The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S3538-S3539 on June 7, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
______
TRIBUTE TO GRACE S. MATTERN
Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, today I recognize and congratulate Grace S. Mattern for her 30 years of service on behalf of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Since its inception, the coalition has become a leader in the struggle for victims', women's, and children's rights. Over the past quarter century, Grace has shaped the way domestic violence and sexual assault is understood and responded to in New Hampshire. Under Grace's leadership, the coalition has developed a nationally recognized model for protocols, state law, and health care initiatives. On the local level, there has been no victim-centered legislation in which Grace has not played a major part.
One of Grace's strongest attributes is her ability to work with people and facilitate meetings in a productive way. She has worked tirelessly to encourage everyone to work together to strengthen efforts to end domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Her work includes participation in many boards and commissions both nationally and locally.
Grace has been involved in various projects that involve groundbreaking work not only for New Hampshire but also for the country. Because of her leadership in 1997, the coalition, in conjunction with the State, was selected by the Family Violence Prevention Fund to establish a partnership to improve the health care system's response to domestic violence, called the National Health Initiative. New Hampshire was one of only 10 States in the Nation to participate in this program and the only State in New England. To this day, Grace continues to work with the medical community to educate physicians on the impact of trauma from domestic and sexual violence.
In 1999, the coalition successfully applied to be one of six sites in the country selected for what is known as the Greenbook Project. Grafton County was selected and funded as a national demonstration site for improving collaboration between domestic violence organizations, courts, and child protective services in families where there is a co-
occurrence of domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect. New Hampshire was the only site selected in the eastern United States. This project has led to more collaborative efforts not only in Grafton County but across New Hampshire.
Grace was highly involved in the creation of one of the first AmeriCorps programs in the State. Named the AmeriCorps Victim Assistance Program, it was a ``first in the Nation'' model that she started with representatives from the New Hampshire Department of Justice and the State's court system, and is now in its 11th year. The program recruits and trains members to assist victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking at crisis centers, police departments, prosecutors' offices, the New Hampshire Department of Justice, and on college and university campuses throughout the State.
As Grace retires, I commend her efforts and congratulate her for all of the accomplishments of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing her 30 years of service on behalf of the people of New Hampshire.
____________________
