Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus from New York, Mr. Joe Crowley.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California, Susan Davis.

Madam Speaker, I'm pleased now to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of our time, 4\1/4\ minutes, to the distinguished gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ladies and gentlemen of the House, the controlling objective here is that, if we reject the substitute and, instead, adopt the bipartisan and comprehensive Senate bill, the bill will go directly to the President for his signature. So I rise in strong opposition to the substitute and in support of the Senate bill, the Violence Against Women Act of 2013.

Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

I thank the gentlelady.

Members of the House, I was here in 1994 when the Violence Against Women Act was introduced to provide critical lifesaving assistance for women, children and men. This law has been the centerpiece of our government's commitment to combating domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. The results have been striking:

In the nearly two decades since the landmark legislation was passed, the rate of intimate partner violence against women has dropped by nearly two-thirds. On two occasions since its enactment, Members of both bodies have worked on a bipartisan basis to extend the Violence Against Women Act's protections and to make necessary improvements.

Unfortunately, in the last Congress, we weren't able to agree on a bill, and the authorization was allowed to lapse. This month, the Senate took the unique opportunity to pass strong bipartisan legislation by a vote of 78-22--with all of the women in the Senate. It incorporates years of analysis of the problem and the solutions proposed by law enforcement and victim service providers. In my judgment, it is much stronger.

I urge my colleagues to join with me, the 78 Senators, the President, and the more than 1,300 organizations in supporting S. 47, the Violence Against Women Act.

I reserve the balance of my time.

National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence

Against Women,

February 22, 2013.

Dear House Leaders: We, the undersigned local, state,

tribal, and national organizations, represent and support

millions of victims of domestic violence, dating violence,

sexual assault and stalking throughout the United States,

American Indian Tribal lands and U.S. Territories. On behalf

of the victims we represent, and the professionals who serve

them and the communities that sustain them, we ask that you

support the Violence Against Women Act's (VAWA)

reauthorization by bringing the recently-passed bipartisan

Senate VAWA (S.47) to the House floor for a vote as speedily

as possible. As you know, VAWA passed the Senate on Tuesday,

February 12 with a resounding bipartisan vote of 78-22 in

favor of an all-embracing bill that strives to address

violence for all victims in communities, homes, campuses and

workplaces all around the country.

VAWA's programs support national, state, tribal,

territorial, and local efforts to address the pervasive and

insidious crimes of domestic violence, dating violence,

sexual assault and stalking. These programs have made great

progress towards reducing the violence, helping victims to be

healthy and feel safe and holding perpetrators accountable.

This critical legislation must be reauthorized to ensure a

continued response to these crimes.

Since its original passage in 1994, VAWA has dramatically

enhanced our nation's response to violence against girls and

women, boys and men. More victims report domestic violence to

the police and the rate of non-fatal intimate partner

violence against women has decreased by 64%. The sexual

assault services program in VAWA helps rape crisis centers

keep their doors open to provide the front-line response to

victims of rape. VAWA provides for a coordinated community

approach, improving collaboration between law enforcement and

victim services providers to better meet the needs of

victims. These comprehensive and cost-effective programs not

only save lives, they also save money. In fact, VAWA saved

nearly $12.6 billion in net averted social costs in just its

first six years.

VAWA has unquestionably improved the national response to

these terrible crimes. Nonetheless, much work remains to be

done to address unmet needs and enhance access to protections

and services for all victims, including housing, campus

security, and addressing the needs of racial and ethnic

communities, tribal, immigrant and LGBT victims. We urge you

work with your colleagues in both parties as we all work to

build upon VAWA's successes, continue to enhance our nation's

ability to promote an end to this violence, to hold

perpetrators accountable and to keep victims and their

families safe from future harm. Thank you.

Sincerely,

National Organizations

1. 3 DVas, LLC

2. 9to5

3. Abortion Care Network

4. AFGE Women's/Fair Practices Departments

5. AFL-CIO

6. African Action on Aids

7. AFSCME

8. After The Trauma

9. Alianza--National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of

Domestic Violence

10. Alliant International University

11. American Association of University Women (AAUW)

12. American Baptist Women's Ministries, ABCUSA

13. American College Health Association

14. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

15. American Dance Therapy Association

16. American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO

17. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial

Organizations

18. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal

Employees

19. American Federation of Teachers, AFL/CIO

20. American Humanist Association

21. American Postal Workers Union

22. American Psychiatric Association

23. American Psychological Association

24. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

25. Americans for Immigrant Justice, Americans Overseas

Domestic Violence Crisis Center

26. Amnesty International USA

27. Anti-Defamation League

28. Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

29. Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence

30. Asian American Justice Center, member of Asian American

Center for Advancing Justice

31. Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO

32. Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource

Project

33. ASISTA Immigration Assistance

34. Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies

35. Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent in N.

America (APPNA)

36. Bah'ais of the United States

37. Battered Mothers Custody Conference

38. Black Women's Health Imperative

39. Black Women's Roundtable

40. Break the Cycle

41. Business and Professional Women's Foundation

42. Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network for Healthy

Families and Communities

43. Casa Esperanza

44. Center for Family Policy and Practice

45. Center for Partnership Studies

46. Center for Reproductive Rights

47. Center for Women Policy Studies

48. Central Conference of American Rabbis

49. Choice USA

50. Church Women United

51. Circle of 6 App

52. Clan Star

53. Clery Center for Security On Campus

54. Coalition of Labor Union Women

55. Coalition on Human Needs

56. Communications Workers of America

57. Communications Workers of America (CWA)

58. Community Action Partnership

59. cultureID

60. CWA National Women's Committee

61. Daughters of Penelope

62. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

63. Dialogue on Diversity

64. Disciples Justice Action Network

65. Domestic Abuse intervention Programs

66. Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project

(DV LEAP)

67. Elder Justice Coalition

68. Episcopal Church

69. Episcopal Women's Caucus

70. Expert Panel on violence, American Academy of Nursing

71. FaithTrust Institute

72. Falling Walls

73. Family Equality Council

74. Federally Employed Women (FEW)

75. Feminist Agenda Network

76. Feminist Majority

77. Feminist Peace Network

78. Freedom from Hunger

79. Friends Committee on National Legislation

80. Friends of Nabeela

81. Futures Without Violence

82. Gay & Lesbian Medical Association

83. General Board of Church & Society, United Methodist

Church

84. General Federation of Women's Clubs

85. George Washington University Law School

86. Girls Inc.

87. GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality

88. GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)

89. Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America,

Inc.

90. HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society)

91. Hindu American Seva Communities

92. Human Rights Campaign

93. Indian Law Resource Center

94. Inspire Action for Social Change

95. Institute for Interfaith Activism

96. Institute for Science and Human Values

97. Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American

Community

98. IOFA

99. Jewish Council for Public Affairs

100. Jewish Labor Committee

101. Jewish Women International

102. Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation

103. Labor Council for Latin American Advancement

104. League of United Latin American Citizens

105. Legal Momentum

106. LiveYourDream.org

107. Log Cabin Republicans

108. Media Equity Collaborative

109. Men Can Stop Rape

110. Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office

111. Men's Resources International

112. Methodist/Catholic

113. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

114. Migrant Clinicians Network

115. MomsRising

116. Ms. Foundation for Women

117. Muslim American Society

118. Muslim Bar Association

119. Muslim Public Affairs Council

120. Muslims for Progressive Values

121. NAACP

122. NAPAFASA

123. National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good

Shepherd

124. National Alliance to End Sexual Violence

125. National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

(NAPABA)

