On the recordApril 25, 2017
Mr. Speaker, last week in Michigan, I toured the Bay Area Women's Center, which provides emergency shelter and counseling to survivors of domestic violence or sexual violence and their children. I toured the Women's Center to get a better understanding of their important work and see what they do and how they would be impacted by President Trump's proposed budget cuts. Two-thirds of the Women's Center's budget comes from Federal grants through the Violence Against Women Act, one of the first bills I cosponsored. I saw it signed into law by President Obama. I am concerned that the cuts that President Trump has proposed would effectively eliminate the important lifesaving care and rescue this organization provides to women, children, and others facing domestic violence. There are 15,000 citizens in mid-Michigan who could lose access to these lifesaving, important services. What kind of country are we if we don't provide this sort of support to our most vulnerable citizens at the moment of their need? We need to reject these dangerous cuts. ____________________





