Political Quotes

“I thank my colleagues for restoring funding for the Violence Against Women Act programs. When we passed the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, we responded to the crisis of domestic violence that exists throughout this country, in rural and urban communities, among poor, middle class, and the rich, affecting women and children of all races and religions. Those programs are among the most important parts of the comprehensive legislation we considered and passed last year after 6 long years of debate. To have gutted these programs through the appropriations process would have been wrong. To have done so when the funding for them was assured through the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund would have breached our commitment to the American people. A 99 to 0 vote in favor of restoring this funding sends a powerful message to those who would have cut funding for these important programs. Law enforcement and community-based programs cannot be kept on a string like a yo-yo if they are to plan and implement programs to begin to deal with domestic violence and its prevention.”