Earl Pomeroy: “There are 4 days left under the existing authorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Thank goodness we were able to…”

“There are 4 days left under the existing authorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Thank goodness we were able to take the action today so that hopefully there will not be any gap whatsoever in the authorization for this legislation. The fight against domestic violence is simply too important for us to signal somehow that this authorization and our commitment to this fight is going to be disrupted. In my own State of North Dakota in 1999 there were 5,800 incidents of domestic violence and 3,600 victims reporting to State crisis intervention centers. The programs and the funding that flow from this authorization are critically linked to the fight so admirably waged by the advocates on the ground helping these victims. The fight is just too important to walk away from; and I am very pleased and commend all who, in a bipartisan manner, have brought this matter to the floor today for our action.”