Joe Biden: “I rise to introduce the ``Violence Against Women Act--II.'' I am pleased to be joined by several Senators who are…”

“I rise to introduce the ``Violence Against Women Act--II.'' I am pleased to be joined by several Senators who are cosponsoring this legislation--including Senators Specter, Boxer, Snowe, Murray, Moseley-Braun, Mikulski, Dodd, Lautenburg, Wellstone, Kennedy, and Durbin. Mr. President, when I introduced the Violence Against Women Act eight years ago--in June, 1990--it was not clear that the Senate would ever even consider this legislation. The fundamental reason--just eight years ago, few thought it either appropriate or necessary for national legislation to confront the problem of domestic violence. From 1990 to 1993, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I convened six hearings on the bill, released six reports on the problems of violence against women, convinced the Judiciary Committee to favorably report the bill to the full Senate on three times and had to re-introduce the bill twice. But, it was not until November, 1993--nearly 3 and 1/2 years after introduction--that the full Senate even considered the Violence Against Women Act.”