Commerce, Justice, Science, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, my amendment increases funding for a critical program, the Violence Against Women Act Legal Assistance Program by $4 million.

I would like to thank Representative Poe for his diligent work on this amendment. And I also want to thank Representative Mollohan for his commitment on this issue as well.

You know, we all make lawyer jokes, but to the women who face domestic violence and need legal representation to successfully flee their abusers, obtain orders of protection, and retain custody of their children, the lack of legal representation is definitely not a laughing matter.

Nearly 70 percent of the women who bravely take their abusers to court do so without legal representation. And too often, having an attorney present is the deciding factor in obtaining that lifesaving personal protection order or getting custody of your kids or receiving transitional housing.

It's a sad day when a family is forced to stay with their abuser because they don't know how to navigate through the court system.

Earlier this week, Mr. Chairman, I heard from Chris in Wisconsin, whose husband sent her to the emergency room a dozen times, broke her foot, held a gun to her head, and threatened to poison her four children before she was able to escape with the help of legal assistance after 5 long years of torture.

I also heard from Danielle of Madison, Wisconsin, who obtained a divorce from her wealthy attorney husband who repeatedly beat and stabbed her, but was left battling her husband's expensive attorney for custody 2 years after the divorce. Her effort to study the Wisconsin statutes and defend herself in court drew ridicule and rebuke from the judge. These are just a couple of examples.

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