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“RECOGNIZING 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2331-E2332 on Sept. 22, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
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speech of
HON. PHIL HARE
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Monday, September 14, 2009
Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of recognizing the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994. I commend our distinguished colleague from New York, Representative Slaughter, for introducing this resolution which recognizes a significant achievement in the women's rights movement.
This landmark legislation, originally authored by our former colleague, Senator Joseph Biden, set a new standard for preventing violence against women and provides resources necessary for coping with attacks that have occurred. Since the enactment of VAWA fifteen years ago, this country has made significant progress in our response to domestic and dating violence, sexual assaults and stalking.
Provisions of VAWA have allowed for additional training for law enforcement officers dedicated to these issues. Additionally, VAWA authorized funding for an office within the Department of Justice, which is dedicated to ending violence against women. Notably this legislation created a national domestic violence hotline, which has provided information and help to millions of women in crisis.
VAWA has brought communities together in order to address domestic violence and rally support for survivors. It is important for Congress and all Americans to recognize the achievements of this legislation. Since VAWA's inception, this country's awareness of domestic violence has increased and resources to help victims have become more readily available and accessible.
Though we have made great progress, the instances of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence are still too high. Far too many women in our great nation are victims of violence. We must take further action to keep women safe and provide justice for those who have been victims. Too many communities remain underserved and lack the resources to provide services to victims of sexual violence. We need to continue to increase awareness about sexual violence, provide funding to programs that prevent and punish that violence and educate women about the help that is available to victims.
I am proud of the achievements made in the past fifteen years, and I look forward to supporting the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act in 2010. Again, I thank my friend from New York for introducing H. Res. 738 which commemorates this landmark legislation.
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