Violence Against Women Act

Floor Speech

Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I ask permission to engage in a colloquy with the Senator from Vermont, Mr. Leahy. I would like to address a problem that affects many women who are victims of domestic violence. We have addressed a variety of important concerns with the Senate's recent passage of the Violence Against Women Act, and I hope the House will promptly pass that important, bipartisan bill. A major barrier for women seeking services in New Hampshire and across the country is lack of transportation. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee and author of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, you may have encountered this issue also.

Mr. LEAHY. I thank the Senator from New Hampshire for bringing attention to this important issue and for all her hard work addressing issues of domestic and sexual violence. As a Senator and a prosecutor, I have found that transportation is a particular problem for victims of domestic and sexual violence who live in rural areas.

Mrs. SHAHEEN. You know well the issues facing rural communities in Vermont, as I do in New Hampshire. Domestic violence occurs as frequently in rural areas as it does in cities, and many women in rural settings do not have access to a car or public transportation.

Mr. LEAHY. This presents a real safety risk for women.

Mrs. SHAHEEN. It does. When you are a woman in a violent situation, not having access to transportation is more than an inconvenience, it can be life threatening. One woman in Atkinson, NH, called the local crisis center for transportation because her husband would not let her have access to the car keys and controlled the family's finances entirely. She was simply trapped.

Mr. LEAHY. Would you agree that the availability of transportation is critical to making sure all women have access to the services provided by crisis centers, shelters, and other service providers?

Mrs. SHAHEEN. Yes, that is exactly right. The Violence Against Women Act provides support for important services like medical treatment, counseling, shelter, and legal assistance to seek protective orders. Clearly women need to be able to get to these centers in order to take advantage of these important resources.

Mr. LEAHY. Have you found that transportation is something that crisis centers are currently able to provide?

Mrs. SHAHEEN. Many crisis centers that receive grants from VAWA do use their general funds to assist women with transportation costs who could not otherwise afford them. I believe that is a use of funds consistent with the intent of Congress to expand services to all women and families who are victims of domestic violence. Do you agree?

Mr. LEAHY. I agree that helping women access these services is absolutely consistent with the intent of the Violence Against Women Act.

Mrs. SHAHEEN. And I thank the Senator for including language in the reauthorization of VAWA recently passed by the Senate that further clarifies that transportation services are an acceptable use of VAWA funds. The bill adds language in the new victim services definition in section 3 to include ``other related supportive services'' and in section 102(a) adds ``other victim services'' to the victim services purpose area in the grants to encourage arrest policies and enforcement of protection orders. Both of these changes would provide even more ability than under current law for VAWA grants to cover crucial transportation services.

Mr. LEAHY. I agree that this language is intended to cover a variety of crucial victim services including transportation services.

Mrs. SHAHEEN. I also appreciate the bill's new language emphasizing the importance of providing services to women in rural or geographically isolated areas. Identifying this particularly vulnerable population will be helpful for those centers which focus services on women and families in these isolated areas. I believe this provision makes clear the intent of Congress to supplement the costs of reaching these women and bringing them to safety.

Mr. LEAHY. I agree that is one of the intents of section 202, which focuses on enforcement of domestic violence, stalking and child abuse laws for victims and families in rural areas. Transportation is a necessary component of enforcing these laws and protecting vulnerable women. I am concerned, as I know you are, about what women do when they are in a dangerous situation and do not have transportation to get away.

Mrs. SHAHEEN. That is a real problem. Many women initially rely on the police or an ambulance to remove them from unsafe situations, but their problems continue once they reach a shelter or crisis center. They have no way to get to court for hearings related to protective orders, child custody and divorce. One of the directors of the crisis center in Berlin in the North Country of New Hampshire spends at least 25 percent of her time taking women to and from court. Due to recent State budget cuts, the closest courthouse is 45 minutes away. That is a significant investment of time and money.

Mr. LEAHY. It certainly is. And the Violence Against Women Act aims to provide financial support for communities that need it most so they can continue to keep women safe.

Mrs. SHAHEEN. I thank the Senator from Vermont for engaging in this colloquy to address the importance of providing transportation services to women and families in need. I thank him, too, for his leadership on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. It has helped so many women over the years, and I know it will continue to save the lives of women in New Hampshire and across the county.

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