126. National Association of Commissions for Women (NACVV)

127. National Association of Hispanic Organizations

128. National Association of School Psychologists

129. National Association of State Head Injury

Administrators

130. National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators

131. National Center for Lesbian Rights

132. National Center for Transgender Equality

133. National Center for Victims of Crime

134. National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence

135. National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered

Women

136. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

137. National Coalition for LGBT Health

138. National Coalition of 100 Black Women

139. National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)

140. National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

141. National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

142. National Congress of American Indians

143. National Council for Jewish Education

144. National Council of Churches, USA

145. National Council of Jewish Women

146. National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

147. National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

148. National Council of Women's Organizations

149. National Council on Independent Living

150. National Dating Abuse Helpline

151. National Domestic Violence Hotline

152. National Employment Law Project

153. National Fair Housing Alliance

154. National Family Justice Center Alliance

155. National Focus on Gender Education

156. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

157. National Hispanic Council on Aging

158. National Housing Law Project

159. National Indian Health Board

160. National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

161. National Latina Psychological Association

162. National Latina/o Psychological Association

163. National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

164. National Network to End Domestic Violence

165. National Org of Asian Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual

Violence

166. National Organization for Men Against Sexism

167. National Organization for Women (NOW)

168. National Organization of Asian Pacific Islanders

Ending Sexual Violence

169. National Organization of Black Law Enforcement

Executives

170. National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending

Sexual Assault

171. National Partnership for Women & Families

172. National Research Center for Women & Families

173. National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

174. National Stonewall Democrats

175. National WIC Association

176. National Women's Health Network

177. National Women's Law Center

178. National Women's Political Caucus

179. Native American Indian Court Judges Association

180. Native American Indian Housing Council

181. NCAI

182. NCCE

183. NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

184. NLPA

185. Nursing Network on Violence against Women

International

186. NVC Academy

187. One Woman's Voice

188. Our Bodies Ourselves

189. OWL--The Voice of Midlife and Older Women

190. Peaceful Families Project

191. PFLAG National

192. Rape Crisis Services

193. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

194. Reformed Church in America

195. Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

196. Rural Women's Health Project

197. Rural Womyn Zone

198. Ryan Immigration Law

199. Safe Kids International

200. Safe Nation Collaborative

201. Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

202. Sauti Yetu

203. School and College Organization for Prevention

Educators

204. Secular Woman

205. Self Empowerment Strategies

206. SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc.

207. Service Employees International Union

208. Share Time Wisely Consulting Services

209. Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault

210. Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team

211. Sojourners

212. South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

213. Spittin' Out the Pitts

214. Stonewall Democratic Club

215. SuhaibWebb.com

216. Survivors In Service

217. Tahirih Justice Center

218. Take Back The Night

219. The Episcopal Church

220. The Jewish Federations of North America

221. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

222. The Line Campaign

223. The National Council on Independent Living

224. The National Resource Center Against Domestic Violence

225. The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church &

Society

226. Tribal Law and Policy Institute

227. UAW

228. Union for Reform Judaism

229. Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO

230. Unitarian Universalist Association

231. United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries

232. United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

233. United Steelworkers

234. UniteWomen.org

235. US National Committee for UN Women

236. US women Connect

237. USAction

238. V-Day

239. Veteran Feminists of America

240. Victim Rights Law Center

241. Vital Voices Global Partnership

242. We Are Woman

243. Winning Strategies

244. Witness Justice

245. Women Enabled, Inc.

246. Women of Color Network

247. Women of Reform Judaism

248. Women, Action & the Media

249. Women's Action for New Directions

250. Women's Business Development Center

251. Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press

252. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

253. Women's Media Center

254. Women's Resource Center

255. YWCA USA

256. Zonta

Alabama

1. Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence

2. Alabama--NOW

3. St Vincent's Hospital

4. The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA)

Alaska

1. WOMEN IN SAFE HOME, INC

2. Native Village of Emmonak Women's Shelter

3. South Peninsula Haven House

4. Yup''ik Women's Coalition

5. YWCA Alaska

Arizona

1. Arizona Bridge to Independent Living

2. Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence

3. Arizona NOW

4. Arizona State University

5. Child Crisis Center Foundation

6. Community Alliance Against Family Abuse

7. Family LAW CASA

8. Hopi-Tewa Women's Coalition to End Abuse

9. Jewish Community Relations Council (Tucson)

10. M.U.J.E.R. Inc.

11. National Organization for Women--AZ

12. Phoenix/Scottdale NOW

13. Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO)

14. Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault

15. Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition

16. Yavapai Family Advocacy Center

17. Yup'ik Women's Coalition

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence

2. Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault

3. Arkansas NOW

California

1. 9to5 Bay Area

2. 9to5 California

3. 9to5 Los Angeles

4. AAUW, Big Bear Valley Branch

5. Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault

6. Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault

7. Alliant International University

8. Antolino Family Wellness Center

9. Asia Pacific Cultural Center

10. Asian Law Caucus

11. Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Member of Asian

American Center for Advancing Justice

12. Bay Area Turning Point, Inc.

13. Bay Area Women's Center

14. CA Rural Indian Health Board, Inc.

15. California Coalition Against Sexual Assault

16. California Latinas for Reproductive Justice

17. California National Organization for Women

18. California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

19. California Protective Parents Association

20. California School of Professional Psychology

21. California School of Professional Psychology at Al

22. California Women Lawyers

23. CARECEN Los Angeles

24. Catalyst Domestic Violence Services

25. Catalyst Domestic Violence Services

26. Center For A Non Violent Community

27. Center for the Pacific Asian Family

28. Central CA Coalition of Labor Union Women

29. Children's Institute, Inc.

30. Choices Domestic Violence Solutions

31. Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Los

Angeles

32. Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse

33. County of Sacramento, Native American Caucus

34. C--VISA, Coachella Valley Immigration Service and

Assistance

35. Domestic Abuse Center

36. Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County

37. DOVES in Natchitoches, LA

38. DOVES of Big Bear Lake, Inc.

39. End DV Counseling and Consulting

40. Episcopal Women's Caucus

41. Family Services of Tulare County

42. Forward Together

43. Freshwater Haven

44. Good Shepherd Shelter

45. Haven Hill, Inc

46. Haven Women's Center of Stan islaus

47. Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization for

Women

48. House of Ruth, Inc.

49. Humboldt County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council

50. Immigration Services of Mountain View

51. Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Education

Services (IMCES)

52. Instituto Para La Mujer

53. Inter-Tribal Council of California, Inc.

54. Lone Band of Miwok Indians

55. Jafri Law Firm

56. Jewish Community Relations Council

57. Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles

58. Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region

59. L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

60. La Casa de las Madres

61. La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians

62. Law Students for Reproductive Justice

63. Marjaree Mason Center

64. Maya Chilam Foundation

65. MINDS--Medical Network Devoted to Service

66. Miracle Mile LA NOW

67. Monterey County Rape Crisis Center

68. MORONGO BASIN UNITY HOME

69. Mountain Crisis Services, Inc

70. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, San Francisco

Chapter

71. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Silicon Valley

Chapter

72. National Council of Jewish Women, Sacramento Section

73. National Hispanic Media Coalition

74. Oakland County Coordinating Council against Domestic

Violence

75. OPCC

76. Option House, Inc.

77. Project: Peacemakers, Inc

78. Rainbow Community Cares

79. Rainbow Services, Ltd.

80. Sacramento Native American Health Center

81. Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments (SAVE)

82. Santa Fe Natl. Organization for Women

83. Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center

84. Shasta Women's Refuge

85. Shelter From the Storm

86. Sojourn Services For Battered Women And Their Children

87. South Asian Network (SAN)

88. Southern Indian Health Council, Inc.

89. STAND! for Families Free of Violence

90. Strong Hearted Native Women's Coalition, Inc

91. The Good Shepherd Shelter

92. Tri-Valley Haven

93. Valley Crisis Center

94. Victim Compensation and Government Claim Board

95. Violence Intervention Program

96. Wild Iris Women's Service in Bishop, Inc.

97. WOMAN, Inc

98. Women's and Children's Crisis Shelter, Inc.

99. Women's Center-High Desert, Inc.

100. Women's Crisis support--Defensa de Mujeres

101. WordsMatter.Episcopal Expansive Language Project

102. YWCA Glendale, CA

103. YWCA Greater Los Angeles

104. YWCA San Diego County

Colorado

1. 9to5 Colorado

2. Advocate Safehouse Project

3. Advocates Crisis Support services

4. Advocates for a Violence-Free Community

5. Advocates for Victims of Assault

6. Alamosa County Sheriffs Office

7. Alamosa Victim Response Unit

8. Alternatives to Violence, Inc.

9. Archuleta County Victim Assistance Program

10. Catholic Charities Diocese of Pueblo

11. Center on Domestic Violence

12. Colorado Anti-Violence Program

13. Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence

14. Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault

15. Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA)

16. Colorado Mesa University Association of Feminists

17. Colorado Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center

18. Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment

19. Domestic Safety Resource Center

20. Douglas County Task Force on Family Violence, Inc.

21. Dove Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Women and

Children

22. Gateway Battered Women's Services

23. Gay-Straight Alliance, Colorado Mesa University

24. Gunnison County Law Enforcement Crime Victim Services

25. Gunnison County Sheriffs Office

26. Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County

27. Justice & Mercy Legal Aid Clinic

28. Latina Safe House

29. Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA)

30. NEWSED C.D.C.

31. NOW Colorado

32. Park County Sheriffs Office, Victim Services

33. Pueblo Rape Crisis Services

34. Rape Assistance and Awareness Program

35. RESPONSE: Help for Survivors of Domestic Violence and

Sexual Assault

36. Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network

37. Rose Forensic & Treatment Services, LLC (Denver, CO)

38. San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center

39. San Luis Valley Victim Response Unit (Alamosa)

40. Servicios de La Raza

41. Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center

42. SLV Regional Medical Center

43. TESSA of Colorado Springs

44. The Latina Safehouse

45. Tu Casa, Inc.

Connecticut

1. Beth El Temple Sisterhood

2. Betty Gallo & Company

3. Bridgeport Public Education Fund

4. Center for Women and Families--Bridgeport, CT

5. Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield

County Connecticut

6. Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence

7. Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services

8. CT NOW

9. Hartford GYN Center

10. Local 530

11. Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis, Inc.

12. New Haven Legal Assistance Association

13. Quinnipiac University

14. Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury

15. Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut,

Inc.

16. Susan B. Anthony Project, Inc.

17. The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and

Education

18. The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield

County

19. United Services, Inc.

20. Women and Families Center

21. Women's Center of Greater Danbury, Inc.

22. YWCA Darien-Norwalk

23. YWCA Greenwich

24. YWCA Hartford Region

25. YWCA New Britain

District of Columbia

1. Ayuda

2. 51st State NOW

3. Community Action Partnership

4. DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence

5. District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH)

6. Family Place

7. Freedom House

8. George Washington University Law School

9. Hispanic Federation

10. Human Rights Campaign

11. Lutheran Social Services

12. My Sister's Place DC

13. National Capital Area Union Retirees

14. National Organization for Women, Washington, DC Chapter

15. Ramona's Way

16. Safe Haven Ministries

17. SAGE Metro DC

18. Solutions Center

19. Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (SAFE), Inc.

20. The Family Place

21. Turning Anger Into Change

22. William Kellibrew Foundation

23. Women's Information Network

24. YWCA National Capital Area

Delaware

1. ContactLifeline, Inc.

2. DE Coalition Against Domestic Violence

3. Delaware NOW

4. Delaware Opportunities, Safe Against Violence

5. Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County

6. HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow County

7. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Delaware Chapter

8. Sexual Assault Network of Delaware

9. Women's Resources of Monroe County, Inc.

Florida

1. Americans for Immigrant Justice, formerly Florida

Immigrant Advocacy Center

2. Betty Griffin House

3. Chain of Lake Achievers, Inc.

4. Children's Advocacy Center for Volusia and Flagler

Counties

5. Community Action Stops Abuse

6. Democratic Women's Club of Northeast Broward

7. DOVES, Lake County

8. Empowerment Christian Community Corp

9. Enfamilia, Inc

10. Florida Consumer Action Network

11. Florida Council Against Sexual Violence

12. Florida Equal Justice Center

13. Florida National Organization for Women

14. Hispanic AIDS Awareness Program

15. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.

