Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 Through 2009

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 THROUGH 2009 -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 29, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. MELISSA A. HART
OF PENNSYLVANIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2005

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3402) to authorize appropriations for the Department of Justice for fiscal years 2006 through 2009, and for other purposes:

Ms. HART. Mr. Chairman, in 1994, Congress took a significant step forward in the fight against domestic violence by enacting the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Today, as part of the DOJ reauthorization, we are considering the reauthorization of VAWA (VAWA 2005), making it a stronger and more effective tool in the struggle to end domestic violence.

I have met with many of the domestic violence shelters and advocates in my district who tell me that VAWA is working. Victim Outreach Intervention Center provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes. On an average year, VOICE provides services to over 3,000 people in Butler County.

The VAWA funding they receive has made a tremendous improvement in both the types of services they provide and also to the scale on which they are able to serve. Their counseling and advocacy services are substantially funded by VAWA. Without this money, VOICE would be unable to serve survivors at current levels; a waiting list for direct services, which could contain 20-25 survivors at a time, would have to be established.
In order to provide that basic level of service, VOICE would have to substantially decrease or eliminate programs, such as their Prevention/Education programming. Without the re-authorization of VAWA, the past 28 years of progress they have made in service to survivors would be set back tenfold.

Nearly one in four women experiences at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood. As resources become stronger, more victims gain the courage to seek help. Now is not the time to retreat. The work at the state and local level has become more, not less, complex.

The programs and provisions of VAWA will continue the progress made over the past 10 years in three ways.

First, VAWA 2005 reinforces existing core programs like the STOP grants which have brought communities together to solve the problem of domestic violence. VAWA programs have provided training for hundreds of law enforcement officers on the dynamics of domestic violence and VAWA 2005 will attempt to solve the problem attrition among domestic violence professionals.

Second, with VAWA 2005 we ensure that the needs of uniquely vulnerable communities are met. One of the lessons we have learned over the past 10 years is that many victims face unique obstacles.

VAWA has helped fund specialized services to improve victim safety in rural areas, such as paying for ``attorneys on wheels'' to help rural women get to court or effective outreach programs in remote communities.

VAWA 2005 also addresses the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities and elder victims of abuse, by offering services tailored to their circumstances and by educating their communities on how to best provide services.

Third, VAWA 2005 provides greater opportunities for victims to rebuild their lives. While domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking are fundamentally criminal justice problems, the solutions are not to be found in the criminal justice system alone.

VAWA 2005 will help victims rebuild their lives and create long term security for themselves and their children. It works to educate domestic violence prevention professionals, child welfare workers, and home visitors on how to identify and serve victims of domestic violence. Further, it provides guidance on preventing violence, rather than reacting to it.

We've come a long way since 1994, but people from my district tell me that our shelters are full and our hotlines are ringing off the hook. We need to continue with our mission to end violence against women and children. VAWA 2005 is an important step in that mission.

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