Edolphus Towns: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1104, commemorating National Crime Victims' Rights Week and its theme…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1104, commemorating National Crime Victims' Rights Week and its theme, ``Fairness. Dignity. Respect.'' I would also like to reflect upon a topic that is of deep concern to me: violence against women. Domestic violence has a profound psychological impact on victims and survivors. There has been a 35 percent increase in domestic violence shelter bed use since 2002. Increased shelter utilization is evidence of the displacement and psychological havoc that domestic violence wreaks on families. We must put a stop to this. Nationally, one-half to two-thirds of residents in domestic violence shelters are children. In fact, on one day in 2007, 13,485 children were living in a domestic violence shelter or in a transitional housing facility. Another 5,526 sought services within nonresidential programs. Children who experience or who witness domestic violence are more likely to become abusers or victims, themselves. Beyond the home, violence in the form of sexual assault carries with it similar lasting psychological and sociological effects. According to data provided by the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 60 percent of cases are never even reported to the police. We know that one in six women and one in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes, with college-aged women four times more likely to be sexually assaulted.”