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+
+ - ENDING THE CYCLE: EXAMINING WAYS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
+
+[House Hearing, 117 Congress]
+[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
+
+
+ ENDING THE CYCLE: EXAMINING
+ WAYS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
+ AND PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
+
+=======================================================================
+
+ JOINT HEARING
+
+ BEFORE THE
+
+ SUBCOMMITTEE ON
+ CIVIL RIGHTS AND
+ HUMAN SERVICES
+
+ OF
+
+ COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
+ U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
+
+ ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
+
+ FIRST SESSION
+
+ __________
+
+ HEARING HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC, MARCH 22, 2021
+
+ __________
+
+ Serial No. 117-4
+
+ __________
+
+ Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor
+
+[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
+
+ Available via: edlabor.house.gov or www.govinfo.gov
+
+ __________
+
+
+ U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
+43-872 PDF WASHINGTON : 2022
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+ COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
+
+ ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT, Virginia, Chairman
+
+RAUL M. GRIJALVA, Arizona VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina,
+JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut Ranking Member
+GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, JOE WILSON, South Carolina
+ Northern Mariana Islands GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania
+FREDERICA S. WILSON, Florida TIM WALBERG, Michigan
+SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin
+MARK TAKANO, California ELISE M. STEFANIK, New York
+ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina RICK W. ALLEN, Georgia
+MARK De SAULNIER, California JIM BANKS, Indiana
+DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey JAMES COMER, Kentucky
+PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington RUSS FULCHER, Idaho
+JOSEPH D. MORELLE, New York FRED KELLER, Pennsylvania
+SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania GREGORY F. MURPHY, North Carolina
+LUCY Mc BATH, Georgia MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa
+JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut BURGESS OWENS, Utah
+ANDY LEVIN, Michigan BOB GOOD, Virginia
+ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota LISA C. Mc CLAIN, Michigan
+HALEY M. STEVENS, Michigan DIANA HARSHBARGER, Tennessee
+TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New Mexico MARY E. MILLER, Illinois
+MONDAIRE JONES, New York VICTORIA SPARTZ, Indiana
+KATHY E. MANNING, North Carolina SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin
+FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana MADISON CAWTHORN, North Carolina
+JAMAAL BOWMAN, New York, Vice-Chair MICHELLE STEEL, California
+MARK POCAN, Wisconsin Vacancy
+JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas Vacancy
+MIKIE SHERRILL, New Jersey
+JOHN A. YARMUTH, Kentucky
+ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York
+KWEISI MFUME, Maryland
+
+ Veronique Pluviose, Staff Director
+ Cyrus Artz, Minority Staff Director
+ ------
+ SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN SERVICES
+
+ SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon, Chairwoman
+
+ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina RUSS FULCHER, Idaho, Ranking
+JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut Member
+TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ, New Mexico GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania
+FRANK J. MRVAN, Indiana LISA C. Mc CLAIN, Michigan
+JAMAAL BOWMAN, New York VICTORIA SPARTZ, Indiana
+KWEISI MFUME, Maryland SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin
+ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT, Virginia VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina (ex
+ (ex officio) officio)
+
+
+ C O N T E N T S
+
+ ----------
+ Page
+
+Hearing held on March 22, 2021................................... 1
+
+Statement of Members:
+ Bonamici, Hon. Suzanne, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Civil
+ Rights
+ and Human Services......................................... 1
+ Prepared statement of.................................... 4
+ Fulcher, Hon. Russ, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil
+ Rights
+ and Human Services......................................... 6
+ Prepared statement of.................................... 6
+
+Statement of Witnesses:
+ Miller, Elizabeth, MD, Ph.D., Director, Adolescent and Young
+ Adult
+ Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh........... 24
+ Prepared statement of.................................... 27
+ Novoryta, Ami, Chief Program Officer, Catholic Charities of
+ the
+ Archdiocese of Chicago..................................... 20
+ Prepared statement of.................................... 23
+ Schlater, Wendy, Vice Chairwoman, La Jolla Band of Luiseno
+ Indians.................................................... 13
+ Prepared statement of.................................... 15
+ Timmons, Vanessa, Executive Director, Oregon Coalition
+ Against
+ Domestic and Sexual Violence............................... 8
+ Prepared statement of.................................... 10
+
+Additional Submissions:
+ McBath, Lucy, a Representative in Congress from the State of
+ Georgia
+ Letter in support of the Family Violence Prevention and
+ Services Improvements Act of 2019...................... 56
+
+
+ ENDING THE CYCLE: EXAMINING
+ WAYS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
+ AND PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
+
+ ----------
+
+
+ Monday, March 22, 2021
+
+ House of Representatives,
+ Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services,
+ Committee on Education and Labor,
+ Washington, DC.
+ The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 12 p.m., via
+Zoom, Hon. Suzanne Bonamici (Chairwoman of the subcommittee)
+presiding.
+ Present: Representatives Bonamaci, Adams, Hayes, Leger
+Fernandez, Mrvan, Bowman, Scott, Fulcher, Thompson, Spartz,
+Fitzgerald, and Foxx.
+ Staff present: Ilana Brunner, Ijeoma Egekeze, Alison Hard,
+Sheila Havenner, Eli Hovland, Carrie Hughes, Ariel Jona, Andre
+Lindsay, Max Moore, Mariah Mowbray, Kayla Pennebecker,
+Veronique Pluviose, Banyon Vassar, Cyrus Artz, Minority Staff
+Director; Courtney Butcher, Minority Director of Member
+Services and Coalitions; Amy Raaf Jones, Minority Director of
+Education and Human Resources Policy; Hannah Matesic, Minority
+Director of Operations; Jake Middlebrooks, Minority Staff
+Member; Carlton Norwood, Minority Press Secretary; and Mandy
+Schaumburg, Minority Chief Counsel and Deputy Director of
+Education Policy.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. The Subcommittee on Civil Rights and
+Human Services will come to order. Welcome everyone. I note
+that a quorum is present. The subcommittee is meeting today to
+hear testimony on ``Ending the Cycle: Examining Ways to Prevent
+Domestic Violence and Promote Healthy Communities.''
+ I note for the subcommittee that full committee Member
+Representative McBath of Georgia is joining us and is permitted
+to participate in today's hearing with the understanding that
+her questions will come after all Members of the subcommittee
+on both sides of the aisle who are present have had an
+opportunity to question the witnesses.
+ This is an entirely remote hearing. All microphones will be
+kept muted as a general rule to avoid unnecessary background
+noise. Members and witnesses will be responsible for unmuting
+themselves when they are recognized to speak, or when they wish
+to seek recognition.
+ I also ask that Members please identify themselves before
+they speak. Members should keep their cameras on while in the
+proceeding. Members shall be considered present in the
+proceeding when they are visible on camera, and they shall be
+considered not present when they are not visible on camera. The
+only exception to this is if they are experiencing technical
+difficulty, and inform committee staff of such difficulty.
+ If any Member experiences technical difficulties during the
+hearing you should stay connected on the platform, make sure
+you are muted, and use your phone to immediately call the
+committee's IT Director whose number was provided in advance.
+Should the Chair experience technical difficulty, or need to
+step away to vote on the floor, which won't happen today,
+Chairman Scott or another Majority Member of the subcommittees
+if he not available is hereby authorized to assume the gavel in
+the Chair's absence.
+ This is an entirely remote hearing and as such the
+committee's hearing room is officially closed. Members who
+choose to sit with their individual devices in the hearing room
+must wear headphones to avoid feedback, echoes and distortion
+resulting from more than one person on the software platform
+sitting in the same room.
+ Members are also expected to adhere to social distancing,
+and safe health guidelines including the use of masks, hand
+sanitizer and wiping down their areas, both before and after
+their presence in the hearing room. To make sure that the
+Committee's five-minute rule is adhered to, staff will be
+keeping track of time using the committee's field timer.
+ The field timer will appear in its own thumbnail picture
+and will be labeled 001_timer. There will not be a one minute
+remaining warning. The field timer will sound its audio alarm
+when the time is up. Members and witnesses are asked to wrap up
+promptly when their time has expired.
+ A roll call is not necessary to establish a quorum in
+official proceedings conducted remotely or with remote
+participation, but the committee has made it a practice
+whenever there is an official proceeding with remote
+participation for the Clerk to call the roll to help make clear
+who is present at the start of the proceeding.
+ Members should say their name before announcing they are
+present. This helps the Clerk, and also helps those watching
+the platform and the livestream who may experience a few
+seconds delay.
+ At this time I ask the clerk to call the roll.
+ The Clerk. Chairwoman Bonamici?
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Chair Bonamici is present.
+ Ms. Adams.
+ [No response]
+ The Clerk. Mrs. Hayes?
+ [No response]
+ The Clerk. Ms. Leger Fernandez?
+ Ms. Leger Fernandez. Ms. Leger Fernandez is present.
+ The Clerk. Mr. Mrvan?
+ Mr. Mrvan. Present. Frank Mrvan present.
+ The Clerk. Mr. Bowman?
