Political Quotes

“I appreciate the opportunity to join my colleagues on the floor here to reflect on a piece of legislation. It is a righteous piece of legislation that is time to be reauthorized that has served so many. I really rise today to talk about an issue that affects 1 in 4 women and approximately 15.5 million children every year--domestic violence. Domestic violence has been cast into the background throughout most of our history, remaining a hidden problem, one that wasn't talked about, and one, certainly, that wasn't properly addressed. Survivors of domestic violence have often tolerated physical, mental, and emotional abuse in silence, out of fear their spouses or partners would retaliate. Former battered women, civic organizations, and professionals began to open shelters in the 1970s to provide services to abused women and their children. After seeing the great results from these efforts, Congress led a series of hearings in the early 1980s to understand the scope of this violence and explore possible responses. This led Congress to pass legislation that touched on all facets of domestic abuse. As part of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, or FVPSA, was enacted to support lifesaving services, including emergency shelters, crisis hotlines, counseling, and programs for underserved communities throughout the United States, including the United States territories.…”