Sam Farr: “I express my strong support of the Violence Against Women Act. This Act reflects my belief that we have not only the…”

“I express my strong support of the Violence Against Women Act. This Act reflects my belief that we have not only the ability to protect members of our communities, but the responsibility to do so. In this case, these members are our mothers and daughters, our sisters and friends, and ourselves. The passage of the Violence Against Women Act will change individual lives. We will reduce domestic violence by reauthorizing funds for battered women's shelters and a National Domestic Violence Hotline. We will decrease the incidence of stalking and sexual assault by funding crime databases and establishing a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault. We will help heal the emotional scars of these crimes by offering the services of victim counselors. I believe we can do all of this, and we must. The passage of the Violence Against Women Act will also change communities. VAWA includes provisions for funding local initiatives to address violence against women. This local involvement demonstrates that we can change the conditions that make women and children feel vulnerable or threatened and thus foster a new sense of security for all. In doing so, we also send a message to communities worldwide that violence against women deserves attention and action. I ask my colleagues to listen carefully to all of the women and members of their families and communities who ask for this bill passage, and to add your voices to theirs. I am proud to add mine.”