+ Mr. Bowman. Jamaal Bowman present.
+ The Clerk. Mr. Mfume?
+ [No response]
+ The Clerk. Ranking Member Fulcher?
+ Mr. Fulcher. Fulcher is here.
+ The Clerk. Mr. Thompson.
+ [No response.]
+ The Clerk. Ms. McClain?
+ [No response.]
+ The Clerk. Ms. Spartz?
+ [No response]
+ The Clerk. Mr. Fitzgerald?
+ Mr. Fitzgerald. I am here, present.
+ The Clerk. Chairwoman Bonamici that concludes the roll
+call.
+ Ms. Foxx. Madam Chairwoman I am here too.
+ Ms. Adams. Alma Adams is present.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. Pursuant to Committee Rule
+8(c), opening statements are limited to the Chair and the
+Ranking Member. This allows us to hear from our witnesses
+sooner and provides all Members with adequate time to ask
+questions.
+ I recognize myself now for the purpose of making an opening
+Statement.
+ Today we are discussing the urgent need to update and
+strengthen Federal programs that help prevent intimate partner
+violence and provide services to survivors. Before I begin, I
+want to recognize that this discussion may be extremely
+difficult for some people who are watching.
+ I would ask all participants to be mindful of the sensitive
+nature of this conversation. I encourage anyone who needs
+support to visit www.thehotline.org. This is an important and
+timely conversation. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has
+increased the risk for intimate partner violence and disrupted
+services that offer protection and support to survivors. As a
+result, an already quiet crisis has become even harder to both
+track and address.
+ In Oregon leaders like Vanessa Timmons who the committee
+will hear from today are working tirelessly to reach survivors
+and provide them with resources and support. In the district I
+represent here in Northwest Oregon, providers like the Domestic
+Violence Resource Center and Greater Portland YWCA provide
+shelter, support, services for children, and counseling for
+survivors in crisis.
+ But we know they need more resources to meet the demand for
+assistance. The urgent need to address intimate partner
+violence could not be overstated. About 1 in 4 women, and
+nearly 1 in 10 men, have reported experiencing some form of
+intimate partner violence.
+ These incidences often cause physical injuries that portend
+to even greater risks. Some reports have shown that half of
+female homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner. For
+survivors of violence the emotional trauma can last long after
+the physical injuries have healed.
+ These experiences often first occur when survivors are
+younger than 25, triggering potentially life-long struggles
+with chronic disease and mental health conditions. Congress
+took a major step to address this issue in 1984 by authorizing
+the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Today this
+essential pillar in our fight against intimate partner violence
+is responsible for shelters, support services for survivors,
+and 24-hour domestic violence hotline.
+ With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010,
+Congress also established the Pregnancy Assistance Fund which
+provide critical services to improve the health of women and
+children. Specifically, this program invested in expanding
+access to services for teen parents as well as pregnant people
+and new parents, who are survivors of domestic violence or
+sexual assault.
+ These foundational programs are proven to be effective in
+addressing intimate partner violence, but they are also
+severely underfunded, particularly in light of today's
+challenges. Just a few weeks ago in the American Rescue Act,
+excuse me in the American Rescue Plan, the committee secured
+450 million dollars for programs to address intimate partner
+violence and sexual assault.
+ Importantly, this funding will help culturally specific
+organizations outreach to underserved communities of color
+which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
+This historic investment in the American Rescue Plan will save
+lives, but we need long-term policies and investment.
+ Now Congress must look to next steps, such as updating the
+Family Violence Prevention and Services Act which we have not
+reauthorized since 2003, and the Pregnancy Assistance Fund
+which expired in 2019. Today we'll discuss steps to further
+strengthen our response to the domestic violence crisis, and
+importantly discuss ways that domestic violence and sexual
+violence can be prevented.
+ First, we must focus on equity. Domestic violence can
+affect people from any background or income, but we know that
+communities of color, LGBTQ individuals, and people with
+disabilities face disproportionate rates of intimate partner
+violence, and have limited access to services.
+ We must further expand programs that are specifically
+designed to reach and support these underserved communities. We
+must also specifically invest in meeting the needs of native
+survivors of domestic violence. We know tribal communities face
+unique barriers to navigating the healthcare and criminal
+justice systems, with only limited access to largely
+underfunded support services.
+ Finally, and importantly, we must focus on preventing
+intimate partner violence before it happens. Currently, the
+only prevention program in the Family Violence Prevention and
+Services Act is significantly underfunded. Reauthorizing this
+law would help protect our communities from the pain and cost,
+emotionally, physically and financially of domestic violence.
+ We can aggressively combat intimate partner violence and
+prevent it from happening in the first place. It's not only the
+smart thing to do as rates of violence increase, it's the right
+thing to do for the well-being of our families and communities.
+I thank my colleague, Representative Lucy McBath for her
+leadership and working to reauthorize the Family Violence
+Prevention Services Act, and I also want to thank her witnesses
+for being with us. And I now yield to Ranking Member Mr.
+Fulcher for your opening Statement.
+ [The statement of Chairwoman Bonamici follows:]
+
+ Statement of Hon. Suzanne Bonamici, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Civil
+ Rights and Human Services
+
+ Today, we are discussing the urgent need to update and strengthen
+Federal programs that help prevent intimate partner violence and
+provide services to survivors.
+ Before I begin, I want to recognize that this discussion may be
+extremely difficult for some people who are watching. I would ask all
+participants to be mindful of the sensitive nature of this
+conversation, and I encourage anyone who needs support to visit
+www.thehotline.org.
+ This is an important and timely conversation. The ongoing COVID-19
+pandemic has increased the risk for intimate partner violence and
+disrupted services that offer protection and support to survivors. As a
+result, an already quiet crisis has become even harder to both track
+and address.
+ In Oregon, leaders like Vanessa Timmons, who the committee will
+hear from today, are working tirelessly to reach survivors and provide
+them with resources and support. In the district I represent, providers
+like the Domestic Violence Resource Center and the Greater Portland
+YWCA provide shelter, support, services for children, and counseling
+for survivors in crisis. But we know they need more resources to meet
+the demand for assistance.
+ The urgent need to address intimate partner violence cannot be
+overstated. About one in four women and nearly one in ten men have
+reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence. These
+incidents often cause physical injuries that portend even graver risks.
+Some reports have shown that more than half of female homicide victims
+were killed by an intimate partner.
+ For survivors of violence, the emotional trauma can last long after
+the physical injuries have healed. These experiences often first occur
+when survivors are younger than 25, triggering potentially lifelong
+struggles with chronic disease and mental health conditions.
+ Congress took a major step to address this issue in 1984 by
+authorizing the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. Today,
+this central pillar in our fight against intimate partner violence is
+responsible for shelters, support services for survivors, and 24-hour
+domestic violence hotlines.
+ With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, Congress also
+established the Pregnancy Assistance Fund, which provided critical
+services to improve the health of women and children. Specifically,
+this program invested in expanding access to services for teen parents
+as well as pregnant people and new parents who are survivors of
+domestic violence or sexual assault.
+ These foundational programs are proven to be effective in
+addressing intimate partner violence. But they are also severely
+underfunded, particularly in light of today's challenges.
+ Just a few weeks ago in the American Rescue Plan Act. the Committee
+secured $450 million for programs to address intimate partner violence
+and sexual assault. Importantly, this funding will help culturally
+specific organizations outreach to underserved communities of color,
+which have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic.
+ The historic investments in the American Rescue Plan will save
+lives, but we need long-term policies and investment.
+ Now, Congress must look to next steps, such as updating the Family
+Violence Prevention and Services Act, which we have not reauthorized
+since 2003, and the Pregnancy Assistance Fund, which expired in 2019.
+ Today, we will discuss steps to further strengthen our response to
+the domestic violence crisis and importantly, discuss ways that
+domestic violence and sexual violence can be prevented.
+ First, we must focus on equity. Domestic violence can affect people
+from any background or income, but we know that communities of color,
+LGBTQ individuals, and people with disabilities face disproportionate
+rates of intimate partner violence, yet have limited access to
+services. We must further expand programs that are specifically
+designed to reach and support these underserved communities.
+ We must also specifically invest in meeting the needs of Native
+survivors of domestic violence. We know tribal communities face unique
+barriers to navigating the health care and criminal justice systems
+with only limited access to largely underfunded support services.
+ Finally, and importantly, we must focus on preventing intimate
+partner violence before it happens. Currently, the only prevention
+program in the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act is
+significantly underfunded. Reauthorizing this law would help protect
+our communities from the pain and cost ? emotionally, physically, and
+financially--of domestic violence.
+ We can aggressively combat intimate partner violence and prevent it
+from happening in the first place. It is not only the smart thing to do
+as rates of violence increase, it's the right thing to do for the well-
+being of our families and communities.
+ I want to thank my colleague, Representative Lucy McBath, for her
+leadership in working to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and
+Services Act. I also want to thank our witnesses, again, for being with
+us, and now I yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. Fulcher.