16. Manatee Glens Rape Crisis Services

17. National Coalition for 100 Black Women, Polk County

Chapter

18. National Organization For Women, Bay County Chapter

19. National Organization for Women, Broward Chapter

20. Palm Beach County Victim Services and Rape Crisis

Center

21. Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force

22. Polk Co Women's Shelter

23. REACH / FCC

24. Safe Harbor Counseling, Inc.

25. South Florida CLUW chapter

26. The Haven of RCS

27. University of Miami School of Law Human Rights Clinic

28. UNO Immigration Ministry

29. West Pinellas National Organization for Women

30. Women's Center of Jacksonville

31. Women's Production Network, Inc.

32. YWCA Palm Beach County

Georgia

1. 9to5 Atlanta

2. 9to5 Atlanta Working Women

3. Angels Recovery & Spirituality

4. Atlanta Women's Center

5. C.O.T.T.A.G.E.Life Coaching, LLC

6. Caminar Latino, Inc.

7. Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc

8. Cherokee Family Violence Center

9. Defying the Odds, Inc

10. Faith House, Inc.

11. Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence

12. Georgia Mountain Women's Center, Inc.

13. Georgia Rural Urban Summit

14. Hospitality House for Women, Inc.

15. International Women's House

16. Jewish Family & Career Services, Atlanta, Georgia

17. Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center

18. PADV Partnership Against Domestic Violence

19. Raksha, Inc

20. Ruth's Cottage

21. Safe Shelter

22. Sankofa Counseling Center

23. Sexual Assault Center of NWGA

24. Shalom Bayit Program of Jewish Family & Career Services

25. SpeakOut Georgia LBGT Anti-Violence

26. Support in Abusive Family Emergencies, Inc (S.A.F.E.)

27. Victim Services South Georgia Judicial Circuit

Guam

1. Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence

Hawaii

2. AARP Chapter 60 Waikiki

3. AAUW, Honolulu women's coalition, others

4. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,

Hawaii Section

5. Breasffeeding Hawaii

6. Catholic Charities Hawaii

7. Catholic Charities Hawaii

8. Child & Family Service--Hawaii

9. Community Alliance on Prisons

10. Domestic Violence Action Center Honolulu

11. Hawai'i Women's Coalition

12. Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women

13. Hawaii Rehabilitation Counseling Assoc.

14. Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

15. Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus

16. Moloka'i Community Service Council

17. Parents And Children Together, A Family Service Agency

18. The Sex Abuse Treatment Center

19. Women Helping Women Lanai

20. YWCA Kauai

21. YWCA O'ahu

Idaho

1. Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence

2. Idaho State Independent Living Council

3. Native Women's Coalition, Boise

4. United Action for Idaho

5. YWCA Lewiston-Clarkston

Iowa

1. Aging Resources

2. Center for Creative Justice

3. Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault

4. Crisis Center & Women's Shelter

5. Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center

6. Des Moines NOW

7. DIAA/CSD

8. Domestic Violence Alternatives/Sexual Assault Center,

Inc.

9. Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Iowa

10. Family Resources

11. Iowa Citizen Action Network

12. Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence

13. Latinas Unidas por un Nuevo Amanecer (LUNA, Iowa)

14. Mid-Iowa SART

15. Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa

16. Nisaa African Women's Project

17. Riverview Center

18. Rural Iowa Crisis Center

19. Seeds of Hope

Illinois

1. A Safe Place Domestic Violence Shelter

2. ADV & SAS

3. Apna Ghar, Inc. (``Our Home'')

4. Arab American Family Services

5. Between Friends--Chicago

6. Center on Halsted

7. Christ United Methodist Church, Rockford,IL

8. Citizen Action/Illinois

9. Crisis Center for South Suburbia

10. DuPage County NOW

11. Family Rescue, Inc.

12. Family Shelter Service

13. GLOBES

14. Guardian Angel Community Services

15. Hamdard Center for Health and Human services

16. HEART Women & Girls

17. Hearts of Hope

18. HOPE of East Central Illinois

19. Hospira

20. Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence

21. Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault

22. Illinois National Organization for Women

23. Jewish Child and Family Services

24. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

25. Kankakee County Center Against Sexual Assault (KC-CASA)

26. Mercer County Family Crisis Center

27. Metropolitan Family Services

28. Mujeres Latinas en Accion

29. Mutual Ground, Inc.

30. National Council of Jewish Women Illinois State Policy

Advocacy Committee

31. Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault

32. Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services, Inc.

33. Rape Victim Advocates

34. Riverview Center

35. Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling

36. Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center

37. Sarah's Inn

38. Sexual Health Peers of the University of Illinois

39. Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc

40. South Suburban Family Shelter

41. Streamwood Police Department

42. The Center for Prevention of Abuse

43. Vermilion County Rape Crisis Center

44. Violence Prevention Center of Southestem IL

45. Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern IL

46. VOICE Sexual Assault Services

47. VOICES DV Stephenson County

48. WINGS Program, Inc.

49. WIRC-CAA Victim Services

50. YWCA Elgin

51. YWCA Evanston North Shore

52. YWCA Kankakee

53. YWCA McLean County

54. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

55. YWCA Rockford

56. YWCA Sauk Valley

57. Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center

Indiana

1. Alcohol and Addictions Resource Center

2. Franciscan Physician Alliance

3. Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

4. Indiana Legal Services Organization

5. Legal Aid--District 11

6. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Indianapolis

Chapter

7. Peace Over Violence

8. Praxis Advisors

Kansas

1. Family Life Center of Butler County

2. Harvey County DV/SA Task Force, Inc

3. Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

4. SAFEHOME, Kansas

5. SKIL Resource Center Inc.

Kentucky

1. Barren River Area Safe Space, Inc.

2. Bethany House Abuse Shelter, Inc.

3. Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program

4. Center for Women and Families

5. Doves of Gateway

6. Hope's Place

7. Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs

8. Kentucky NOW

9. Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

10. Kentucky Domestic Violence Association

11. MensWork: eliminating violence against women, inc

12. Safe Harbor of NE KY

13. The Center for Women and Families

14. The Mary Byron Project

15. UAW 862

16. University of Louisville PEACC Program

17. Women's Crisis Center

Louisiana

1. Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of NW LA

2. Jeff Davis Communities Against Domestic Abuse CADA

3. LGBT Community Center of New Orleans

4. Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

5. Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault

6. Louisiana NOW

7. National Council of Jewish Women, Louisiana State Policy

Advocacy Chair

8. New Orleans Family Justice Center

9. New Orleans NOW

10. Project Celebration Inc.

Maine

1. Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence

2. Maine People's Alliance

3. NCJW, Southern Maine Section

4. New Hope For Women

5. Safe Passage

6. Spruce Run Association

7. YWCA MDI

Maryland

1. A Woman's Place

2. Anne Arundel County NOW

3. Baltimore Jewish Council

4. Circle of Hope

5. Clearinghouse on Women's Issues

6. Collaborative Project of Maryland

7. Downtown Bethesda Condo Assn

8. Family Crisis Center, Inc.

9. Family Crisis Services

10. First Step, Inc.

11. Global Connections

12. Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer

13. La Voz Latina

14. Maryland Commission for Women

15. Maryland National Organization for Women

16. Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

17. Men On The Move

18. Minara Fellowship

19. Montgomery County Commission for Women

20. Nursing Students for Reproductive Health and Justice at

Johns Hopkins University

21. Parent-Child Center

22. Progressive Maryland

23. Ryan Immigration Law

24. SAFE Harbor Inc.

25. Safe Journey

26. SafeCenter

27. Woman's Place

28. YWCA Greater Baltimore

Massachusetts

1. Aging and Disability Resource Consortium of the Greater

North Shore (ADRCGNS)

2. Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

3. Boston University Civil Litigation Program

4. Broward Women's Emergency Fund

5. Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled

6. Coalition for Social Justice

7. Everywoman's Center

8. Greater Boston Legal Services, Inc.

9. Independent Living Center of the North Shore & Cape Ann,

Inc.

10. Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

11. Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center

12. Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA)

13. MataHari: Eye of the Day

14. Men's Resources International

15. Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic

Violence

16. The Network/La Red

17. The Second Step

18. Turning Point, Inc.

19. YWCA Malden

20. YWCA Western MA

Michigan

1. ACCESS Social Services

2. Cadillac Area OASIS/Family Resource Center

3. Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Michigan

4. Detroit Minds and Hearts

5. Domestic And Sexual Abuse Services, MI

6. EVE (End Violent Encounters)

7. HAVEN--Live Without Fear

8. Islamic Association of Greater Detroit

9. Michigan Citizen Action

10. Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence

11. Michigan Muslim Community Council, United Way for

Southeastern Michigan

12. Muslim Community of Western Suburbs

13. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Detroit Chapter

14. National Council of Jewish Women, MI State Policy

Advocate Chair

15. SASHA Center

16. Shelters, Inc.

17. The Center for Women in Transition

18. The Underground Railroad, Inc.

19. U of M-Dearborn Student Philanthropy Council

20. Wayne County Chapter, National Organization for Women

21. Wayne State University

22. Women's Aid Service, Inc.

23. Women's Resource Center for the Grand Traverse Area

24. YWCA Greater Flint

25. YWCA Kalamazoo

26. YWCA West Central Michigan

Minnesota

1. Anna Marie's Alliance

2. Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project

3. Bridges to Safety

4. Center for Policy Planning and Performance

5. Central MN Sexual Assault Center

6. Committee Against Domestic Abuse, Inc.

7. Cornerstone Advocacy Service MN

8. Day One of Cornerstone

9. Domestic Abuse Project

10. First Nations Coalition, Moorhead

11. Hands of Hope Resource Center

12. HOPE Center

13. Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

14. Jewish Community Action

15. Mending the Sacred Hoop

16. Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault

17. Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women

18. Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center

19. Minnesota NOW

20. New Hope for Women

21. OutFront Minnesota

22. Pathways of West Central MN, Inc.

23. Pearl Crisis Center

24. Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault

25. Range Women Advocates of Minnesota

26. Safe Haven

27. SARA-Goodhue SMART

28. SCSU Women's Center

29. Sexual Assault Program of Beltrami, Cass & Hubbard

Counties

30. The People's Press Project

31. Volunteer Lawyers Network

32. WINDOW Victim Services

33. Women's Business Development Center

Mississippi

1. Jackson Engineering Womens League (JEWL)

2. Jackson NOW

3. Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence

4. Mississippi NOW

5. Mississippi Women Are Representing (WAR)

6. Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

7. MS Coalition Against Sexual Assault

8. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Northeast

Mississippi Chapter

9. Rape Crisis Center, Catholic Charities, Inc.

Missouri

1. Buchanan County Prosecutor's Office

2. Kansas City Anti-Violence Project

3. Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault

(MOCSA)

