Political Quotes

“Let me thank Congressman Al Green and Congressman Ted Poe for their leadership in organizing this Special Order on domestic violence. It is critical to speak out against domestic violence and to call attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but it is extremely important to hear from men and to recognize your leadership on this. As someone who understands domestic violence on a deeply personal level, I know how traumatic this experience is and of the strong, consistent support system needed to emerge as a survivor. I also know from personal experience that domestic violence is not only physical; it is emotional. It is brutal, dehumanizing to the batterer and the battered, and without strong and enforceable criminal laws and services, one's life can be shattered and destroyed. As a survivor of domestic violence, once elected to the California legislature, I knew I had to do something. I am so glad to see my colleague, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who was then in the legislature at that time. We worked so hard on domestic violence issues. I will never forget that I was able to write California's Violence Against Women Act. I wrote many, many domestic violence bills that were signed into law by a Republican Governor. In coming to Congress now, again we've worked together in cosponsoring numerous bills in Congress to support victims of domestic violence and to prevent domestic violence.…”