+ ______
+
+ Mr. Fulcher. Thank you, Madam Chair, for convening this
+hearing regarding domestic violence. A 2015 survey by the CDC
+estimated that one-third of all men and women are victims of
+domestic violence at some point in their life.
+ Data in 2019 from my home State of Idaho supports this
+survey whereby about 37 percent of assaults were domestic
+violence related. In 2020 it's worse. COVID-19 has dealt our
+Nation with government mandated restrictions and economic
+challenges. It appears those negative outcomes have snowballed
+to exacerbate an even worse fallout.
+ Evidence suggests that in this pandemic ridden environment
+stress, due to work, school, substance abuse and financial
+struggles have added to more violence in the home. Especially
+hard hit appear to be rural areas, where job opportunities can
+be hard to find.
+ Last year Idaho saw an 84 percent increase in domestic
+violence related calls along with more emergency intakes and
+overnight shelter requests. Domestic violence in any form is an
+evil that demands a strong response. This issue does not impact
+all people equally. While a notable share of men are
+victimized, domestic violence disproportionately impacts women.
+ And despite the cancel cultures desire to blur the lines
+between women and men, facts are facts. We need to protect
+everyone, but realize that our women are the most vulnerable.
+Congress has continued to allocate the funding to address this
+issue, most recently in the CARES Act, the Family Violence
+Prevention and Services Programs, which I and many of my
+colleagues supported.
+ Moving forward our efforts should include confronting the
+issue and supporting survivors with tools like domestic
+violence hotline, so victims can reach out and receive help.
+However, the solution is more complicated than simply
+increasing spending. More money alone will not solve domestic
+violence in our society.
+ We must understand that dealing with this issue is best
+done at the local level, and government can't always provide
+the answers. Local civic groups and faith-based providers are
+best positions to provide aid and deliver it effectively.
+ Committee Republicans recognize the importance of
+supporting survivors of domestic violence, but any
+reauthorization should focus primarily on local solutions and a
+coordinated community response, not just more Federal spending.
+The committee should work to support best practices and act
+knowing that as good as our intentions may be, we cannot
+pretend to be able to solve them all from Washington, DC.
+ I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, especially
+Ms. Ami Novoryta, I'll get that straight, who will discuss the
+important work of local organizations that faith-based
+providers are doing to serve those in need. Madam Chair thank
+you. I yield back.
+ [The statement of Ranking Member Fulcher follows:]
+
+ Statement of Hon. Russ Fulcher, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil
+ Rights and Human Services
+
+ A 2015 survey by the CDC estimated that one-third of all men and
+women are victims of domestic violence at some point in their life.
+Data in 2019 from my home State of Idaho supports this survey, whereby
+about 37 percent of assaults were domestic violence-related. In 2020,
+it's worse.
+ COVID-19 has dealt our Nation with government-mandated restrictions
+and economic challenges. It appears those negative outcomes have
+snowballed to exacerbate an even worse fallout. Evidence suggests that
+in this pandemic-ridden environment, stress, due to work, school,
+substance abuse, and financial struggles, have added to more violence
+in the home. Especially hard-hit appear to be rural areas where job
+opportunities can be hard to find. Last year, Idaho saw an 84 percent
+increase in domestic violence-related calls, along with more emergency
+intakes and overnight shelter requests.
+ Domestic violence in any form is an evil that demands a strong
+response. This issue does not impact all people equally. While a
+notable share of men are victimized, domestic violence
+disproportionately impacts women. And despite the cancel culture's
+desire to blur the lines between women and men, facts are facts. We
+need to protect everyone and realize that our women are the most
+vulnerable.
+ Congress has continued to allocate funding to address this issue,
+most recently in the CARES Act via Family Violence Prevention and
+Services (FVPSA) programs, which I and many of my colleagues supported.
+Moving forward, our efforts should include confronting the issue and
+supporting survivors, with tools like the domestic violence hotline so
+victims can reach out and receive help.
+ However, the solution is more complicated than simply increasing
+spending. More money alone will NOT solve domestic violence in our
+society. We must understand that dealing with this issue is best done
+at the local level, and government cannot always provide the answers.
+Local civic groups and faith-based providers are best positioned to
+provide aid and deliver it effectively.
+ Committee Republicans recognize the importance of supporting
+survivors of domestic violence. But any reauthorization should focus
+primarily on local solutions and a coordinated community response, not
+just more Federal spending. The Committee should work to support best
+practices and act, knowing that as good as our intentions may be, we
+cannot pretend to be able to solve them all from Washington, DC.
+ I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, especially Ms. Ami
+Novoryta, who will discuss the important work local organizations and
+faith-based providers are doing on the ground to serve those in need.
+ ______
+
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Ranking Member Fulcher.
+Without objection all other Members who wish to insert written
+statements into the record may do so by submitting them to the
+Committee Clerk electronically in Microsoft Word format by 5
+p.m. on April 5, 2021.
+ I will now introduce the witnesses. Mrs. Vanessa Timmons is
+the Executive Director of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic
+and Sexual Violence. Ms. Wendy Schlater is the Vice Chairwoman
+of the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians. She is Board Treasurer
+of the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center.
+ Ms. Ami Novoryta is the Chief Program Officer for Catholic
+Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Doctor Elizabeth
+Miller is a Pediatrician and Director of Adolescent and Young
+Adult Medicine at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. We
+appreciate the witnesses for participating today, and we look
+forward to your testimony.
+ Let me remind the witnesses that we have read your written
+Statements, and they will appear in full in the hearing record.
+Pursuant to Committee Rule 8(d) and committee practice, you are
+each asked to limit your oral presentation to a five-minute
+summary of your written Statement.
+ I also remind the witnesses that pursuant to 18 of the U.S.
+Code, Section 1001, it is illegal to knowingly and willfully
+falsify any Statement, representation, writing, document, or
+material fact presented to Congress or otherwise conceal or
+cover up a material fact.
+ And before you begin your testimony, please remember to
+unmute your microphone. During your testimony, staff will be
+keeping track of the time and a timer will sound when your time
+is up. Please be attentive to the time and wrap up when your
+time is over and then remute your microphone.
+ If you experience any technical difficulties during your
+testimony or later in the hearing, please stay connected on the
+platform, make sure you are muted and use your phone to
+immediately call the committee's IT director, whose number was
+provided to you in advance.
+ We will let all the witnesses make their presentations
+before we move to Member questions. When answering a question,
+please remember to unmute your microphone. I will first
+recognize Mrs. Timmons. You are recognized for five minutes for
+your testimony.
+
+ STATEMENT OF VANESSA TIMMONS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OREGON
+ COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL
+ VIOLENCE
+
+ Ms. Timmons. Thank you Chairwoman Bonamici, Ranking Member
+Fulcher and distinguished Members of the subcommittee. Thank
+you for the opportunity to testify today on ending the cycle,
+examining ways to prevent domestic violence and promote healthy
+communities.
+ My name is Vanessa Timmons. I'm the Executive Director of
+the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. I've
+been in the field for more than 30 years, and I have been the
+OCADSV Executive Director for the past 8 years. I hope to speak
+on behalf of not only our 51 Member programs in Oregon, but
+also on behalf of survivors that we all serve.
+ Unfortunately, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men are survivors
+of domestic violence. This means all of us know someone who has
+been impacted by intimate partner violence. No one in our
+country escapes the impact of this public health crisis.
+Intimate partner violence is a public health issue which
+requires all of us and a holistic public health response.
+ Over 1,600 domestic violence programs offer services such
+as emergency shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and
+preventive education to millions of adult and child victims
+every year. These programs rely on the consistent funding
+provided by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act,
+also referred to as FVPSA.
+ FVPSA expired in 2015 and must be reauthorized with key
+enhancements in order to meet the intersecting crisis of this
+moment. Since its passage in 1984, FVPSA has remained the sole
+Federal funding source for domestic violence shelters and
+services. FVPSA is the life blood of domestic violence
+programs, providing stable modest funding.
+ FVPSA also provides dedicated funding to domestic violence
+coalitions in every State and U.S. territory. Coalitions
+provide support, technical assistance and training to our local
+programs, who support the survivors that we all care so deeply
+about. Coalitions are important because we bring that birds eye
+view to the field by programs and doing their day to day work.
+ We work closely with our State government agencies to
+ensure funding is getting to each and every community. Despite
+the progress brought by FVPSA, programs are underfunded, and we
+struggle to keep up with demand for services. According to the
+National Network to End Domestic Violence's forthcoming
+Domestic Violence Counts Report, in 2020 domestic violence
+programs across the country served more than 76,000 victims
+just in 1 day.
+ But sadly in that same day, over 11,000 requests for
+services went unmet due to a lack of resources. Approximately
+57 percent of these unmet requests were for housing and
+emergency shelter. For those individuals who were not able to
+find safety that day, the consequences could be dire.
+ The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected
+victims of domestic violence and exacerbated their urgent
+needs. Stay at home orders, quarantines, and a lack of privacy
+that is inherent in an abusive home has created additional
+barriers to safety, and access to services.
