Andrea Joy Campbell: “today I introduce the Stamp Out Domestic Violence Act of 2000. The bill will allow every American to easily contribute…”

“today I introduce the Stamp Out Domestic Violence Act of 2000. The bill will allow every American to easily contribute to the fight against domestic violence through the voluntary purchase of certain specially issued U.S. Postal stamps, generally referred to as semi-postals. Proceeds raised from the stamps would fund domestic violence programs nationwide. The national statistics on domestic violence are reprehensible and shocking. Consider the following: A woman is battered every 15 seconds in the United States. According to the Justice Department, four million American women were victims of violent crime last year. Two thirds of these women were victimized by someone they knew. In fact, 30 percent of female murder victims are killed by current or former partners. In Colorado alone, the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported 59 domestic violence related deaths in 1998. We can and must make every effort to change that. But, before we can eliminate the incidence of domestic violence we must acknowledge the problem and identify the resources needed to combat the problem. Mr. President, I believe this bill represents an innovative way to generate money for the fight against domestic violence.”