Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2008

Floor Speech

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bill and want to commend the chairman and the staff for an excellent bill which signals a new direction and reflects our priorities as a Nation. The goal of this bill has always been to make a strong investment in our future, to take seriously our responsibility to the American public.

I'm proud to see that this bill will provide $10 million to the Sexual Assault Service Program directly for rape crisis centers, State and territorial sexual assault coalitions and culturally specific programs and tribes.

This is the only Federal funding stream dedicated entirely to providing direct services for victims of sexual violence. That is vital because, without a consistent and a specialized funding stream for direct services, rape crisis centers are stretched to the limit trying to meet increased demand for services with reduced government funding.

We are finding other ways as well to strengthen services to victims of all domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, by significantly boosting funds for the Office of Violence Against Women, $430 million, or $60 million above the President's request.

We know these programs are both necessary and effective. Since the Violence Against Women Act was first passed in 1994, reports of domestic violence have decreased by half. But as long as domestic violence continues, we must continue fighting to ensure women have the tools to fight back.

The bill also works to strengthen local law enforcement $3.2 billion to protect our communities and our quality of life, including COPS grants to put 2,800 new police officers on the streets, drug courts, Byrne grants for local crime prevention programs, and a competitive youth mentoring grants program to prevent juvenile delinquency.

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