+ Black, indigenous and other survivors of color have always
+faced increased barriers to safety such as systemic racism and
+historical trauma. The pandemic has heightened the need for
+culturally specific organizations who are better equipped to
+address the complex challenges facing victims from racial and
+ethnic minority populations.
+ The reauthorization of FVPSA provides an important
+opportunity to continue the progress we have made toward
+meeting the needs of domestic violence victims and breaking
+that terrible cycle of abuse. Victims needs are great and there
+is much to do to end domestic violence in our country.
+ In order to move closer to this goal, I urge the committee
+to prioritize the swift, reauthorization of the Family Violence
+Prevention and Services Act. I thank you for your time, and I
+look forward to answering your questions.
+ [The prepared Statement of Ms. Timmons follows:]
+
+ Prepared Statement of Vanessa Timmons
+[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
+
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Mrs. Timmons, for your
+testimony. And now I will recognize Ms. Schlater for five
+minutes for your testimony.
+
+ STATEMENT OF WENDY SCHLATER, VICE CHAIRWOMAN,
+ LA JOLLA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
+
+ Ms. Schlater. Miiyuyam and Nosun Looviq, hello and thank
+you, Chairwoman Bonamici, Ranking Member Fulcher, and committee
+Members. My name is Wendy Schlater and I'm the Vice Chairwoman
+for the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians.
+ The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, FVPSA, has
+made a difference in the lives of victims of domestic violence.
+FVPSA reauthorization with the enhancements will ensure the
+door to lifesaving services for all victims remains open. I
+urge this committee to support reauthorization with the
+proposed enhancements.
+ The 2018 Commission on Civil Rights Broken Promises Report
+found that the Federal Government's failure to fulfill its
+trust responsibility is at the root of inequities facing Native
+Americans in health, public safety, and housing.
+ I am also the Director of the Safety for Native Women's
+Program funded by FVPSA, responding to violence against women.
+We provide 24/7 crisis services, shelter, counseling and other
+assistance. Our FVPSA funding fills in the gaps that victims
+otherwise fall through.
+ One of those gaps is the justice system who often fails
+victims. For these victims, FVPSA's resources are all that's
+preventing them from going missing or being murdered. Your
+support for FVPSA enhancements is key to tackling these
+problems.
+ Only with FVPSA funding can we provide shelter through
+hotel rooms, safe homes, and shelters in the shelter that we
+opened which is often full. We also help children who are
+removed from their homes, placing them with other family.
+Without these resources our children are placed in a local
+children's center, which we avoid using because they have been
+further victimized in this center.
+ While FVPSA reauthorization expired in 2015, appropriators
+have set aside increased funds from 2017 to 2021 for an Alaska
+Native resource center to reduce tribal disparities through our
+national Indian domestic violence hotline, and tribal event
+programs.
+ The proposed reauthorization enhancements permanently
+authorize these changes made by appropriators. An authorization
+for an Alaska native resource center and Indian domestic
+violence hotline, increased overall authorizations, and
+adjustments to the formula increased what tribes received from
+10 to 12.5 percent. I know first-hand how FVPSA has made a
+difference.
+ One morning when I arrived at my office a woman and her
+children were parked in the front of our office and had spent
+the night there. The woman had run away the night before with
+her children, one of whom was autistic and had Down syndrome.
+She left with nothing because her husband had been abusive and
+burned their clothes, including their son's orthotic brace,
+which he needed to walk.
+ Through FVPSA we replaced the son's orthotic brace, found
+her temporary shelter, and later a home of her own. The
+National Domestic Violence Hotline launched a National Indian
+Hotline, called StrongHearts. Native advocates helped navigate
+the barriers facing Native victims, despite the rates of
+violence against Native women.
+ Native services are thin. Where the national hotline has
+more than 4,000 resources in their data base, StrongHearts has
+fewer than 300 Native resources. There are more than 1,500
+shelters nationwide compared to fewer than 60 Native shelters,
+hence the proposed authorization for a National Indian Hotline.
+ Tribal coalitions have been key to educating the
+policymakers. Examples of these resulting changes include the
+local shelter that we've opened, and the States that have
+established missing and murdered indigenous women's task
+forces. The technical assistance by coalitions has been at the
+heart of these changes.
+ Unfortunately, tribal coalitions are not authorized to
+receive FVPSA funding. This exclusion reflects a disparity
+faced by tribal coalitions and the tribes they serve. One of
+the proposed FVPSA enhancements is authorizing funding for
+tribal coalitions. In 2013 the National Indigenous Women's
+Resource Center developed the Alaska Native Women's Resource
+Center which helped to raise challenges facing Alaska Native
+victims as issues of national concern.
+ As a result, in 2017 Congress appropriated funds for the
+Alaska Native Resource Center, which has been an invaluable
+resource providing information to prevent domestic violence
+like never before. In addition, we have coordinated with the
+Native Hawaiians to address domestic violence, helping to
+create a grass roots organization with over 50 years of
+advocacy experience.
+ The 1993 Apology to Hawaiians recognized the economic and
+social changes over the centuries that have been devastating to
+the health and well-being of the Hawaiian people. Congress
+amended FVPSA in 2010 authorizing Native resource centers,
+including Native Hawaiian Center, which could help promote
+healthier communities.
+ In closing, the Federal Government must fulfill its trust
+responsibility to assist tribes and Native Hawaiians and
+safeguarding women. Failing to do so results in Native women
+experiencing disproportionate rates of violence. I urge the
+committee to reauthorize FVPSA with the proposed enhancements.
+Nu$son Looviq, my heart is good. Thank you.
+ [The prepared Statement of Ms. Schlater follows:]
+
+ Prepared Statement of Wendy Schlater
+[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
+
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you for your testimony. And I
+will now recognize Ms. Novoryta for five minutes for your
+testimony.
+
+ STATEMENT OF AMI NOVORYTA, CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER, CATHOLIC
+ CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO
+
+ Ms. Novoryta. Chair Bonamici, Ranking Member Fulcher, and
+Members of the subcommittee, thank you for giving me the
+opportunity to testify on how Catholic Charities of the
+Archdiocese of Chicago strives to prevent domestic violence and
+promote healthy communities.
+ Catholic Charities is one of the largest social service
+providers in the Midwest, and I am here today as Charities'
+Chief Program Officer. For 104 years, Catholic Charities has
+served and accompanied anyone in need in Greater Chicago. Every
+year, Charities' helps nearly 200 survivors of domestic
+violence, and those at high risk through emergency shelter,
+safety planning, counseling, legal services, and transitional
+housing.
+ Our wrap-around services and our partnerships help
+survivors and in many cases their children improve stability
+and restore security.
+ The survivors that we serve at Catholic Charities Chicago
+face staggering challenges. One hundred percent live below the
+Federal poverty line. They come to us as survivors of
+intergenerational trauma. They fear losing their children. They
+often have prolonged exposure to substance abuse and are
+experiencing homelessness or are unstably housed. Almost
+universally, they are in poor physical and emotional health.
+ Survivors are often isolated due to cultural factors,
+language barriers, and lack of awareness of their lawful
+protections. Moreover, they have inadequate support once they
+leave the abusive situation.
+ It is often the church, and Catholic Charities, to which
+survivors turn. The role of trusted, faith-based providers in
+this service arena is profound. We are finding that COVID only
+compounds the struggles faced by the survivors we serve. Since
+the pandemic began, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline
+reports a 15 percent increase in calls and a 2,000 percent
+increase in text messages requesting help.
+ Additional burdens include financial stress, unemployment,
+isolation, increased family conflict, and deepening mental
+health issues. For persons experiencing domestic abuse,
+lockdowns and other COVID restrictions have forced them to
+spend more time with their abuser, and less time with their
+support network, increasing survivors' difficulty trying to
+flee.
+ A grim reality is that flight from an abusive situation
+often leaves survivors without a place to call home. In
+response, Catholic Charities operates two transitional housing
+programs for domestic violence survivors. While families are in
+a safe environment, Charities supports them on their journey
+toward healing and recovery, with a long-term goal of securing
+permanent housing and stable employment. We offer free legal
+services, including facilitating orders of protection and court
+representation.
+ Although survivors may reside with us for up to 2 years,
+families typically transition after 12 to 14 months. Once a 1-
+year housing agreement is secured, Charities arrange for the
+family to move into its new home. With our support, survivors
+arrived with a truckload of furniture, household supplies and
+clothing, and often with savings of $2,000.00 to $3,000.00.
+ Most important is their increased self-sufficiency and
+their deep connection to a supportive, faith-based community.
+Our presence continues in many survivors' lives through after
+care programming, including support groups, and access to food,
+clothing, school supplies, and other necessities.
+ Even through COVID, 100 percent of the survivors that we
+have served remain in stable, permanent housing. Prior to
+COVID, 68 percent sustained full-time employment. Today
+employment is an ongoing struggle.