4. Missouri NOW

5. Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition

6. Missouri Women's Network

7. National Council of Jewish Women--St. Louis Section

8. National Council of Jewish Women, Missouri State Policy

Advocacy Chair

9. YWCA St. Joseph (MO)

Montana

1. Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) of Carbon

County Montana

2. DSVS Red Lodge, MT

3. Ft. Belknap Domestic Violence Program

4. HAVEN

5. Missoula County Crime Victim Advocate Program

6. Missoula County Department of Grants and Community

Programs

7. Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

8. Montana National Organization for Women

9. Montana Native Women's Coalition

10. Montana State Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual

Violence

11. NARAL Pro-Choice Montana

12. Red Lodge DSVS

13. Three Rivers Defense

14. Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter

15. YWCA Missoula

Nebraska

1. Family Violence Council

2. National Organization for Women--Nebraska

3. Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition

4. Winnebago Domestic Violence Program

5. Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Domestic Violence

Intervention Family Preservation Program

Nevada

1. Clark County District Attorney Victim Witness Assistance

Center

2. Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence

3. S.A.F.E. House, NV

4. Safe Nest

5. Sexual Assault Response Advocates, Inc.

6. Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans

New Hampshire

1. Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support

2. Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire

3. New Beginnings Without Violence and Abuse

4. New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action

5. New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual

Violence

6. Sexual Assault Support Services

7. Starting Point: Services for Victims of Domestic &

Sexual Violence

8. Support Center at Burch House

9. Voices Against Violence

New Jersey

1. Center for Family Services SERV

2. Cherry Hill Women's Center

3. Coalition Against Rape and Abuse, Inc.

4. CWA 1032

5. Greater NJ CLUW

6. IFPTE Local 194, AFL-CIO

7. Manavi

8. Morris County Sexual Assault Center

9. National Council of Jewish Women Concordia Section NJ

10. National Council of Jewish Women, Jersey Hills Section

11. National Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey State

Policy Advocacy Network

12. Nat'l Council of Jewish Women, Central Jersey Section

13. New Jersey Citizen Action

14. New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault

15. New Jersey Tenants Organization

16. NJ Coalition for Battered Women

17. NJ State Industrial Union Council

18. Partners for Women and Justice

19. Safe in Hunterdon

20. South Jersey NOW--Alice Paul Chapter

21. St. Francis Counseling Service

22. UFCW, Local 888

23. Unchained At Last

24. Womanspace, Inc.

25. Women of Color and Allies Essex County NOW Chapter

26. Youth Development Clinic

27. YWCA Bergen County

28. YWCA Central New Jersey

29. YWCA Eastern Union County

30. YWCA Princeton

31. YWCA Trenton

New Mexico

1. Arise Sexual Assault Services

2. Center for Nonviolent Communication

3. Center of Protective Environment, Inc. (COPE)

4. Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women,

Albuquerque

5. Community Against Violence, Inc.

6. Enlace Comunitario

7. Gila Regional Medical Center SANE

8. New Mexico Asian Family Center

9. New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence

10. New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.

11. New Mexico NOW

12. New Mexico Voices for Children

13. New Mexico Women's Agenda

14. SANE of Otero & Lincoln County

15. Sexual Assault Services of NW New Mexico

16. Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services

17. Solace Crisis Treatment Center

18. Southern New Mexico Human Development, INC

19. Southwest Counseling Center

20. Taos SANE at Holy Cross Hospital

21. Tewa Women United, Santa Cruz

22. Valencia Counseling Service Inc.

New York

1. African Services Committee

2. Albany Law School

3. Arab American Association of New York

4. BIBLE FELLOWSHIP PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY OF NY INC.

5. Catholic Charities of Chenango County

6. Citizen Action of New York

7. Committee on the Status of Women

8. COPO (COUNCIL OF PEOPLE ORGANIZATION)

9. Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center

10. Crime Victim Center of Erie County

11. CWA 1032

12. Domestic Harmony

13. Fordham Prep School

14. Hispanic United of Buffalo

15. In Our Own Voices

16. Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Inc.

17. Liberty House of Albany, Inc.

18. Local 301

19. Los Ninos Services INC

20. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Long Island

Chapter

21. National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Rochester

Section

22. Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence

23. National Council of Jewish Women NY

24. National Council of Jewish Women, Westbury

25. National Organization for Women--New York City

26. National Organization for Women New York State Young

Feminist Task Force

27. National Organization for Women, Greater Rochester

Chapter

28. National Organization for Women, NYC

29. New York Board of Rabbis

30. New York City Anti-Violence Project

31. New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

32. New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault

33. Safe Homes of Orange County

34. SAFER--Survivors Advocating For Effective Reform

35. Sanctuary for Families

36. SEPA Mujer

37. Sojourner House

38. The Family Center

39. Turning Point for Women and Families

40. Unity House of Troy

41. Vera House, Inc.

42. VIBS Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center

43. Victim Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, Inc.

44. Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk

45. Violence Intervention Program

46. Women In Need

47. Wyckoff Heights Medical Center--Violence Intervention

and Treatment Program

48. YWCA Adirondack Foothills

49. YWCA Binghamton & Broome County

50. YWCA Brooklyn

51. YWCA City of New York

52. YWCA Cortland

53. YWCA Elmira & The Twin Tiers

54. YWCA Genesee County

55. YWCA Jamestown

56. YWCA Mohawk Valley

57. YWCA New York City

58. YWCA Niagra

59. YWCA Orange County

60. YWCA Queens

61. YWCA Rochester & Monroe County

62. YWCA Schenectady

63. YWCA Syracuse & Onondaga County

64. YWCA Tonawandas

65. YWCA Troy-Cohoes

66. YWCA Ulster County

67. YWCA Western New York

68. YWCA White Plains/Westchester

69. YWCA Yonkers

North Carolina

1. Charlotte NOW

2. Chrysalis Network

3. Crisis Council, Inc.

4. Families Living Violence Free

5. Family Crisis Council

6. Family Service of the Piedmont

7. Mitchell County SafePlace Inc

8. Muslim American Society of Charlotte

9. National Organization for Women, Fayetteville, NC

10. National Organization for Women, North Carolina Chapter

11. National Organization for Women, Raleigh Chapter

12. NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault

13. North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence

14. OASIS, Inc.

15. YWCA Central Carolinas

North Dakota

1. First Nations Women's Alliance

2. ND Council on Abused Women's Services

3. Spirit Lake Victim Assistance

Ohio

1. Abuse & Rape Crisis Shelter, Warren County

2. Abuse Prevention Council

3. Artemis Center

4. Asha-Ray of Hope

5. Belmont Community Hospital

6. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

7. COMPASS Rape Crisis

8. Every Woman's House

9. Forbes House

10. Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati

11. Islamic Education Council

12. Mount Carmel Crime & Trauma Assistance Program

13. Muslim Mothers Against Violence

14. National Coalition of 100 Black Women Central Ohio

Chapter

15. Nirvana Now!

16. Ohio NOW

17. Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence

18. Ohio Domestic Violence Network

19. OhioHealth

20. Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services

21. Otterbein University

22. ProgressOhio

23. Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit Counties

24. Salaam Cleveland

25. Sexual Abuse Prevention Awareness Treatment Healing

Coalition of NWO

26. Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio

27. Sinclair Community College--Domestic Violence Task

Force

28. Someplace Safe

29. The Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc. Richland County,

Ohio

30. The SAAFE Center (rape crisis center)

31. The Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio

32. Trumbull County Democratic Women's Caucus

33. Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center

34. Violence Free Coalition

35. West Ohio Annual Conference Team on Domestic Violence &

Human Trafficking

36. WomenSafe

37. YWCA Dayton

38. YWCA Greater Cincinnati

39. YWCA Hamilton

40. YWCA Youngstown

Oklahoma

1. Community Crisis Center of Northeast Oklahoma

2. Family Crisis & Counseling Center, Inc.

3. Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma

4. Native Alliance Against Violence, Oklahoma City

5. OK Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual

Assault

6. Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual

Assault

7. Tulsa Immigrant Resource Network, University of Tulsa

College of Law

8. Univ. of Tulsa College of Law

9. YWCA Oklahoma City

10. YWCA Tulsa

Oregon

1. Clackamas Women's Services

2. Jackson County SART

3. Mary's Place Supervised Visitation & Safe Exchange

Center

4. OCADSV

5. Oregon Action

6. Portland Store Fixtures

7. Saving Grace

8. VOA Oregon--Home Free

Pennsylvania

1. Alice Paul House

2. Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center, Inc.

3. Alliance Against Domestic Abuse

4. Berks Women in Crisis

5. Bloomsburg University

6. Bucks County NOW

7. Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition

8. Business & Professional Women's Federation of

Pennsylvania

9. CAPSEA, Inc.

10. Centre Co. Women's Resource Center

11. Clinton County Women's Center

12. Crime Victims Center of Fayet County

13. Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.

