|
|
|
|
SUBSCRIBE
The leading Copyright |
< Go back to Immigration Daily
[Congressional Record: October 10, 2000 (Extensions)]
[Page E1729-E1730]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr10oc00-14]
SUPPORT MORE AWARENESS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
______
HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 10, 2000
Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to remind Americans that
domestic violence and other forms of violence against women are still
widespread in the United States of America.
On Friday, October 6, 2000, the Boston Herald reported that the
number of victims killed in domestic violence incidents in
Massachusetts increased by more than 50 percent over last year's
numbers. This is a frightening development, particularly when the
state's average for other violent crimes decreased over the same
period.
When women decide that they have had enough of their abusive
relationships, they frequently turn to a local shelter that provides
[[Page E1730]]
services to survivors of domestic violence. Often times, shelters that
assist women and children are chronically short on resources. In fact,
throughout the nation, for every six women that seek protection at a
shelter, five are turned away because of lack of space or funds. In
many of these unfortunate instances, women and children are forced to
return to their abusive relationship because they lack a viable
alternative.
Last Friday, the House passed the conference report on HR 3244, Sex
Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Support of this bill is critical
for several reasons. In particular, this conference report contains the
reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA is a
grant program that was established under Title IV of the 1994 Violent
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Reauthorization of this bill
will allow domestic violence assistance centers throughout the country
to continue receiving grants to carry out programs that assist women
who have been victims of domestic and sexual assault.
This legislation authorizes $3.4 billion worth of grants over 5
years. The grants will support programs to reduce violence against
women by strenghtening law enforcement, services to victims of
violence, and education and training to combat violence, as well as
reducing the effects of violence on children. This law will also better
protect battered immigrant women by reforming immigration laws that are
currently being used to prevent a battered immigrant spouse from
reporting abuse or leaving an abusive relationship.
Passage of the VAWA reauthorization is an important victory for women
and is key in our nation's war against domestic violence. Until America
completely eliminates domestic and sexual violence against women, we
must provide these women a safe haven with adequate protection and
services. VAWA reauthorization is a step in the right direction to
provide assistance to the women and children victimized within their
own homes.
I call upon my colleagues to join me in remaining vigilant about this
problem.
____________________
 Follow @ilwcom Share this page | Bookmark this page The leading immigration law publisher - over 50000 pages of free information!
© Copyright 1995- American Immigration LLC, ILW.COM |