+ This winter we began offering new services for survivors of
+domestic violence on the west side of Chicago where African
+Americans and Latinx communities have been hardest hit by
+COVID. Our staff offer trauma-informed counseling and intensive
+case management. We are collaborating with churches, hospitals,
+and others to expand access to free, confidential services for
+survivors. Together we are helping people regain control of
+their lives and continue their healing process.
+ Our shelters and our healing recovery programs help
+survivors to rebuild their lives with hope and dignity. Thank
+you for this opportunity to lift up our work before you today.
+ [The prepared Statement of Ms. Novoryta follows:]
+
+ Prepared Statement of Ami Novoryta
+[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
+
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you for your testimony. And
+finally, we will hear from Dr. Miller. I recognize you for five
+minutes for your testimony.
+
+STATEMENT OF ELIZABETH MILLER, MD, Ph.D., DIRECTOR, ADOLESCENT
+ AND YOUNG ADULT MEDICINE, UPMC
+ CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH
+
+ Dr. Miller. Thank you, Chairwoman Bonamici, Ranking Member
+Fulcher, and Members of the committee. Thank you for the
+opportunity to speak with you today on the importance of
+preventing domestic violence and child abuse and reauthorizing
+the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, FVPSA.
+ My name is Dr. Liz Miller. I'm a Professor of Pediatrics
+and Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. I also
+direct Adolescent and Young Adult Health and Community Health
+at UPMC Children's Hospital.
+ I'm here today to share with you some of my personal
+reflections over the last 20 years working as a pediatrician
+and researcher. And I begin with a story from two decades ago
+while I was still a physician in training. I was volunteering
+one night a week in a clinic for young people who were unstably
+housed.
+ A 15-year-old came in for a pregnancy test. She did not
+want to be pregnant and was not using any contraception. Her
+pregnancy test was negative. I offered her education. Along the
+way I asked her the usual domestic violence screening question
+I've been taught to ask. Are you feeling safe in your
+relationship? To which she nodded a quick yes.
+ I finished with her exam, gave her some health information,
+and encouraged her to come back if she wanted help preventing
+pregnancy. Two weeks later she was in our emergency room with a
+severe head injury, having been pushed down the stairs by her
+boyfriend. That experience fundamentally shifted my career.
+ I dedicated myself to understanding more about the impact
+of violence on young people with opportunities created by
+FVPSA, I have been able to provide some of the evidence that we
+can indeed prevent violence. For this testimony I'm going to
+focus on two evidence-based programs.
+ One, in partnership with the National Health Resource
+Center on Domestic Violence run by Futures Without Violence, a
+FVPSA grantee. I co-created an intervention for healthcare
+settings that can reduce rates of violence. This approach,
+which we call CUES, C for confidentiality, U for universal
+education, E for empowerment and S for support, has been shown
+in several randomized trials to be effective.
+ A second program I'd like to lift up is called Coaching
+Boys Into Men. This violence prevention program inspires
+athletic coaches to teach their young athletes about healthy
+and respectful relationships. In randomized trials with both
+high school and middle school athletes, the program has found
+dramatic reductions in relationship abuse and sexual violence 1
+year later.
+ In fact, our team recently published an estimate that for
+every 1,000 boys exposed to this program, 20 cases of sexual
+assault are prevented. Given that the Centers for Disease
+Control and Prevention, the CDC, estimates one sexual assault
+costs our society about $123,000.00.
+ The return on investment of a program like this is immense.
+I strongly recommend the reauthorization of FVPSA. While the
+FVPSA program is administered by Family and Youth Services
+Bureau within the larger Administration for Children and
+Families, it is the Delta Program administered by the CDC and
+authorized as part of FVPSA that focuses on prevention.
+ The Coaching Boys Into Men Program I mentioned, has been
+implemented across the county using Delta funding. And Delta
+extends only to about 10 States each year, so I recommend that
+we continue to fund Stated local partnerships, via the Delta
+program to test new and innovative ideas for prevention.
+ Second, to provide base-line funding so all of our States
+and territories may have designated funding for prevention, and
+finally to provide additional designated funding to the Family
+Violence Prevention and Services Program within Family and
+Youth Services Bureau so that our victims service agencies can
+also support prevention activities.
+ I also want to go back for a moment to the story I
+mentioned at the outset. Although my patient was not pregnant
+that day, she could have been among our young people who are
+pregnant and parenting. The Pregnancy Assistance Fund
+previously played a vital role in helping this most vulnerable
+group.
+ Young people who are pregnant and parenting need extra
+support to succeed--high quality childcare, education, housing,
+food security, transportation and certainly comprehensive
+healthcare. So, I will leave you with three thoughts.
+ Violence is preventable. Second, to prevent domestic
+violence and child abuse we must take a holistic approach. And
+finally, FVPSA is an excellent Federal program. We know it
+works. Rarely have so few dollars accomplished so much to help
+people.
+ And we can do more to support prevention. First, by
+expanding the Delta Program so funding can reach all States.
+And second, by authorizing additional prevention funding out of
+the Family Violence and Services Office. Thank you for the
+honor and privilege of sharing these thoughts with you today,
+and for your consideration. I'm now ready to take your
+questions as well.
+ [The prepared Statement of Dr. Miller follows:]
+
+ Prepared Statement of Dr. Elizabeth Miller
+[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
+
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you so much, each of you, for
+your excellent testimony.
+ Under Committee Rule 9(a), we will now question witnesses
+under the five-minute rule. After the chair and Ranking Member,
+I will be recognizing Members of both subcommittees in the
+order of their seniority on the full committee.
+ And again, to make sure that the Members' five-minute rule,
+staff will be keeping track of time and the timer will sound
+when your time is over. Please re-mute your microphone.
+ And as chair, I recognize myself for five minutes.
+ Mrs. Timmons, thank you so much for your work and
+commitment to helping survivors in Oregon. I'm impressed by
+everything you've accomplished over the years. I learned a lot
+from our conversation last week. Recently, Congress provided
+450 million dollars to support survivors of intimate partner
+violence and sexual assault during the COVID-19 pandemic.
+ So, I wanted to ask you could you please tell me more about
+the operational challenges that programs in Oregon have
+experienced during the pandemic, and during prior disasters
+that have made supplemental funds so critical?
+ Ms. Timmons. Thank you. Yes. Survivors in Oregon really
+struggled early on to get the proper PPE, or proper equipment
+to keep our shelters open and keep survivors safe while they
+were in shelter. We struggled significantly with getting masks,
+and cleaning supplies.
+ And shelters in our State are small. They're primarily
+homes that have been transformed into shelters. And so, this
+was a significant barrier to safety. We also had fires that
+raged through our community which caused some shelters to have
+to close and move survivors into hotels.
+ We were struggling with really basic needs at that point
+from food to water, to clothing and some of the really basic
+things that folks needed. One of the things that I also want to
+touch on in terms of COVID is that the disproportional impact
+that COVID has had on tribal and [inaudible] of black,
+indigenous and people of color communities that are in Oregon.
+ And I think that there has been a significant impact to
+advocates in those communities who are doing that work. We saw
+reductions in volunteers. We saw reductions in advocates being
+able to do the work that they need to do as they're taking care
+of their elders, taking care of their children, while also
+trying to keep survivors safe.
+ We also had to pull all of our sexual assault advocates
+that were doing accompaniment to hospitals, out of the
+hospitals, and find alternative methods to do sexual assault
+advocacy. So the COVID-19 impact has just been incredibly
+broad.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. I don't want to cut you off, but I
+want to get a couple more questions in.
+ Ms. Timmons. Please do.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. It's very, very helpful.
+ Ms. Timmons. Any time.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. I just wanted to recognize Ms.
+Novoryta. You've mentioned some of the same things in your
+testimony too about the challenges during COVID. I wanted to
+ask Vice Chairwoman Schlater, we know that the Family Violence
+Prevention and Services Act administered as we know by
+Department of Health and Human Services, approaches intimate
+partner violence from a public health perspective.
+ And why is the public health approach so important for
+Native survivors, and what are some of the barriers that Native
+survivors face in getting assistance from places, for example,
+the criminal justice system?
+ Ms. Schlater. Thank you Chairwoman Bonamici, I'll get back
+with you more in detail in writing on that question. But you
+know, the answer that comes to the top of my mind right now is
+jurisdictional issues. And you know, who has jurisdiction over
+the incident, especially in a Public Law 280.C state like
+California.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Right.
+ Ms. Schlater. And so, it's really hard sometimes to even
+get a response from the justice system.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. Well, I look forward to
+finding out more about that. And Dr. Miller I'm concerned
+because during the pandemic, pregnant women of color, for
+example, have sometimes delayed or reduced prenatal care
+visits, and that has exacerbated complications.
+ We already have the complexities of the national maternal
+mortality crisis, so why is it so important, especially for
+survivors of color to continue to receive healthcare and social
+services that are provided by the Pregnancy Assistance Fund
+grants?
+ Dr. Miller. Thank you, Chairwoman Bonamici, for that
+question. The maternal mortality is something that's deeply
+personal for me. Here in Pittsburgh we recently did a study
+where we rank the third percentile, so 97 percent of other
+comparable cities across the country look better than us on
+maternal mortality.
