Time to Reauthorize FVPSA

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, 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.

This critical legislation has been authorized seven times since its enactment, most recently in 2010 for 5 years, through fiscal year 2015. That is why I, along with 102 of my colleagues, introduced H.R. 6014, which reauthorizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act an additional 5 years through fiscal year 2023.

Congress sets aside funding for three purposes under FVPSA, and I am going to look at these a little more in depth. But first, I want to take the opportunity to say I am pleased that I am joined by a couple of my colleagues this evening.

Moore), my colleague who has been an original cosponsor of this reauthorization legislation

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Moore, for sharing Inez's story. It is a story that occurs in a frightening way so many times, where victims of abuse--but at the same time, it is an inspiring story because it illustrates how these important services that we fund through this piece of legislation can help save lives, saved the lives of this woman and her son, to be able to change their lives around, you know, really, being caught in such a long history of abuse and how it makes a difference.

So I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and for sharing that, the story of Inez--much appreciated.

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Absolutely. So when they make that courageous decision, they quickly find they are not alone; there is someone there reaching out.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for being a part of this Special Order this evening. Again, I want to thank my colleague and commend her for her leadership on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate the importance of FVPSA. This legislation is at the heart of our Nation's response to domestic violence services. This program ensures that local domestic violence shelters and programs are able to keep their lights on and the doors open to serve more than 1.3 million victims and their children every year.

FVPSA funds nearly 1,600 community-based programs through State formula grants, including 60 programs located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, my home State. These programs provide the necessary resources to local communities that help educate individuals on healthy relationships, as well as offer legal assistance, crisis intervention, and counseling.

I have the privilege and honor of serving with him on the Education and the Workforce Committee.

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) for his leadership on issues related to Education and the Workforce, serving that committee, as you do, and I am proud to serve there with you, but also for having that heart for individuals who are facing abuse and those victims that we know are out there who are struggling as a result of the various types of abuses that occur. I know the gentleman has a heart of service, of trying to provide this, so I am certainly proud to work with him on this important reauthorization of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as a part of this, of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, Congress sets aside funding for three purposes under FVPSA. This includes a national domestic hotline which receives calls for assistance related to domestic abuse, incredibly important, being able to, 24/7, reach out for help when finding themselves in these tragic circumstances.

Another area, another purpose is direct services like housing, counseling, legal advocacy, and referrals through State grants for victims of domestic abuse and their children and efforts to prevent domestic violence through a program known as Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Allies.

Now, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight one of these programs, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, more commonly referred to as The Hotline.

Beginning in 1996, this 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service provides free and confidential support for individuals who call for assistance related to domestic violence issues. The Hotline also provides referrals and connects individuals to the most comprehensive resource base in the country, with over 4,800 service providers in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, all possible through the continuous support of FVPSA funding.

The Hotline is the only 24/7 center in the Nation that has access to service providers and shelters across the United States, including our territories. This service also helps with safety planning and support related to questions related to healthy relationships.

Not only does The Hotline answer calls from victims, but it also provides services and support to helpers, who are individuals who contact The Hotline on behalf of a person who is now or has previously been the victim of abuse, in addition to abusive partners, service providers, and law enforcement officials.

One project The Hotline has introduced is the Love Is Respect program. The purpose of this program is to engage, educate, and empower young people to prevent and end abusive relationships. This online resource helps millions of teens and 20-somethings learn about healthy relationships and dating violence. Providing hotline services to youth is also authorized as a part of FVPSA, another critical need covered by this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, The Hotline and Love Is Respect answered over 300,000 calls for help, 300,000 calls, texts, and chats from survivors of domestic abuse on a range of issues, including physical abuse, emotional and verbal abuse, economic and financial abuse, digital abuse, and sexual abuse.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline also partners with the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center's expertise to operate the StrongHearts Native Helpline.

This important program provides culturally appropriate, confidential services for Native Americans affected by domestic abuse and dating violence.

Although The Hotline has made significant strides over its lifetime offering support to victims, more than 98,000 contacts in 2017 went unanswered due to a lack of resources and capacity.

Mr. Speaker, that is unacceptable. It is imperative that we pass this legislation to continue funding programs like these that have a proven record of success.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight one of the organizations that provides great resources on domestic violence issues, the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Each year, this organization releases a report entitled ``Domestic Violence Counts: A 24-hour National Census of Domestic Violence Services.'' This report revealed that, in just one day, Mr. Speaker, one day in 2017, more than 72,000 victims of domestic violence received services.

In my home State and your home State, Mr. Speaker, of Pennsylvania, in that State alone, 1,278 victims of domestic violence found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic violence programs; 1,208 victims of domestic violence received support through counseling, legal assistance, and children's support programs; 760 hotline calls received that day were answered, which equals about 32 calls answered per hour; and 1,841 individuals, Mr. Speaker, attended prevention and education training sessions on that day across Pennsylvania, gaining critical information on domestic violence prevention, early intervention, and other related services.

Although this report showed the great success of our local community- based programs, more than 11,000 requests for services went unmet that day because programs lacked the resources and the funding to carry out these services.

Mr. Speaker, it is clear these programs are working for the American public. Let us pass this legislation to continue supporting victims of domestic violence and providing them with all the necessary resources they need on their way to recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Representative Moore and Representative Walberg, for taking time out of their busy schedule to talk about this important issue with us today. And, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the more than 100 Members of Congress who have stepped up and stepped forward to put their name on this legislation as cosponsors of this reauthorization bill. It is a strong bipartisan bill for a righteous purpose.

FVPSA was the first Federal law to address domestic violence. Since its enactment in 1984, it has continued to have a primary focus on providing shelter and services for survivors and has increasingly provided support to children exposed to domestic violence and teen dating violence.

It is my hope this legislation will continue to support those who are facing domestic violence and continue to create healthy and safe pathways to recovery.

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