14. Domestic Violence Center of Chester County

15. Franklin/Fulton Women In Need

16. HIAS Pennsylvania

17. International Association of Counselors & Therapists

18. Just Harvest

19. Keystone Progress

20. Laurel-House

21. Libertae, Inc.

22. Ni-Ta-Nee NOW

23. Northeast Williamsport NOW

24. Pa Democratic State Committee, Elected Member

25. PA Immigrant & Refugee Women's Network (PAIRWN)

26. PathWays PA

27. PCADV

28. Penn Action

29. Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

30. Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape

31. Pennsylvania Council of Churches

32. Pennsylvania NOW

33. Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women

34. Philadelphia Women's Center

35. Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc.

36. Soroptimist International of Bucks County

37. Squirrel Hill NOW

38. Survivors Inc

39. Susquehanna County Victim Services

40. The Abuse Network

41. The Women's Center, Inc. of Columbia/Montour Counties

42. Victim Services Inc.

43. Wise Options/YWCA Northcentral PA

44. Women Against Abuse

45. Women In Transition

46. Women Services Inc.

47. Women's Law Project

48. Women's Resource Center

49. Women's Services, Inc

50. WOMEN'S WAY

51. YWCA Bradford

52. YWCA Dutchess County

53. YWCA Lancaster

54. YWCA Northcentral PA/Wise Options

55. YWCA Victims' Resource Center

56. YWCA York

Rhode Island

1. DVRCSC

2. National Council of Women RI

3. Ocean State Action

4. Olneyville Neighborhood Association

5. Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

6. Rhode Island NOW

7. The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health

8. Turning Point

9. Women's Medical Center of Rhode Island

South Carolina

1. Appleseed Legal Justice Center

2. Safe Harbor

3. Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service

4. South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and

Sexual Assault

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Coalition Ending Domestic & Sexual Violence

2. Native American Community Board, Lake Andres

3. Native Women's Society of the Great Plains, Timber Lake

4. White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Mission

5. Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc., Fort Thompson

6. Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

7. Oglala Sioux Tribe Victim Services

Tennessee

1. Abuse Alternatives, Inc.

2. Local 365

3. Muslim Community of Knoxville

4. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga

Chapter

5. Tennessee Citizen Action

6. Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence

7. United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.

8. YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee

Texas

1. American Gateways

2. Artemis Justice Center

3. Casa de Esperanza

4. Casa de Proyecto Libertad

5. Catholic Charities of Dallas

6. Citizens Against Violence, Inc.

7. Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center

8. Daya Inc.

9. Fort Bend County Women's Center

10. Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council

11. Hospitality House, INC.

12. Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc.

13. Islamic Association of the Mid-Cities

14. Montrose Counseling Center

15. National Council of Jewish Women, Texas State Policy

Advocacy Network

16. New Beginning Center

17. North Dallas Chapter of the National Organization for

Women

18. Our Lady. Of the Lake University

19. Promise House, Inc.

20. Refugio del Rio Grande

21. SafePlace

22. Sam Houston State University

23. Sexual Assault Resource Center of the Brazos Valley

24. Sun City Democratic Club

25. Sun City/West Valley NOW

26. Texas Council on Family Violence

27. Texas Muslim Women's Foundation

28. The Family Place, Dallas TX

29. Travis County Attorney's Office

30. TX Association Against Sexual Assault

31. Women's Shelter of South Texas

32. YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County

U.S. Virgin Islands

1. Women's Coalition of St. Croix

Utah

1. Enriching Utah Coalition

2. Holy Cross Ministries

3. Icarus Group

4. Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Salt Lake City

5. National Council of Jewish Women Utah State Policy

Advocacy Chair

6. NCJW, Utah Section

7. PERRETTA LAW OFFICE

8. Salt Lake Family Health Center

9. Utah Assistive Technology Foundation

10. Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault

11. Utah Domestic Violence Council

12. Utah Women's Lobby

13. West Valley City Victim Services

14. YWCA Salt Lake City

Vermont

1. Circle--VT

2. Clarina Howard Nichols Center

3. Finding Our Voices

4. RU12 Community Center

5. Vermont Center for Independent Living

6. Vermont Council on Domestic Violence

7. Vermont Legal Aid, Inc.

8. Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

9. Voices Against Violence/Laurie's House

Virginia

1. American Postal Workers Union

2. Center For Behavioral Change, P.C.

3. Domestic Violence Action Center

4. DOVES of Big Bear Valley, Inc

5. Dream Project Inc.

6. Fredericksburg NOW

7. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies

8. NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia

9. National Organization for Women, Alexandria, VA Chapter

10. National Organization for Women, Virginia Chapter

11. Prince George's Crime Victim's Fund

12. S.H.A.R.E., Inc.

13. Transitions

14. Trinity Episcopal Church

15. Virginia Anti-Violence Project

16. Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance

17. YWCA Central Virginia

18. YWCA DVPC

19. YWCA Greater Harrisburg

Washington

1. African Communities Network

2. ALLYSHIP

3. API Chaya

4. Cambodian Women Networking Association

5. Compass Housing Alliance

6. CIELO Project

7. King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence

8. LGO Consulting

9. Local 242

10. Lummi Nation Victims of Crime Program

11. National Council of Jewish Women, Seattle Section

12. National Council of Jewish Women, Washington State

Policy Advocacy Chair

13. Navos Mental Health Solutions

14. NCJW Seattle section

15. New Beginnings

16. Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

17. Seattle NOW

18. Support, Advocacy & Resource Center

19. Tacoma Women of Vision NGO

20. WA State National Organization for Women

21. Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs

22. Washington Community Action Network

23. Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

24. Women Spirit Coalition, Olympia

25. YWCA Bellingham

26. YWCA Clark County

27. YWCA Kitsap County

28. YWCA Pierce County

29. YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish

30. YWCA Spokane

31. YWCA Walla Walla

32. YWCA Yakima

33. Zonta Club of Yakima Valley

West Virginia

1. Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc.

2. CHANGE Inc./The Lighthouse

3. CONTACT Huntington

4. Direct Action Welfare Group (DAWG)

5. Family Crisis Intervention Center

6. Family Refuge Center

7. Kanawha County Victim Services Center

8. Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living

9. Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc.

10. Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center

11. Shenandoah Women's Center, Inc.

12. West Virginia Citizen Action Group

13. West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence

14. West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and

Services

15. Women's Aid in Crisis

16. WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence

17. WV NOW

18. YWCA Charleston WV

19. YWCA Wheeling

Wisconsin

1. 9to5 Milwaukee

2. American Indians Against Abuse

3. Asha Family Services, Inc.

4. Beloit Domestic Violence Center

5. Bolton Refuge House, Inc.

6. Bridge to Hope

7. Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse, Inc.

8. Citizen Action of Wisconsin

9. Community Immigration Law Center

10. Daystar, Inc.

11. DCY Dubuque Domestic Violence Program

12. Golden House

13. Green Haven Family Advocates

14. Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs

15. HELP of Door County, Inc.

16. Hmong American Women's Association

17. Hope House of South Central Wisconsin

18. IndependenceFirst

19. Jewish Community Relations Council, Milwaukee Jewish

Federation

20. Manitowoc County Domestic Violence Center

21. New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Inc.

22. People Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (PADA)

23. People Against Violent Environment

24. Personal Development Center, Inc.

25. Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

26. Red Cliff Family Violence Prevention Program

27. Safe Harbor of Sheboygan County, Inc.

28. Sojourner Family Peace Center

29. St. Agnes Hospital Domestic Violence Program

30. The Bridge to Hope

31. The Women's Center, Inc.

32. Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual

Assault, Inc.

33. Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling

34. Tri-Valley Haven

35. UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence

36. United Migrant Opportunity Services

37. Uniting Three Fires Against Domestic Violence, Saulte

Ste. Marie

38. Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence

39. Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault

40. Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers

41. Wisconsin Community Fund

42. Wisconsin NOW

43. Women and Children's Horizons

44. YWCA Greater Milwaukee

45. YWCA Green Bay

46. YWCA Madison

47. YWCA Rock County

48. YWCA Southeast Wisconsin

Wyoming

1. Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation

2. Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual

Assault

3. Sacred Shield dv/sa program

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the former chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution on the House Judiciary Committee, the gentleman from New York, Jerry Nadler.

Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee.

(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I include for the Record a number of letters from advocacy and nonprofit groups in opposition to the House substitute and in support of the Senate-passed bill.

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Has Broad

National Support

More than 1400 local, state, tribal, and national

organizations have expressed their strong support for passage

of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011

(S.47), including national service providers and victim

advocates, law enforcement organizations, and faith-based

organizations.

Victim Service Providers and Advocates

9 to 5, National Association of Working Women

Alianza-National Latino Alliance to End Domestic Violence

Alternatives to Family Violence

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence

American Medical Association

Americans Overseas Domestic Crisis Center

Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence

ASISTA Immigration Assistance

Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies

Break the Cycle

Casa de Esperanza: National Latino Network for Healthy

Families and Communities

Daughters of Penelope

Futures Without Violence (formerly the Family Violence

Prevention Fund)

Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project

Institute on Domestic Violence in the African-American

Community

Jewish Women International

Legal Momentum

Men Can Stop Rape

Men's Resources International

National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators

National-Alliance to End Sexual Violence National Center

for Victims of Crime

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

National Congress of American Indians Taskforce on Violence

Against Women

National Council of Jewish Women

National Dating Abuse Hotline

National Domestic Violence Hotline

National Network to End Domestic Violence

National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual

Assault (SCESA)

National Organization for Women

National Organization of Asian Pacific Islanders Ending

Sexual Violence

National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual

Assault

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International

Rape Abuse and Incest National Network

I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), a distinguished member of the Judiciary Committee.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu), a distinguished member of the Judiciary Committee, to close the debate on our side.

