill would also protect battered children, as well as parents, from abusive family members.

However, we can do more. For example, this bill does not include provisions which would allow battered victims access to health insurance, food and other benefits required to escape their abuser. I will work hard to include these provisions in the final bill enacted.

As a first generation American and someone who represents an immigrant rich community in Chicago, I understand the unique challenges immigrant women face. ``My neighbor called the police, but I did not sign the report out of fear,'' said a Mexican immigrant and mother of four at a press conference I held in Chicago. She said she stayed with her abusive husband for 13 years to be with her children.

This is the voice of women across the country that need our help to get out of the cycle of abuse. This Congress must remain vigilant in its fight to protect one of the most vulnerable populations in this country. I challenge my colleagues to make the fight against domestic violence a top priority.

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