+ So, we have been deeply, deeply engaged in this issue. And
+it is certainly complex, but the solutions lie in having really
+consistent and trustworthy health and social services, and the
+Pregnancy Assistance Fund is absolutely vital to that in terms
+of providing the social services and supports that are needed,
+and getting to those who are experiencing the greatest fear in
+marginalization.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you very much. And I'm going to
+set a good example because the clock is now at zero. I'm going
+to yield back and recognize Ranking Member Fulcher for five
+minutes for your questions.
+ Mr. Fulcher. Thank you. Madam Chair, and you certainly do
+set a good example. I've got my stop clock going. This question
+is for Ms. Novoryta. I got your name correct I think this time,
+forgive me. But I appreciate that you shared the value of
+faith-based organizations in serving survivors in this issue.
+Any objective review of history reveals that faith was a
+critical part of our founders and fundamentally important part
+of life in America.
+ I know I've seen first-hand in my own life the importance
+of the church in helping to meet the needs of the local
+community. Can you share a little bit more about why it's
+important for the faith community to be involved with this
+issue?
+ Ms. Novoryta. Sure. Thank you, Representative Fulcher. Due
+to the trust factor, many people go to their minister, clergy,
+staff at stay safe providers, like Catholic charities and
+others when they need help, whether it be for domestic
+violence, other sources of distress.
+ Similarly, what we're finding is that providing services
+at, or in connection with a church, temple, parish, helps the
+survivor feel safe. As have been shared today, isolation and
+control are very common in domestic violence relationships, and
+often the church, or another faith-based institution is a place
+that an abuser will allow their partner to go alone.
+ I think it's important to say too that for many faiths,
+believers may feel that they cannot leave an abusive
+relationship because they have taken a religious vow or
+sacrament, and the sacred ritual of marriage. It is empowering
+for them to hear from their minister, clergy, or a counselor
+connected to the faith, that they are not expected to stay and
+endure the abuse.
+ Mr. Fulcher. Thank you. And if I could just do a followup
+to that. I personally, I'm not Catholic, I'm evangelical
+Christian, so I don't necessarily understand the inner workings
+of Catholic charities. But what I do know is the positive
+impact that your efforts have had, and those appear to be
+undeniable.
+ So, this question is basically how do you do it in the
+sense of you must do some partnering in local communities. And
+how do you do it? How does it work?
+ Ms. Novoryta. So, survivors are often dependent on their
+abusers in multiple ways--financially, emotionally, socially.
+As Rachel Louise Snyder, she had in her 2019 book, No Visible
+Bruises, domestic violence is adjacent to so many other
+problems that we as a society grapple with--education,
+economics, mental and physical health, crime, gender, racial
+equality and more.
+ And so, what we know is that the protection and safety of
+survivors requires both policies and systems and partnerships
+that recognize that domestic violence is a public health crisis
+with enormous implications for public safety, homelessness, and
+economic insecurity.
+ So in our work with survivors, we know that an array of
+services, and a coordinated approach is necessary. We partner
+with other local trusted service providers, including local
+hospitals. The women's mental health program at Cook County
+Jail, the Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence, and
+others that offer job development, housing, and legal services.
+ What we do know is none of us can do this work alone, and
+so together we wrap services around the survivor, so that they
+can both become more self-sufficient, and also feel a part of a
+broader supportive network.
+ Mr. Fulcher. And thank you for that. And we've only got a
+little bit over a minute, so this will need to be a little bit
+quicker, but how are you funded? How do you keep the lights on,
+and the services going?
+ Ms. Novoryta. Yes. So, like everybody else has shared here,
+funding from the government for domestic violence services is
+limited, and so we combine both a combination of Federal and
+State funding as well as significant private donations from the
+local community.
+ Mr. Fulcher. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Novoryta, for
+what you do and your testimony, to the rest of our panel as
+well. Thank you so much. Madam Chair, I yield back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Ranking Member Fulcher. I
+now recognize Representative Adams from North Carolina for five
+minutes for your questions.
+ Ms. Adams. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to pull over
+and ask questions. Thank you to all of the witnesses for your
+testimony. African-American women experience intimate partner
+violence at a rate of about 35 percent higher than their white
+counterparts. However, they're less likely to use social
+services and seek out medical treatment for intimate partner
+violence.
+ Ms. Timmons, what are some of the unique and systemic
+barriers women in Black communities face in accessing support
+services?
+ Ms. Timmons. Thank you. African-American survivors
+definitely face significant barriers to accessing services. I
+think the most significant barrier that I have personally
+noticed when working with black women is the barrier around
+finding services that they can trust, and that they feel are
+responsive to the unique and culturally specific needs of their
+community, of their children, and of their families.
+ And so that's the biggest barrier, is looking for that
+culturally specific response that they feel they can really
+trust and get their unique needs met.
+ Ms. Adams. OK. What role does the National Center on
+Violence Against Women in the Black Community play in ensuring
+that victims in the community are connected with the
+appropriate resources?
+ Ms. Timmons. They play a significant role. The biggest role
+I think that they play for us in Oregon is making sure we have
+access to adequate information about the disparities in the
+black community, allowing us to understand where those gaps
+really are, and what are the best practices in responding to
+those gaps and those needs.
+ Ms. Adams. Thank you very much. So, we know that many
+people in our country do not feel comfortable calling the
+police when they need help. Vice Chairwoman Schlater and Ms.
+Timmons, can you talk more about what happens when victims
+don't feel safe calling the police, and what other resources
+can they turn to, and why these funding services are so
+important in these cases. That's for Vice Chairwoman Schlater
+and Ms. Timmons.
+ Ms. Schlater. OK. Thank you, Congresswoman Adams. So
+basically, without our program here, it was very--before these
+type of funds came into our community, it was very unsafe on
+our reservations because there was no accountability for
+offenders, and somewhat hopelessness.
+ And with tribal government's hands tied by jurisdiction
+issues, it was like if you called the sheriffs for a domestic
+violence call you'd get an 8-hour response, or no response at
+all. And that in turn led to more abuse for the victim who made
+the call for help, right?
+ And so, there have been incidents in our community where
+families have tried to intervene with you know, beating up the
+victim's perpetrator, but that hasn't resulted in anything
+healthy. That wasn't a good solution for that.
+ So with our program and our services, we've been able to
+build relationships with the local law enforcement, build our
+own tribal law enforcement program as well, and then really
+establish a life-saving link between the victim when they pick
+up the call for help there. So, Ms. Timmons?
+ Ms. Timmons. Thank you. I think one of the things that
+we've absolutely learned about domestic violence is one size
+dos not fit all, right? We can build wonderful, vigorous,
+culturally responsive responses to the multiple complicated
+issue of domestic and sexual violence.
+ This is not something that has--that we can create simple
+answers to. And I think that when it comes to law enforcement,
+there is absolutely a role that they play, an important role,
+in keeping us all safe from domestic and sexual violence, but
+it's everyone's issue.
+ And our whole community has to respond to it in vigorous
+and responsive ways from educating family Members on best
+practices and how to respond, to educating healthcare workers,
+to educating clergy, to educating our communities and
+neighbors, and so I think that when I think about you know,
+that law enforcement response, I think it's been a wonderful
+tool for many survivors, but when people are afraid to call law
+enforcement, they have to have just as strong, and just as
+wonderful a tool in their toolbox as well.
+ So, we have to move beyond one size fits all, and really
+respond to the needs that survivors are bringing us each and
+every day.
+ Ms. Adams. Great. Thank you both very much. Madam Chair,
+I'm going to yield back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Representative. I now
+recognize Representative Fitzgerald from Wisconsin for five
+minutes for your questions.
+ Mr. Fitzgerald. Thank you, thank you. I just wanted to kind
+of go back to one of the things that Ranking Member Fulcher had
+mentioned, and it's I think because of my knowledge of what
+goes on in the Milwaukee Archdiocese.
+ And Catholic Charities, I know, I'm just wondering overall
+kind of the financial picture because I know that many
+individual parishes that work with some of the non-
+denominational outlets that many women can reach out to.
+ And the one that I'm very familiar with, it's in my
+congressional district, it's called PAVE, People Against a
+Violent Environment. And I know that there's issues, you know,
+kind of across the spectrum on funding as a result of some of
+the parishes struggling, who often times set aside dollars for
+many of the programs related to the archdiocese and to
+charities.
+ So, whether it's Milwaukee Archdiocese Charities, or
+Chicago Charities, I'm just wondering if you can kind of
+comment on that, Ms. Novoryta? I hope I said that right, sorry.
+ Ms. Novoryta. You're close. It's Novoryta, it's Novoryta.
+ Mr. Fitzgerald. OK.
+ Ms. Novoryta. Yes. I mean to build on kind of what I think
+has been shared pretty universally across the comments today,
+funding for survivors of domestic violence who are 95 percent
+of survivors in Illinois, are women, is insufficient. And that
+is true at Catholic Charities of Chicago as well, and I think
+that speaks to both the need for Federal dollars come into
+local jurisdictions more frequently, and at a more significant
+level.