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that I have reintroduced the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2013. It is my hope that with the reintroduction of this bill, Congress will begin to examine the idea that the federal government has a significant role to play in putting America back to work, especially during our current economic downturn. Noted economists have shown that the private sector alone will not be able to create a full employment economy in the foreseeable future.

The Federal Government must use its full authority and powers to put Americans back to work. In our nation, we have far too many people desperately seeking a full-time job. These people are veterans, construction workers, young men and women, and those who have lost their jobs to unfair foreign competition. We know the financial pressures and personal hardships that result from being unemployed for long periods of time: the loss of one's dignity, housing and food insecurity, loss of health insurance, homelessness, marital problems, and the inability to care for one's self or family.

During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt struck a New Deal that put millions of Americans back to work building roads, schools, community centers, dams, bridges, parks, and electrification systems. In this program, many women were employed constructing blankets for our nation's hospitals, and our troops who fought in World War II.

President Roosevelt was resolute in the idea that every American who wanted a job should be able to have one. I also share this view. Help provide an unemployed man or woman with a job, and their lives come together, and they regain their dignity and sense of self-worth. People just do better when they are working. It is just that simple.

There is no reason why America cannot have a 21st Century New Deal, where unemployed Americans become gainfully employed restoring our communities, assisting people in need, and repairing our crumbling infrastructure. This is what the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2013 seeks to accomplish.

Under the Act, the Department of Labor would work collaboratively with local and state governments, non-profits, and the private-sector to fund community-based ``fast track'' jobs. This work could include renovating housing and schools, weatherizing homes, fixing our aging infrastructure, expanding access to broadband and wireless Internet, neighborhood beautification projects, or other community initiatives in the health and education sectors.

It is apparent to me that the next wave of significant job growth will be in the green jobs and clean energy sectors. The Humphrey- Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2013 would help pay for the training of workers to install solar panels in houses and buildings, or manufacture wind turbines, electric batteries, and electric cars.

Funds could be used to train workers to build roads, bridges, levees, and clean mass transit systems such as electric bus and metro rail cars.

The bill would provide cities and states with the needed funding to pay unemployed inner city youth and adults to rebuild our nation's crumbling and dilapidated schools, housing, and neighborhoods.

There are so many youth whose lives are needlessly ruined, because they cannot envision a future that includes dignified work. I truly believe young people could be steered away from costly lives of crime if they believe they will be able to have a meaningful career. We need more jobs, not jails.

Think about all the unemployed people in America who could be employed in the field of child care, working as preschool teachers, or assisting our nation's seniors and disabled in their own homes.

Under the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2013, there would be a significant increase in funding for job training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act. Funds would go towards successful programs like the Job Corps, which would be expanded to provide additional job training and job placement opportunities.

Funds would automatically continue to be disbursed from the Act's Full Employment and Training Trust Fund to cities and states, until every American worker who wants a job can find one. Additionally, the act will be fully funded by a tax on Wall Street speculation, and will not add a dime to the federal debt.

I respectfully urge my fellow colleagues on both sides of the isle to consider supporting the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2013. The American people need jobs now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note the passing on February 4, 2013 of National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, Dr. Donald Byrd. Dr. Byrd was my dear friend, and a fellow Detroiter. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, jazz patrons, and musicians around the world. They admired his creative musical genius, kind heart, and down to earth nature.

Dr. Byrd was a master trumpeter, composer, bandleader, recording artist, educator, and a highly innovative jazz musician. He was a creative force in music for over six decades, and left his mark on several modern jazz styles and related genres including Hard Bop, Soul- Jazz, Fusion and Hip-Bop. Byrd, who was a cutting-edge academic, was also instrumental in establishing jazz as a viable course of study in several universities and colleges throughout the nation.

Dr. Byrd was born Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II in Detroit, Michigan on December, 9, 1932. Mr. Byrd learned to play the trumpet while growing up in Detroit, a city which produced many other accomplished jazz artists including Barry Harris, Thad and Elvin Jones, Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef, Paul Chambers, Tommy Flanagan and Betty Carter.

Dr. Byrd attended Cass Technical High School, whose advanced musical curriculum produced a multitude of jazz stars, including renowned vocalists Geri Allen and Regina Carter. Influenced by jazz trumpet players Dizzy Gillespie and Clifford Brown, Byrd joined the Lionel Hampton Orchestra before completing his degree at Cass Tech. He went on to play in the United States Air Force Band, earn a bachelor's of music degree from Wayne State University, and earn a master's degree from The Manhattan School of Music.

While at the Manhattan School, Donald Byrd joined Art Blakey's ``Jazz Messengers,'' replacing legendary jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown, and further establishing the great Messenger trumpet tradition that included Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard. In 1955, Donald Byrd recorded with fellow rising jazz musicians Jackie McLean and Mal Waldron. He left the Jazz Messengers in 1956, and then performed with many leading jazz musicians of the day, including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk. Donald Byrd also had an eye for new talent, hiring Herbie Hancock to play in his band. Byrd co-led a quintet with fellow Detroiter and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, from 1958 to 1961. A prolific recording artist, Byrd recorded as a leader on the Verve, Columbia, Transition, and Prestige labels.

In 1959, Mr. Byrd signed with Blue Note Records, and released his first album for the Royal Flush label, where he recorded over twenty albums. These albums include ``A New Perspective,'' ``Free Form,'' ``Fancy Free and Electric Byrd''--all of which highlighted Byrd's inspired and innovative forays into the soul-jazz period of the 1960s. In 1963, Byrd studied composition with the famed classical instructor Nadia Boulanger.

But it was in the late sixties and early seventies, when Miles Davis would help to launch the fusion era of Jazz, that Byrd enjoyed his most successful period as an artist. Byrd's 1973 album, ``Black Byrd,'' married jazz improvisation to R&B styles, and became the highest grossing Blue Note album of all time. This successful album was followed by ``Street Lady,'' ``Places,'' and ``Spaces,'' and ``Caricatures.'' In the 1980s, Byrd recorded on the Elektra Records label, with a new ensemble called the 125th Street Orchestra.

Donald Byrd also made several contributions to higher education in his lifetime. He was the founding director of Howard University's Jazz Studies Program. Mr. Byrd also recruited several of his prize pupils to form the musical group The Blackbyrds, who enjoyed considerable success with their hits, ``Walkin' in Rhythm,'' ``Rock Creek Park,'' and ``Happy Music.'' Byrd was also instrumental in establishing highly respected jazz studies programs at a number of schools including North Carolina Central University, Rutgers University, Hampton University, Oberlin, New York University, Cornell University, Queens College, and Delaware State University. Byrd also served on the Board of the National Jazz Service Organization. He joined the distinguished ranks of NEA Jazz Masters in 2000, along with Dr. David Baker and Marian McPartland.

Unlike most jazz artists who ignored the developing rap and hip-hop music scenes, Donald Byrd was a major supporter of those forms. Many of his songs have been sampled by rappers. Byrd's collaboration with rapper Keith Elam on the 1993 album ``Jazzmatazz'' provided the template for jazz and hip-hop artists to work together. Byrd also participated in another high profile, jazz-rap collaboration, the 1994 compilation, ``Stolen Moments: Red, Hot + Cool.''

In addition to his master's degree from Manhattan School of Music, Byrd earned two master's degrees from Columbia University. He received a law degree in 1976, and a doctorate from Columbia University Teachers College in 1982. He was an avid collector of African-American art, and a licensed pilot. Dr. Byrd resided in Teaneck, New Jersey.

As we honor the life and career of this great artist and educator, one thing remains clear: that the pioneering work and artistry of Dr. Donald Byrd has provided a rich legacy of jazz music for our youth to build on and carry forth for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to join in this Special Order, a bipartisan one, in which I thank my judiciary colleague and former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, for joining me in this discussion, as well as Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia, also a distinguished member of the Judiciary Committee and former chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime.

Members of the House, just days before the anniversary of the Edmund Pettus Bridge march from Montgomery to Selma--and by the way, our colleague, Congressman John Lewis, was the only Member of Congress who was in that march--the Supreme Court will review Congress' authority under the Constitution to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act, specifically section 5 of that act. I believe and I am confident the Supreme Court will and should uphold the constitutionality of Congress' authorization of section 5 for three reasons. The first: Protecting minority voting rights is a constitutional imperative that Congress is required to enforce.

When Congress acts under the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, it acts at the zenith of its constitutional authority. The Supreme Court has consistently upheld Congress' authority under the 15th Amendment. The 15th Amendment gives Congress a mandate to eliminate racial discrimination in voting by appropriate legislation. After almost a century of ineffective protection for minorities, and in the long wake of the Civil War, Congress took action to pass the 15th Amendment, and almost a hundred years later passed the Voting Rights Act, which included section 5. Protecting minority voting rights is something Congress can do, and this authority has been repeatedly affirmed by the United States Supreme Court.

For almost 50 years, the Supreme Court consistently affirmed Congress' authority to protect minority voting rights under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Legal challenges to section 5 are nothing new to Congress, and are nothing new to the Court. Legal challenges to section 5 of the Voting Rights Act have routinely been made after Congress has reauthorized temporary provisions.

The Supreme Court first affirmed the constitutionality of section 5 in 1966. In the case of South Carolina v. Katzenbach, the Supreme Court upheld the Voting Rights Act, including section 5. The Court in that decision cited Congress' careful study and the voluminous legislative history underlying the Voting Rights Act as the basis for upholding it. During Congress' most recent authorization of section 5 in 2006, both the Senate and the House studied the continued need for section 5 by amassing an extensive record that totaled over 15,000 pages, spanned 20 hearings, and included testimony from a total of 96 witnesses representing interests ranging from Federal and State executive officials to civil rights leaders and others. Those 15,000 pages were amassed by the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee as well.

Congress paid careful attention to the Court's decisions throughout the reauthorization process and acted consistent with them to the extent of the law, and only after commencing the evidence, strongly suggested widespread violations of the 15th Amendment, which led to ample justification for congressional action.

