Tammy Baldwin: “the Bureau of Justice statistics recently released a report that contains encouraging news. Overall violence against…”

“the Bureau of Justice statistics recently released a report that contains encouraging news. Overall violence against women has declined in recent years. I credit the Violence Against Women Act and local and State programs that it has supported over the last 6 years. But our work is far from done. Domestic violence and sexual assault are still a scourge on our Nation. The statistics are chilling. Nearly one in three women will experience physical or sexual assault during their lifetimes. These horrible crimes damage lives and tear families apart. We must do all we can to stop the cycle of violence in our country. VAWA is a proven part of that solution. Mr. Speaker, I have worked towards this day and this vote for many months with the author of this bill, the distinguished members of the Committee on the Judiciary, and committed activists from across the country. Now we must move the reauthorization of VAWA through the last steps and ensure that it is passed into law this session.”