I am pleased to be here today in support of the Violence Against Women Act of 1998 and I want to thank Representatives Conyers, Morella and Schumer for their hard work on behalf of women who suffer from domestic violence and sexual assault. It is our fervent hope that the legislation will be passed by Congress this year because we are confident that it will be even more effective than the first act in reducing and preventing abuse. The justification for a new bill re-authorizing successful programs from the first Violence Against Women Act and launching other new initiatives is provided by numerous studies and government reports. Their findings indicate that we have just begun the task of stopping domestic violence and sexual assault. They demonstrate that violence against women is far more prevalent than previously thought; that the problem is highly complex; and, its many impacts ripple throughout our communities.
A few of the tragic facts about violence that we have recently learned:
The 1994 law encouraged women to come forward and seek help; it made domestic violence no longer "a dirty little secret." Thousands of women have found a way to break out of the isolation and fear: an average of 7,600 calls for help are received each month by the National Domestic Violence Hotline. This legislation offers additional funding for the highly successful Hotline.
This outpouring has revealed that special groups need help; these include older women, disabled women and battered immigrant women. Because violence against women in these groups is more difficult to identify, it is imperative that we address their differing requirements. The new bill proposes to provide necessary screening, safety, counseling and shelter services.
The single most vital provision in the new bill is authorization of a billion dollars for more space at battered women's shelters. Each month, thousands of women and children are turned away from shelters filled to capacity. The increased funding will mean that no one be sent back out into the cold or, worse, forced to return to their batterer.
Most importantly, the Violence Against Women Act of 1998 proposes a host of workplace initiatives that reflect the reality of women in danger where they are employed. Many of the proposals are designed to encourage employers to take steps to reduce that danger through heightened security measures and flexible job policies. The influx of women moving from welfare to work means that some will face threats on the job; we can help assure these women safety and success by better protecting them. And we want to make sure that other benefits available to workers -- such as unemployment insurance and life or health insurance coverage -- are not denied them because of experiences with battering. The bill provides tax credits and grants to develop and disseminate model programs to provide education and training for employers.
The special problem of hate crimes in our society is recognized in the proposed legislation. The National Organization for Women has long known that many of the most heinous crimes against women are a reflection of hatred and the desire to control them through fear and intimidation. Therefore, we are asking for inclusion in federal criminal civil rights statutes the additional categories of sex-based, sexual orientation-based and disability-based bias motivated crimes. We know from a recent study by the Southern Poverty Law Center that the number of hate groups operating in the United States rose significantly in 1997 -- 20 percent more than in the previous year. The number of hate sites on the Internet is proliferating. Statistics pertaining to rape and murder, serial battering, and threat and intimidation of lesbians underscore the need for enhanced federal prohibitions.
Crime on campus is a special concern. The legislation includes grant programs to reduce violent crimes against women on college and university campuses and lays out new requirements in reporting those crimes. Education is the best avenue to prevention and the new bill mandates programs for students in primary schools about domestic violence and sexual assault.
Again, as with the first act, we request that funds be made available for the training of judicial personnel. Too often we hear from women who have been not only battered by partners, but also abused by judges who ignore reports of domestic violence and child abuse.
Continuation of the highly effective STOP grants for law enforcement is made, with the addition of increased funding and revised distribution formulas. States, local governments and Indian tribes will be required to distribute at least 25% of their funding to improve law enforcement, prosecution and victim services. Funding is also made available to continue to encourage pro-arrest policies which save lives. Incentives are provided to states to assure that protective orders issued in other states are given Full Faith and Credit -- especially critical to preserve the safety of women fleeing batterers accross state lines.
Law enforcement is not the only solution. A vast array of educational, intervention, training and research programs is necessary to effectively address the multi-faceted social problems of domestic violence and sexual assault. In our bill a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault to collect and disseminate information to frontline providers is proposed; also, a National Workplace Clearinghouse on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault would be established to aid businesses and employees in danger; and, a National Summit on Sports and Violence is urged to bring together sports figures, media leaders and anti-violence experts.
Polling tells us time and again that violence is a top concern for women. Across the board. women of all ages, races, economic class and political persuasion do not feel safe to walk the streets at night and hundreds of thousands live in fear in their own homes. The Violence Against Women Act of 1998 represents a stronger commitment of this country to put a stop to endemic violence. It is a vital next step which must be taken now.