John Sarbanes: “October has been designated National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I rise today to speak briefly about our need…”

“October has been designated National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I rise today to speak briefly about our need to continue our struggle against this national problem. Mr. President, over the past several years, the Congress, the Clinton administration, our State and local governments, and our community-based organizations have taken enormous steps toward eradicating the scourge of domestic violence--a scourge that for too long had been ignored as a family problem outside the scope of government responsibility. Congress' passage of the Violence Against Women Act [VAWA] as part of the 1994 crime bill, and the wide variety of enforcement and prevention grants available under that legislation, has ensured that our Federal, State, and local authorities have at their disposal the resources and legal authority needed to educate our citizens about domestic violence, and to prosecute those who have chosen to engage in such reprehensible conduct. The administration's development of informational initiatives, such as a toll-free nationwide domestic violence hotline and a Violence Against Women information homepage, have buttressed Congress' efforts, and provided law enforcement officials with a direct link to those who need assistance.”