On the recordOctober 30, 2013
I thank the gentleman for yielding. I stand today with my colleagues in recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The unfortunate reality is that domestic violence is something that affects every community in America, as it touches every race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. Millions of domestic violence incidents are reported each year, and many more go unreported. Too often, domestic violence remains within the confines of the household, as many victims do not contact law enforcement or go public, often out of fear. When it was first observed 26 years ago, Domestic Violence Awareness Month sought to shine a light on this tragic reality by educating the public, empowering the victims, and punishing the offenders. And in the 26 years since, we have made great progress, partly due to the Violence Against Women Act, which provides critical support to programs for victims and their families, as well as resources for law enforcement and community organizations. With a 51 percent increase in reporting by women and a 37 percent increase in reporting by men, the results have been nothing short of incredible. Domestic violence is wrong, and no victim should be hesitant to report it. I encourage every American who feels threatened or who knows someone in a dangerous situation to contact law enforcement or a community organization. Together, we can strive to end domestic violence abuse in our communities. I yield back to the gentleman.