The result, on July 13, 2006, was the largest bipartisan vote in Voting Rights Act history, with a vote of 390-33 in the House and unanimous passage in the Senate, 98-0.

Although dicta from the Court's Namundo decision in 2009 suggested that the burdens of section 5 may be unnecessary because times have changed, Congress found that the evidence strongly suggests otherwise.

While we have made progress, Congress continues to find that racial discrimination in voting is still present and remains concentrated in those places covered by section 5. Unfortunately, the methods of discrimination have also become more sophisticated. I believe that the Court will recognize what Congress found in 2006--that the work of section 5 is not yet complete.

The protections in section 5 don't solely impact our Federal voting processes, but rather the breadth of section 5 extends to the smallest cities and most centralized local governments. When a voting change discriminates against local citizens even at the local level, section 5 has the ability to halt the impact of discrimination. Without section 5's strength to arrest the discrimination at the outset, the burden of remedying the discrimination would be on these local citizens.

The facts in Shelby County v. Holder further magnify the importance of section 5 to protect the voting rights of minorities. In the Shelby case, the Justice Department rejected an electoral map drawn by a city in Shelby County which would have decreased the number of black voters from 70.9 percent to 29.5 percent. In this instance, section 5 preserved the ability of the African American community in the city to elect their candidate of choice to the city council. Shelby County, along with many examples examined by Congress in 2006, highlights the importance of reauthorization of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

The constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act is an important matter for the Court to consider and continue to review, and is important to the democratic ideals of this country.

We believe the Supreme Court owes much deference to the considered judgment of the people's elected representatives since Congress continues to find that racial discrimination in voting is present and remains concentrated in many of the places covered by section 5. We expect the United States Supreme Court to continue to declare that section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is critical to protecting minority voting rights--all voting rights--well into the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner).

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for his observations and his continuing support of this very important act from the beginning. He was there when it started, and he's still with it. I congratulate you, sir.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased now to yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia, Bobby Scott, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee.

I thank the gentleman from Virginia for his very astute and precise evaluation of the continuing importance of section 5 to the Voting Rights Act.

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

I would now be pleased to yield to the gentlelady from Texas, Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee, as much time as she may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Scott, and Ms. Jackson Lee, for their contributions.

We have no further requests for time. Under those circumstances, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to one of the single most important environmental crises facing our Nation and the global family: the threat of global warming. This past Tuesday, President Obama spoke in this chamber about the necessity of addressing global warming in order to avoid imminent, disastrous consequences.

The science of global warming is clear and empirical: the earth's atmosphere is getting warmer, due to an increase in carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.

As a result, we are experiencing more violent and turbulent storms, longer drought seasons, and dangerous and costly wild fires in our nation's wooded areas and forests. Now is not the time to debate whether global warming is real or not, but to begin bringing together elected officials, the scientific, business, environmental, and NGO communities to come up with a comprehensive and sustainable clean energy road map for America.

I strongly agree with President Obama that Congress must take immediate action to address climate change. America is one of the most technologically advanced, innovative, and wealthiest nations in the history of the world. We already have the scientific expertise and resources needed to reduce our carbon emissions and quickly transition to clean sources of energy that can power our homes, factories, and automobiles.

The good news is that by quickly transitioning away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources of energy, we can create scores of new good paying jobs, while at the same time, reducing the threat of climate change--before it is too late.

There were those who once said that we couldn't increase the fuel efficiency of our vehicles--but we did. They said we couldn't reduce our dependence on coal--but we did. When I was just a child, there were those who said that our nation could not build the Hoover Dam and provide power to millions in the Southwest--but we did. The cries of impossibility are nothing new; I have heard them my whole life. They are just as misguided now, as they were then.

The Earth is getting warmer. Our best scientists having been telling us for decades that we need to address the problem, but we have not paid sufficient attention to them. We are literally at a do or die moment in our history. We've taken important steps to address climate change, but they aren't nearly enough, given the catastrophic implications of continued foot dragging.

America cannot afford storms like Hurricane Katrina or a Hurricane Sandy every year. Our farmers and our family tables cannot afford droughts year after year. Our children and grandchildren cannot afford a New York City flooded by higher sea levels, or a breadbasket that is too scorched to feed the country, or more frequent heat waves that place thousands of low-income and elderly persons in peril.

We must act now to speed up the transition to renewable resources, reduce carbon pollution, and usher in a new era of technological development. Remember--our automotive industry was on the brink of collapse. Yet, thanks to timely government investment and the efforts of our greatest asset--the American worker--we are now manufacturing the best cars in history.

We need to address our transportation concerns in an environmentally friendly way. There should be more electrically augmented automobiles filling America's garages and our roads. We need more Chevy Volts and Ford Energi's coming off the assembly lines in Michigan and other states. Auto emissions need to be even lower. We must invest in clean public transportation systems, such as light rail and electric bus transportation. America can, and should, be the envy of clean energy enthusiasts around the world.

We need to modernize our power grid to leverage wind and solar. Our rivers and tides are resources that we need to utilize. By creating clean energy through these technologies, we can ensure a stable future for our nation. We will ensure that our rivers are full, not dry. We will preserve thousands of miles of coastlines for our next generation. We will keep our farms green, our supermarkets well-stocked, and our families well-fed.

I encourage my fellow members to heed the President's call to action and pass bipartisan reforms that will lead to a future safe from the climate calamities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.R. 273. This legislation is wrongheaded, unnecessarily antagonistic to federal workers, and it creates consequences which will be felt much longer than the 0.5 percent pay raise due to Federal employees starting in April.

There are multiple problems with this legislation--here are a few that anyone can understand:

First, federal employees have contributed their fair share to reduce our deficit and debt. Through the pay freeze and increased contributions to their pensions, they have cut $103 billion over ten years--that is roughly $50,000 per employee. The 0.5 percent increase in their pay that they have been given after two years of stagnant wages only costs $11 billion over ten years. That is not what is driving our nation's National debt.

Second, federal employees have not only seen their wages stagnate, they have also seen their compensation--their wages and benefits--go down, even as the private sector has seen wage growth of 3.3 percent and compensation growth of 4.1 percent.

Third, the proposed savings H.R. 273 promises are likely to never be realized. The best federal employees will leave for greener passages, and the most qualified candidates will seek opportunities elsewhere. The deficit reduction this bill promises will require increased training in the short term and may lead to a less efficient, and therefore more expensive Federal government for decades to come.

I oppose this bill, H.R. 273, because our country simply cannot afford to drive our best federal employees out of our country's service.

Instead, I have cosponsored and I urge the passage of a bill offered by Mr. Connolly of Virginia, which freezes Members of Congress' pay at current levels. I do not want a pay raise; I do not need a pay raise. However, our federal employees have paid far more than their fair share and do not deserve this additional unnecessary and punitive treatment from this Congress. I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.

Mr. Speaker, in the early 30's the Turkish Embassy began a journey to heal racial integration through jazz in our Nation's Capital. Today, I wish to pay tribute to the continuing efforts of Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan and the Turkish Embassy for proudly telling this great story of racial integration in Washington, DC's history. This story involves an intriguing combination of jazz music, a foreign embassy, and race relations in the Nation's Capital in the 1930s and 1940s.

In 1934, Mehmet Munir Ertegun was named Turkish Ambassador to the United States. He moved to Washington with his family, including his sons Ahmet and Nesuhi, who were then 17 and 11 years old, respectively. Ahmet would eventually become the founder of Atlantic Records, while Nesuhi would run the Atlantic Records jazz department, producing albums for such legendary figures as John Coltrane, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, and Roberta Flack.

In those early years after moving to the District of Columbia, the Ertegun brothers became active in the local jazz scene and eventually invited local performers to the Embassy for what would later be described by a 1943 Newspaper article as ``Washington's most famous private jam sessions.'' In a 1979 interview with the Washington Post, Nesuhi described the mindset behind these sessions, ``You can't imagine how segregated Washington was at that time. Blacks and whites couldn't sit together in most places. So we put on concerts . . . Jazz was our weapon for social action.''

Despite the complaints from certain ``outraged southern senators'' to the Turkish Ambassador, the jam sessions at the Embassy continued for several years, playing to a racially diverse audience and featuring such performers as Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, and Barney Bigard from the Duke Ellington Band, Lester Young, Benny Carter, Meade Lux Lewis, Leadbelly, members of the Count Basie band, and many others.

To commemorate this tradition, the Turkish Embassy initiated the Ertegun Jazz Series in March, 2011, and has hosted ten performances since that time that have featured both up-and-coming artists and well- established performers such as Roy Hargrove and Jonathan Batiste. This series will continue in 2013 with a concert on February 26th at the Embassy. As we celebrate Black History Month, I wish to congratulate Ambassador Tan and the Turkish Embassy for recognizing the important role that Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun played in advancing racial integration and bringing jazz music to the world.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this resolution observing the 100th birthday of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Through her quiet courage, Mrs. Parks came to symbolize all that is vital about nonviolent protests, enduring threats, yet persisting as an advocate for the basic values of human rights and dignity. Her act of civil disobedience in refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Alabama is credited by historians with sparking the modern day civil rights movement, earning her the title ``mother of the freedom movement.''

After she left Alabama in 1957, she and her husband Raymond moved to Michigan. I was honored to have her play a significant role in my first election for Congress. Many of you know that Mrs. Parks went on to serve on my congressional staff for more than 20 years. Her presence in my office embodied a tireless spirit of commitment to public service and served as a constant reminder of the power of a single act of courage.

Though she led a more private life in Detroit, her commitment to public service remained strong. In 1987, along with her close associate Elaine Steele, she co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, pursuing the mission of motivating and directing young people to achieve their highest potential. Grounded in her philosophy of quiet strength, the Institute continues to build upon the Parks legacy by sponsoring youth programs that teach life skills and promote a cross-cultural perspective.