+ We have, in Chicago, how we have been able to continue
+these programs is I think in two ways. First it's through
+leaning on folks within our community to support the work that
+we're doing financially.
+ And second, it's as I spoke to earlier, we have significant
+partnerships outside Catholic charities. I think the other
+thing that might be important to mention is that within
+Catholic Charities of Chicago, so as a large organization, we
+serve about 400,000 people every year across a variety of
+services, and particularly through Federal funding and other
+resources we have housing programs, including transitional
+housing, permanent housing, other wrap around services as they
+relate to the counseling, trauma, informed therapy, excuse me,
+so on and so forth.
+ And so, we, our staff has become very solution oriented in
+kind of bringing the puzzle pieces they need together from
+different funding sources in different parts of the
+organization in order to provide services.
+ Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes, thank you very much. I know there's a
+series of challenges obviously, and I appreciate your testimony
+and you being here today. And I would yield back, Madam Chair.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald. I now
+recognize Representative Hayes from Connecticut for five
+minutes for your questions.
+ Ms. Hayes. Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you to our
+witnesses for joining us on this important hearing. In my State
+of Connecticut, I've seen them struggle to combat the surge of
+domestic violence during this pandemic. We've seen at our
+domestic violence shelters, 150 percent increase in capacity,
+and calls for help have increased by 71 percent.
+ But even before we reached this point, I saw my students in
+the classroom who were suffering with the long-term ripple
+effects of family violence. In Congress I've advocated for the
+need for trauma informed care, for students to help address the
+growing mental health crisis that they face.
+ I actually have a bill, the Supporting Trauma Informed
+Educational Practices Act that I've been working to get support
+on, because I know how critically important it is. Family
+violence prevention and support funds would also be good, and
+support of the National Center on Domestic Violence at Trauma
+and Mental Health is important, especially now.
+ So, my question today is for Ms. Timmons. Could you please
+speak to the importance of incorporating trauma informed care
+into our response to victims of intimate partner violence?
+ Ms. Timmons. Thank you. Trauma informed care, and trauma
+informed responses are really how I believe, are really how
+we're going to see ourselves through the domestic violence
+crisis and to the other side. I feel as if without trauma
+informed responses, it's very difficult to break the cycle of
+violence.
+ Trauma affects us in our whole bodies. It affects how we
+parent. It affects how we navigate our own healing, how we see,
+how we're able to access our own resources. So I really do feel
+like trauma informed care is central to the work that we're
+doing.
+ Everything that we've learned about trauma and how to apply
+it to our healing, healing our families, our organizations and
+our communities has brought us closer and closer to really
+ending this terrible epidemic of violence that we've been faced
+with.
+ Ms. Hayes. Thank you. There's another component of that.
+Like I said I was a classroom teacher for many, many years, and
+I saw family violence up--well, the impact of family violence
+up close, but also dating violence.
+ Many young people get involved with dating violence very
+early on, and in turn they are adults with the highest rates of
+interpersonal violence. Can you speak to what schools can do to
+help reduce domestic and family violence and promote safe and
+healthy relationships?
+ Ms. Timmons. Yes. Education. Education, education,
+education. I think that prevention is key to breaking the cycle
+of violence. We have to be able to teach our young people what
+consent is, what violence is, and what healthy relationships
+are, so I think that's really, really important.
+ Ms. Hayes. Thank you. My last question, nearly 20 years ago
+Congress authorized special grants under the Family Violence
+Prevention and Support Act. Dr. Miller, can you speak to the
+importance of a multi-general approach, particularly as it
+relates to these types of relationships we've seen, as we've
+heard before where multi-generations deal with this type of
+violence? What can we do in Congress?
+ Dr. Miller. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for bringing
+the focus back to prevention as well, because while FVPSA is
+about services and supporting our victim's service agencies to
+do the work of supporting our survivors with the trauma
+sensitive responses that Ms. Timmons was just speaking to, it
+is also absolutely critical that we invest in prevention.
+ And prevention includes recognizing that we need to support
+more adult allies and peers, right? So, to Ms. Timmons' point
+education, integrating dating violence prevention, but more
+broadly, trauma sensitive school practices as you're talking
+about, Congresswoman Hayes, into our K through 12 schools.
+ That also includes, however, from the zero to five, you
+know Kindergarten readiness that thinking about positive
+parenting strategies, creating this sort of audacious hope,
+right, that positive parenting is possible in that context of
+recognizing that healing and recovery is possible.
+ Our families are not broken. Our communities are not
+broken. We need to come together. As Representative Fulcher was
+saying, this is local. Because indeed it is a local response of
+creating a collective from our faith-based collaboratives, our
+schools, our community organizations and the vital importance
+of our victim's service advocates who create a community of
+care.
+ Ms. Hayes. Thank you so much. Madam Chair, I yield back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you so much. We now have the
+Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Ranking Member Foxx, I
+recognize you for five minutes for your questions.
+ Ms. Foxx. Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. My question
+is for Ms. Novoryta. What has been the biggest impact of COVID
+on your programs that worked to address the problems of
+domestic violence? Have you seen any change in outreach through
+your peers, as society has started to open more recently?
+ Ms. Novoryta. Yes. We are finding that many victims of
+domestic violence are reaching out to Catholic Charities for
+other immediate needs because they lost their job, they might
+need financial assistance to stay in their homes. They need
+food. And when our staff are able to meet that need, and begin
+building a relationship with that individual, we begin to learn
+more about other struggles, including with domestic violence.
+ In many of the communities that we serve, stores are
+closed, houses of worship are not open. Schools, community
+centers are closed, and we're finding that we need to really
+meet people where they are. And over the last year that has
+been at hospitals.
+ And so, similar to what Dr. Miller has been sharing, we've
+been working with local hospitals to train physicians, their
+social workers, their case managers, to screen patients for
+other social determinants of health, and also for domestic
+violence.
+ They then are referring their patients to Catholic
+Charities. We're also finding that we need to be more flexible,
+and I think this is one of those millions of trends that
+started during COVID and are going to continue.
+ Lack of privacy is a huge barrier to counseling. The 45-
+minute sessions that have been our standard of care is rare.
+Instead, our trauma informed counselors are connecting with
+survivors more frequently, often via text messages, and short
+phones calls. We are responding to spontaneous calls, and we're
+doing more regular safety checks.
+ It's more difficult for survivors to get time alone, and so
+we're coaching them on ways to do that. Sometimes that means
+locking yourself in the bathroom. That means going for a walk
+with your phone. That means sitting in your car.
+ I think another thing to note in this conversation is that
+the survivors that we work with who again, 100 percent are
+below the Federal poverty line, do not always have access to
+Zoom, which is bringing us here today. And this is particularly
+challenging because during COVID, survivors have been expected
+to participate in court via Zoom.
+ And so, we now have mobile telehelp cars at 10 of our sites
+across Greater Chicago, in part so survivors have a safe,
+private place to access and attend court on behalf of
+themselves and often their children as well.
+ Ms. Foxx. Well, thank you. That was just a pearly good
+answer. I had a followup, a bit of a followup to that, but
+you've done such a fantastic job of answering the question my
+followup is related to it. It was as you've described, how
+you're able to work with other groups through your provision
+services like food, childcare, legal services, in house, which
+has allowed you, as you've described, to be more effective in
+identifying the people who need services for domestic violence.
+ I think you've done a very, very good job of that. I want
+to thank you, and everyone involved with Catholic Charities for
+stepping up to do what you do. What you've done for generations
+of people, it's fantastic. Because I've had to split, I've gone
+from one hearing to another today, I don't know if there was
+any opportunity or if you were denied any opportunity to make
+comments on something someone else said or to finish up an
+answer.
+ Do you have--I think I have a little time left. Do you have
+anything else you want to add to the discussion?
+ Ms. Novoryta. I will add, I want to build on what Vanessa
+Timmons was sharing about the importance of trauma informed
+counseling. And briefly, last August we began working with a
+mother and her 5-year-old daughter, and our trauma informed
+therapist met with this child after she spent the morning
+clutching the hands of her mother as she lay recovering in
+critical care after her husband nearly beat her to death.
+ And that little girl spent the night crying, ``Mommy,
+mommy, mommy.'' She told our therapist that she wanted her mom
+to hear her voice before God took her away from her. The
+survivors and the families that we serve, I'll be brief, have
+suffered and continue to suffer from trauma, and professional
+counselors with the credentials, trauma informed expertise and
+experience are just essential to our work, not only with
+adults, but the children.
+ Ms. Foxx. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. I yield
+back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Ranking Member Foxx, and no
+worries about going over on that, I think that was a very
+compelling story that we all benefit from hearing, tragic as it
+may be. Next, I recognize Representative Leger Fernandez for
+five minutes for your questions.
+ Ms. Leger Fernandez. Thank you, Chair Bonamici, and thank
+you to all our witnesses for joining us today and for evoking
+the response of a tear in the eye over these stories, right.
