Political Quotes

“I rise today to again raise my concerns about and the desire to see action in the House to pass the Senate bill reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. We need to continue this critical funding for survivors of domestic violence. In the discussions on the Senate floor, we have heard about the protections offered in the Senate bill that have not been included in the bill the House has pending. They are protections that would help women on college campuses, women on tribal lands, gay and lesbian victims, and immigrants. However, it is really important for us to remember not just those provisions but all of the other ways the Violence Against Women Act has benefited not just the victims of domestic violence but really all of us because domestic violence isn't just a women's issue. It affects all of us. It affects our entire economy. It affects our families. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the direct health care costs associated with domestic violence are about $4.1 billion every single year. We know this is a conservative estimate because so many of the victims never come forward. The protections offered by the Violence Against Women Act have proven to be absolutely essential in preventing abuse. Last week was the 18th anniversary of the original passage of VAWA, so this is a good time to reflect on the progress we have made. Over the past 18 years, the reporting of incidents of domestic violence has increased by 51 percent.…”