Frank Lautenberg: “on this floor we talk a lot about the critical importance of family. I frequently speak about my family, my 10…”

“on this floor we talk a lot about the critical importance of family. I frequently speak about my family, my 10 grandchildren and 4 children, who are the foundation and inspiration for everything I do. But for some Americans, the family is instead a source of fear. Domestic violence wreaks havoc in our homes and our communities across the country. The statistics are shocking. Every year 12 million women and men in our country are victims of rape, physical violence, and stalking. The numbers are shocking. They represent a national tragedy. But these are not just numbers, they are lives. In 2010, 38 of New Jersey's domestic violence incidents ended in death. I have visited women's shelters in New Jersey, and I have seen fear in the faces of women holding their children. It takes a lot of courage for a woman to stand up and leave her abuser. As a society, we have to be able to tell these women they will have a safe place to go, they will have resources to help them, and they will see justice for their abuser. Today we are debating legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which for almost 18 years has provided women with support programs they need to escape abusive situations. Make no mistake, VAWA is working for women. Since its passage, occurrences of domestic violence have decreased by more than 50 percent. But despite this incredible progress, these horrible acts continue. In fact, our progress should inspire us to work harder.…”