Lucille Roybal-Allard: “thanks to the passage of the Violence Against Woman Act in 1994, domestic violence is recognized as a crime committed by…”

“thanks to the passage of the Violence Against Woman Act in 1994, domestic violence is recognized as a crime committed by the abuser, and not the fault of the victim. However, neither our federal laws nor the laws of many of our states offer victims of domestic violence some of the protections they need to leave their abuser. Congressman Poe and I had three amendments to address these critical issues. The Violence Against Women Act made it possible for victims of domestic violence to get protective orders and move to safe shelters. Yet victims who take time off from work to attend to such matters are often fired or demoted. One of our amendments would have allowed a victim of domestic violence to take time off from work, without pay, and without penalty, to make necessary court appearances, seek legal assistance, and get help with safety planning. Our second amendment would have allowed states to provide unemployment benefits to victims who are fired due to circumstances stemming from domestic violence. This would help victims who find themselves with the unconscionable choice of returning to an abusive home or becoming homeless. Finally, victims of domestic violence report rampant insurance discrimination based on their status as a victim of domestic assault. Insurance providers frequently use information about the abuse history of an applicant--including medical, police, and court records-- to deny health coverage.…”