Recognizing 15th Anniversary Of The Violence Against Women Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 738, Recognizing the 15th Anniversary of the Enactment of the Violence Against Women Act, offered by my friend and colleague Representative Louise Slaughter of New York.

The 15th anniversary of President Clinton signing this landmark legislation into law offers us the opportunity both to see how far we have come and to recognize that there is still much ground to be covered as we continue to protect vulnerable women and work on behalf of abused women across this nation.

What is so important about VAWA, just as much today as it was 15 years ago, is that it specifically identifies women as an at-risk population because of violence perpetrated against them. Violence against women ranges from rape to physical and mental abuse to stalking to other forms of domestic violence. It was appropriate to pass legislation specifically geared toward identifying different forms of violence, who was affected by this violence, and what judicial and social services were available for victims and potential victims. Our current Vice President Joe Biden played a leading role in shaping and forwarding this legislation when he was in the Senate, and we should acknowledge him for championing the bill and being instrumental in its final passage.

Since the enactment of VAWA into law, there has been a proliferation of community and advocacy organizations, shelters, health clinics, and law enforcement divisions and programs dedicated to protecting women from abuse and to giving them time to heal and piece their lives back together.

VAWA funding has made it possible for women--and often times their children--to be able to leave their batterers and seek the help they need to begin life anew, more so than at any other time in our Nation's history. And given the unprecedented rate at which state and local budgets have been slashed during the recent economic downturn, VAWA funding is more crucial than ever: to date the Office of Violence Against Women, created under the Department of Justice to implement VAWA, has issued $3.5 billion in grants and cooperative agreements.

I have long strived to be a voice for those who have difficulty being heard. Despite the significant inroads that VAWA has made in the lives of countless women throughout this country, we continue to see alarming trends in the rates of abuse, rape, and murder of women. Under the auspices of VAWA and other initiatives meant to protect women, I will continue to champion women and to offer and sponsor legislation to protect and empower them.

I was proud to vote for the passage of VAWA 15 years ago. So let today mark an important milestone to commemorate the work that has been done over the last 15 years. But let it also force all of us to redouble our efforts to continue legislating and advocating on behalf of women who find themselves in abusive and dangerous relationships and situations.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 738 and I commend Representative Slaughter for offering it.

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