For her role as the First Lady of Civil Rights, Rosa Parks was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades. This list includes the Congressional Gold Medal, the Spingarn Award for civil rights contributions, the highest honor of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States. She was even named one of the 20 most influential and iconic figures of the 20th century. When she died in October 2005, the outpouring of grief and respect was worldwide. In recognition of her historic contributions, this Congress voted to allow Mrs. Parks to lie in honor in the Capitol rotunda so that the people of the United States could pay their last respects to a great American.

In this spirit of honoring her legacy, yesterday the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, sponsored a program to highlight her contributions to the civil rights movement. The program was designed to reflect on the spirit of Mrs. Parks' commitment, calling for a National Day of Courage.

The day-long event, both virtual and on-site at the museum, featured nationally-recognized speakers, music and dramatic interpretations to commemorate her extraordinary life and accomplishments. I believe that this program will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the value of individual contributions to the struggle for equality and, through reflection on her example, inspire all Americans to stand up for freedom and the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

By refusing to give up her seat and standing for equal rights, Rosa Parks inspired a movement and became a legendary example of the value of a single courageous act. At a time when our nation faces challenges, both domestic and global, I believe that the example of Rosa Parks remains relevant every citizen. We should always use her birthday to reflect

on how each of us can contribute to our nation's promise of freedom and equality to ensure that the American dream remains within reach for all who believe.

Madam Speaker, I am very quick to thank the former chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Bobby Scott of Virginia, and of course Mr. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina for his very great contribution to H.R. 2076, as amended, that the House originally passed in 2011 by a vote of 358-9.

H.R. 2076 gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security the specific statutory authority to respond to requests from State and local law enforcement agencies for assistance in the investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in public places, and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings. It's very appropriate, of course, under the recent circumstances that the leaders on both sides of the aisle have mentioned. So this bill, unfortunately, due to the tragic shooting in Newtown, the consideration of this bill is appropriately timely.

Of course we should pass the bill today so that the President may sign it into law, but it is unfortunate that we're not also sending the President even more urgently needed legislation to protect us from gun violence. While we must take steps to assist in the investigation of such incidents, it is critical that we prevent them from occurring in the first place. We're simply not doing all we can do to protect our citizens, but we celebrate that we have come this far.

So I urge my colleagues to support the Senate amendment to H.R. 2076.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Members of the House, I rise in support, as well, of H.R. 6621 because it's a measure that improves the America Invents Act--the most significant reform to the Patent Act law since 1952--that was signed by President Obama last year.

As many of my colleagues may recall, I had concerns about the act as to whether it would benefit large multinationals at the expense of independent inventors, and thereby harm job creation in our Nation. For this reason, I opposed the version of the patent bill that was considered by the House last year; but given the fact that this bill is now law, our focus should be on how it can be improved. That's why I support it presently, because it accomplishes that very goal in several respects.

To begin with, this law clarifies that the Advice of Counsel section applies to civil actions commenced on or after the date of this legislation's enactment. Why is that important? Well, because the America Invents Act created a new section that prevents use of evidence of an accused infringer's failure to obtain advice of counsel, or his failure to waive privilege and introduce such opinion, to prove either willfulness or intent to induce infringement. This provision, however, failed to specify when the new authority would go into effect, and it makes a series of other technical clarifications to the act.

In addition, we find that this bill is necessary and has made the necessary commonsense technical corrections and involves including any substantive revisions to the act. So it's my hope that the Judiciary Committee will continue its oversight of the act into the next Congress and consider ways in which it can be further improved.

I commend the chairman of the committee for his moving this bill forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the ranking member of our Intellectual Property Subcommittee, Mel Watt of North Carolina. I yield him as much time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield back any time remaining on our side.

Thank you, Ranking Member Scott.

This is an unusual circumstance in which the Fourth Amendment, which protects individual privacy from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, has hardly been mentioned. Another thing that is curious about this measure is that there hasn't been a hearing on the bill, not a single hearing. Now, I suppose we should just skip over that. Oh, by the way, the Supreme Court of the United States has a case which is testing the issue of the appropriateness of collecting the DNA of arrestees, which will soon reasonably be decided.

As one who supports the goals of this legislation--its objectives to apprehend offenders and provide relief to victims--it seems like, in our haste, we've tossed procedure into the waste basket. I just can't understand why we can't examine the constitutionality of the practice of DNA in an appropriate manner, and that's what Maryland v. King would do. I know it's being used in other places, but I have never participated in legislation that attempts to become law while the matter is still in the Supreme Court, about to be decided. Maybe if I looked hard enough, we could find some cases in which that may have happened.

When you combine all of these unusual circumstances, as a former chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, I would urge that we follow the recommendations of our ranking member and have this matter brought before the committee in a more proper and orderly way. I hope that we can ensure the constitutionality of H.R. 6014 since that test is about to be submitted before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6014, the ``Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2012,'' or ``Katie's Law.''

I want to begin by noting that I support the important goals of this legislation, which are to apprehend offenders and provide relief to victims.

But we must not allow our criminal justice system to circumvent the protections of the Constitution so that criminal offenders are caught at all costs.

It is critical that we adhere to the Constitution and consider any measure that possibly conflicts with it through a deliberate process.

Unfortunately, there has not been nearly enough process to ensure that H.R. 6014 is constitutional.

For example, there has neither been a single hearing on this bill, nor has the Judiciary Committee marked up this measure.

As many of you know, the constitutionality of collecting DNA from arrestees is an unresolved question under the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals' privacy from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.

In fact, the constitutionality of the practice of DNA testing upon arrest is currently before the Supreme Court in Maryland v. King. We should at least wait until the Court decides this issue before we rush to pass this legislation.

I voted for Katie's law in the last Congress, and I support the goals of Katie's law, but right now is not the time to pass this measure.

I would like to let everyone know that the gentleman from North Carolina, who's worked on this and has pledged to continue to work on it, has my support for the new ideas. Well, they're not new. They're old ideas that just didn't get into this bill. And we're going to work on it together.

I congratulate, of course, the chairman-elect of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Goodlatte, for his long work and service on that committee and look forward to joining with him to continue the kind of bipartisanship that frequently is worked out in our committee.

I believe this amended version of H.R. 6671 is a distinct improvement over its predecessor and urge that we continue the kind of vigilance that the gentleman from North Carolina, Mel Watt, has demonstrated in his zeal to protecting consumer privacy. Technology is constantly evolving. Each new development presents new opportunities and challenges to improve our lives. This bill is a good step toward addressing this technological development, and we must continue to monitor it to ensure consumer privacy continues to be protected.

The language added by the Senate, the other body, improved the bill for consumers, and so I, too, urge my colleagues to support its passage today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to my colleague, Mr. Peters of Michigan, for joining as a cosponsor of my resolution, H. Res. 832, observing the 100th birthday of civil rights icon Rosa Parks and commemorating her legacy. Due to an error by my staff, Mr. Peters was not added as an original cosponsor of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend and former colleague Jack Brooks.

As long-time members of the House Judiciary Committee and the Government Reform Committee, Jack Brooks and I worked closely together. I saw firsthand his dedication to serving our nation and his constituents in Texas. Through his leadership as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee in the 1960s, both the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act made their way through the committee and ultimately passed into law. Less than a decade later, he led the effort to hold President Nixon accountable to the public, and helped draft the articles of impeachment against Nixon. As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1989 to 1995, Jack Brooks oversaw the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Violence Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, and the modernization of the Civil Rights Act. Chairman Brooks was also a longstanding champion of competition, antitrust and government accountability.

Jack Brooks will be remembered by many. His lasting contributions will continue to be felt in our civil rights laws across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Ladies and gentlemen, H.R. 6620 is a commonsense bill that will ensure the continued safety of our Presidents after they leave the White House by extending the ability of the Secret Service to protect former Presidents; and I'm proud to join with the chairman, Mr. Smith, of Judiciary, in support of this bill.

For Presidents who didn't serve prior to 1997, current Federal law provides that the Secret Service's protection terminates 10 years after the President leaves office. The 10-year limitation was enacted in 1994, when the nature of threats to former Presidents was more limited. But times have changed, and it's an unfortunate fact that former Presidents will require Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives. Therefore, this bill would simply restore the law to its prior form.

When a President of the United States completes his term, he remains a symbol of our Nation. Sadly, our Presidents who've worked hard to protect us from those who would harm our Nation may, themselves, continue to be in harm's way even after they complete their terms in office.

Most former Presidents remain prominently in the public eye, continuing to represent our country in significant ways and providing leadership on important issues. We should recognize and encourage their continued service by providing them with the protection they need.

This bill would also expand the Secret Service's authorization to protect the children of former Presidents until they reach 16 years of age. This also makes good sense under the current circumstances.

I want to recognize the Secret Service for their excellent and tireless job that they perform in protecting our national leaders. The men and women of the Secret Service conduct themselves with valor, while carrying out the protective function of their agency. They provide protection for a variety of people and events, including the President and special national security events as well.

The Secret Service has other important functions which also deserve recognition. For example, the investigative role of the Secret Service has expanded greatly, from protecting the

currency against counterfeiting, to investigating a wide variety of crimes related to this country's financial institutions and credit systems.

I, too, join in commending the gentleman from South Carolina, a member of our committee, Trey Gowdy, for his special work on this bill; and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6620.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, before I yield to the distinguished gentlelady from Texas, I would like to observe the great relationship that has been formed on Judiciary between myself and the distinguished gentleman from San Antonio, Texas. For 4 years he was the ranking member on his side, while I was chair. We worked together. And for the 2 years he served as chair, I worked as his ranking member. We had a cordial and, I think, important relationship in framing and putting forward the issues for the Committee on the Judiciary, and I thank him.

I will yield to the gentleman, with pleasure.

I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Texas, a senior member of Judiciary, Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.