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Floor Speech
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Mr. OSSOFF. Mr. President, I want to urge my colleagues--and I know there is this temptation of the upcoming summer break, and folks want to get home to their families, but we have the opportunity and the obligation right now to pass this legislation for the Crime Victims Fund. Are we really going to miss this opportunity and this obligation when, in my State, a quarter of the victims of domestic violence were turned away from services last year?
These are the organizations--the child advocacy centers, the domestic violence agencies, the rape crisis centers--that respond to the needs of the most vulnerable, neglected, and abused people in our States.
We just spent last week defunding Big Bird. We spent an entire week defunding public television and public radio. And you mean to tell me that before we leave for the recess, we can't fund child advocacy centers, domestic violence agencies, and rape crisis centers? It is unacceptable. This has bipartisan support, and we should pass this legislation right now.
Here is what one organization in Georgia said if we fail to pass this bill. They said:
Our organization would have to lay off approximately 50% of essential staff. We would not be able to support or meet the critical needs of victims in the community. The lack of support and services over time will negatively impact the community with an increase in crime and victimization.
Mr. President, another organization in Georgia said:
Without our centers, states will see an increase in domestic injuries, child abuse, sexual assault, and even death in many cases.
Child abuse. Sexual assault. Death.
In the State of Georgia, where hundreds of foster children have been trafficked by sexual predators, these are the organizations that support them and women facing domestic violence.
This is a bipartisan bill led by Senators Durbin and Murkowski. It should have bipartisan support on the Senate floor right now. We should pass it before we leave for the summer.
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