Political Quotes

“Let me thank the gentleman from Texas for his service and for his commitment to an issue that is so vital and important to the Nation, and that is, the protection of all Americans from domestic violence. There is a long history of the journey of this Congress to responding to the cry of women and men, both in the civilian life and in the United States military. I rise today to acknowledge and commemorate Domestic Violence Prevention Month. I remember the journey that we took in getting to the Violence Against Women Act with our former colleague, the late chair of the Judiciary Committee, Chairman Hyde. I remember in the early stages of the 1990s the attempt to reauthorize this legislation. The good news was that Chairman Hyde, a Republican, Ranking Member Conyers, and Senators on both sides of the aisle joined together in one big room to come together and acknowledge the importance of protecting women; and then, of course, to acknowledge that violence, domestic violence, is a disease, an epidemic that spreads beyond the question of whether you are male or female. The loss of life that has come about because people have not found a refuge is staggering. And for those of us who have heard firsthand stories--as a member of the Houston area Women's Center, the board that, if you will, had supervision over local Women's Centers, where women could go.…”