Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
by Former Senator Mark BegichPosted on 2013-02-07
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BEGICH. Mr. President, I request the time to make my statement as
required.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has that right.
Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I come to the floor to speak on the
Violence Against Women Act, but before I do that, I wish to say I
appreciate the comments of my friend from Indiana. We all want to get
this budget under control. We all recognize we have to get it under
control not only for today's generation but for multiple generations to
come.
During the last few years we have been able to cut almost $2 trillion
of our budgetary costs over the next 10 years, cuts we have been able
to accomplish in a bipartisan way but led a lot by this side. Let me
remind folks where we are. Four years ago this economy was flat on its
back--an economy that didn't have any air in it. It was in a grave
situation. But where are we today? We have a 5-year housing start,
incredible activity within the automobile industry, with record-high
sales going on there. The stock market has doubled in the last 4\1/2\
years. Most recently, the CBO--the Congressional Budget Office, a
bipartisan office which doesn't show any favoritism to any side--
verifies that in 4 years we have cut the annual deficit by 40 percent.
I know that is not where it should be yet because we want to balance
it, but a 40-percent reduction in the annual deficit is significant.
So we are on the road. Is it a slower road than we would like? Sure,
but it is on the road to recovery. It is having a positive impact. As a
matter of fact, now the deficit, as the amount compared to our GDP, is
cut in half. So we are making some inroads.
Democrats are not afraid at all to cut the budget where it is
necessary, but we need to solve this problem with three types of moves.
We have to cut the budget, deal with revenues, and invest in this
economy for education, energy, and infrastructure. It is a three-
pronged approach. Even if we think we can do one of these and somehow,
magically, a $16 trillion debt will just vanish overnight is in another
world that doesn't exist on this planet.
I appreciate the debate that goes on, but we need to be honest,
realistic, and practical in dealing with these budgetary issues, and
they will be tough. People will not like all of it. I can see it now at
my townhall meetings when I go to them. They will say cut the budget,
which we will do--don't get me wrong, we will do that--but then when I
go back to my hometown they will say, I didn't actually mean that
program. That will be the story.
The fact is we have serious issues with which to deal. So this is not
a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. When people come to the
floor, we should think about this as an American issue and that we have
to resolve this for the right reasons. We have done some exceptional
work over the last 4 years, despite the hurdles, the political slogans,
and all the other stuff that goes along with it in getting results. A
40-percent reduction in the annual deficit in 4 years is significant.
Is it zero? Is it balanced? No; because there have been 40-plus years
of not paying attention to the budget.
A lot of us are new around here. As a matter of fact, 60 percent of
the Senate is made up of people who haven't been here more than 6
years. I am looking at three Senators on the floor right now. We are
here to solve this problem. However, do not be mistaken. We have made
progress. The American people should be proud of what we have done. But
is it perfect? No. Do we have more work to do? Yes. That is why we are
here and that is why we are going to do this with a bipartisan
approach.
So I digress from the issue I came to discuss. I like the debates
that happen on the floor, and I wish more would happen, but when a
Member speaks, I want to make sure all the information is on the table.
I came to speak on an important piece of legislation, the Violence
Against Women Act. We debate issues that are important around here, but
not too often can we stand on the floor of this Chamber and say our
votes are a matter of life and death. In this case, it is absolutely
true. This bill saves lives. It is our job to pass it now--today.
The Senate, as we did last year, needs to send a simple and important
message that America will not tolerate violence against its women,
children, and families. We must do our part to reduce domestic violence
and sexual assault. Even though the House has refused to act for over
300 days since we sent the bill over there, we are now in a new session
and there is bipartisan support in this Chamber. The VAWA bill passed
the Senate with 60 votes last spring and there are at least 60 of us
already signed up and cosponsoring this legislation.
We know the reality. The fight to protect women and families from
violence is far from over. VAWA was first
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passed just 20 years ago and it has not been reauthorized since 2006.
The law has made a difference. We know a great deal more about domestic
violence than when VAWA was first written. Services for victims have
improved. Communities offer safer shelter. Local, State, and Federal
laws are stronger. Yet there are still too many awful stories and
inexcusable numbers, especially in my home State.
Alaska continues to have some of the worst statistics in the country.
Three out of every four Alaskans have experienced domestic or sexual
violence or known someone who has. The rate of rape in Alaska is nearly
2\1/2\ times the national average, even worse for Alaskan Native women.
Child sexual assault in Alaska is almost six times the national
average. Out of every 100 adult women in Alaska, nearly 60 have
experienced physical or sexual violence or both.
So my colleagues can see why I am standing here today. We need to do
something about this not someday, not next year but today.
In one typical day in my State, victim services agencies throughout
Alaska serve an average of 464 victims, 114 hotline calls are answered,
and 308 people across Alaska attend training sessions offered by local
domestic violence and sexual assault programs. Yet people are still
turned away because of a lack of funding, a lack of service. On an
average day in Alaska, 52 requests for services are not met--basic
needs such as transportation, childcare, language translation,
counseling and legal representation. The bill before us is critical in
ensuring all victims receive the services they need.
I wish to spend just a few more minutes discussing the safety of
women and children in Alaska Native and American Indian families. For
the sake of our Nation's first peoples, the tribal provisions in this
bill need to become law. Yet some of my colleagues on the other side of
this Chamber are trying to strip out our expanded authority over
domestic violence in Indian Country. Why are we debating this? One out
of every three Native American women has suffered rape, physical
violence or stalking. Yet some Members want to debate the rights of
their abusers. I fully support the tribal provisions in this bill. Yet
I must point out that none of the expanded criminal jurisdiction
applies to Alaska Native tribes except for one true reservation at the
very southern tip of Alaska. Today is not the day to fight that fight,
but I will take it up again soon from my seat on the Indian Affairs
Committee in the Senate.
Study after study has concluded that the lack of effective local law
enforcement in Alaska Native villages contributes to so many problems:
increased crime, alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, and poor
educational achievement. When it comes to protecting those most at
risk, Congress must recognize the need for local control, local
responsibility, and local accountability. This bill will take a big
step forward today on Indian reservations in the lower 48.
At a later time, we will get to my bill, which I have introduced in
the past as the Alaska Safe Families and Villages Act.
My bill would establish small demonstration projects so a handful of
federally recognized tribes in Alaska's villages can take action. They
would be allowed to address domestic violence and alcohol-related cases
within their villages and village boundaries.
Our Native villages are vibrant, resilient communities, and we must
answer their calls for help. That includes an ``all of the above''
approach to combating domestic violence and abuse. The one thing we
know for sure is the status quo is not working. It is not just about
slogans or feel-good statements. We need to act.
But for now--for today--let's vote on VAWA and get this bill passed.
Let's protect women and children and families all over this country.
And let's send a strong message to our colleagues in the House, that
this time there is no hiding. It is time to get the job done. It is
time to put politics aside. Pass this bill and truly save lives.
Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.