+But I think we need to make sure that we take these stories,
+heartbreaking as they are, and take them as our call to action.
+I will say I've worked with Catholic Charities over many
+decades and their excellent work with immigrants who've been
+welcomed and supported by Catholic Charities regardless of
+their status, and I've always appreciated that of them.
+ And Ms. Novoryta, thank you for detailing the work you've
+done with survivors and making it come home. Dr.ller, thank you
+for your audacious hope that it is possible to prevent violence
+and break the cycle.
+ I want to address my first question is to Vice Chairwoman
+Schlater. Your testimony did highlight that American Indian and
+Alaska Native women experience higher rates of violence than
+any other race or ethnicity, about close to 50 percent. And
+then there are the fact that there are fewer shelter programs
+that we need to support coalitions, especially given this
+jurisdictional issue.
+ I completely agree with you that we are failing in our
+trust obligations and must do more. So Ms. Vice Chairwoman,
+could you please share what you believe Congress should focus
+on to better protect Native women, both in the reauthorization
+of the Family Violence Protective Services Act, and if you
+believe we should do more in some other area as well for
+protecting our sisters.
+ Ms. Schlater. Thank you, Congresswoman Fernandez. Yes, so
+you know the enhancements that we're proposing in this
+reauthorization of FVPSA are very critical for the tribal
+program increase, tribal grants increase from 10 to 12.5
+percent, the dedicated funding for a national indigenous Indian
+domestic violence hotline.
+ The direct funding for the Alaska Native Resource Center,
+and last for our Hawaiian Native sisters as well. They've been,
+you know, neglected, you know, over the decades by the Federal
+Government as well. And so, for their resource center as well.
+You know on Congresswoman Hayes' comments on informed trauma
+care, we need more funding dedicated toward that as well.
+ Because we know that the solutions lie within the tribal
+teachings of our people and our language. And when we do
+cultural activities with our youth and then when we do peer
+counseling with the women and the men that we service, and we
+go back to our stories and our teachings, it gives great
+comfort.
+ And it also gives an example on how to be a good relative,
+right? And so, for like our young boys group that we work with,
+you talk about prevention. We teach our boys rattling, and so
+to hold a rattle is sacred for our songs.
+ And so, if you're holding a rattle that is sacred, then you
+don't hurt anybody with your hands. And if you're singing those
+songs, you don't hurt anybody with your words, right? And so
+and there's a whole teaching that goes into the rattle as well,
+and as it deals like with consent, and you know, asking for the
+rattle to be put together, and you know, representing the seeds
+inside the rattle, representing the family.
+ So those are beautiful teachings that we work with, with
+our youth. And for the young girls group we do singing, and
+dancing as well. As so we talk about the regalia that they
+wear. And that the honor that it is that some of the family
+Members make their pieces of regalia that they put on.
+ And so that they in return, you know, are to take care of
+themselves first, because they are sacred life givers. And then
+if women are given everything that they need to be taken care
+of, they in return will take care of the whole village. That
+includes the men and the elders, and everyone else, the
+children.
+ And so those are beautiful teachings, and that can come
+through with cultural specific trauma informed care. And so,
+I'll end there, but thank you.
+ Ms. Leger Fernandez. Thank you very much. And that
+highlights the need for flexibility. And I don't know if we
+have enough time, Ms. Timmons, but I wanted for you to address
+the issue of rural, addressing violence in rural areas. Much of
+my constituency are rural. Can you speak to that real quickly?
+ Ms. Timmons. Yes. The needs of rural survivors are quite
+unique and complicated, and I will try to get some information
+out to you. I think I ran out of time. Thank you so much.
+ Ms. Leger Fernandez. Thank you. Please do send that
+information. I apologize.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. No, I know it's an
+important issue. We look forward to receiving that information.
+And next I recognize Representative Thompson from Pennsylvania
+for five minutes for your questions.
+ Mr. Thompson: Madam Chair, thank you so much. Thank you for
+this incredibly important hearing, and thank you to all the
+witnesses who have taken time out of their busy schedules, and
+the great work that you do each and every day serving and
+protecting a lot of individuals to be here.
+ Ms. Novoryta, thank you for being here today, and you know
+to discuss an issue that affects one-third of all men and women
+throughout their lives. Their domestic violence. Domestic
+violence has been casted into the background for most of our
+history, sadly keeping it a hidden problem.
+ Survivors of domestic violence have often tolerated
+physical, mental, emotional abuse and silence out of fear that
+their spouses or partners would retaliate. You know, former
+battered women, civics organizations and professionals began to
+open shelters in the 1970's to provide services to abused women
+and their children.
+ And after seeing the great results from these efforts,
+Congress led a series of hearings in the early 1980's to
+understand the scope of this violence and explore possible
+responses. Now this led Congress to pass legislation that
+touched on all facets of domestic abuse, and legislation we're
+all very familiar with, originally passed in 1984 the Family
+Violence Prevention and Services Act, or FVPSA, is the primary
+Federal funding source that support emergency shelter and
+related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their
+families.
+ And since then FVPSA has addressed domestic violence
+through community driven solutions. There are a network of
+programs and services dedicated responding to domestic violence
+across the United States, including our U.S. territories.
+ Further, FVPSA funds nearly 1,600 community-based programs,
+their State formally grants, including nearly 60 programs were
+located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, my home
+State.
+ These programs provide necessary resources to local
+communities and help education individuals on health
+relationships, as well as offer legal assistance, crisis
+intervention and counseling. Now this critical legislation has
+been authorized seven times since its enactment, most recently
+in 2010 for 5 years for Fiscal Year 2015.
+ And I've always supported this program, including
+introducing legislation in previous years that would offer a
+clean reauthorization of FVPSA for 5 years. Additionally
+supported the CARES Act, which provide 45 million dollars in
+supplemental funding for FVPSA, formal grantees and 2 million
+dollars in supplemental funding for the National Domestic
+Violence Hotline.
+ The Congress should now focus on ways to support, continue
+to support pathways to strengthen families to prevent domestic
+violence and to continuing to support survivors despite the
+added challenges that COVID has posed.
+ Ms. Novoryta, you mentioned in your testimony that COVID-19
+compounds the struggles faced by survivors of domestic
+violations, and the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline reports
+a 15 percent increase in calls, a 2,000 percent increase in
+text messages requesting help.
+ Can you elaborate on how Catholic Charities aided survivors
+and those seeking help during the pandemic?
+ Ms. Novoryta. Absolutely, absolutely. So, most of our
+referrals come to us from parishes, local hospitals, and
+community partners, or from other programs and services within
+Catholic Charities. A client might come to us for rental
+assistance, and then when we respond to that need, a
+relationship begins to take root, trust builds, and then more
+serious issues, including often domestic violence come to
+light.
+ We also receive referrals through our Domestic Violence
+Help Line, and immediately work with the victims on the phone,
+or subsequently in text messages to identify their needs and
+their options, and work with them in the moment to create a
+safety plan with them.
+ The greatest emergency need that people who call our help
+line bring to us is for safe housing, away from their abusers.
+We first see if we can bring them safely into one of our two
+transitional housing programs. We also are integrated into the
+Chicago and Greater Network of Service Providers, and we have
+agreements at our--they did not exist years ago, with ride
+share companies to transport survivors in crisis to safety 24/7
+when they are ready to leave.
+ So those are some of the ways that survivors come to us,
+and our work is with them. It begins immediately on that first
+call.
+ Mr. Thompson. Well, let me just close with saying
+congratulations. I understand that were 100 percent of the
+survivor families served by Catholic Charities remain in
+stable, permanent housing, including during COVID. That is
+quite an accomplishment and thank you for all that. And thank
+you to all the witnesses for the work that you do serving,
+preventing--working to prevent domestic violence, and serving
+the survivors of it. And thank you, Madam Chair.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Representative. And I now
+recognize Representative Mrvan from Indiana for five minutes
+for your questions.
+ Mr. Mrvan. Thank you, Chairwoman. My question is for Ms.
+Novoryta. How are you? I'm from Gary, Indiana, so the Gary
+Diocese. So, when you speak to the Chicagoland greater area,
+you're speaking to me, because we fall into that category, and
+it's wonderful to have you here.
+ First, I want to mention to you that as a North Township
+trustee, I did Poor Relief assistance. I represented 180,000
+people, and I worked very closely with Catholic Charities,
+specifically on immigration. Candy Torrez, who came over from
+Puerto Rico, I worked hand in hand with her. I know she's
+familiar with what you guys do, and we worked with domestic
+violence individuals.
+ And I personally have sent through Dr. Miller, we do intake
+for people who need assistance, and we use the A study, and we
+work with people. And every case is a snowflake, as you're
+talking about, right?
+ So my question to you directly, Ami, is can you give an
+example with a collective impact, so all of you witnesses know
+what I'm talking about, the collective impact of Federal and
+State government agencies working with you to better a
+survivor's chances of having a quality of life and better
+outcomes?
+ Just give me one example where Federal and State agencies
+came together and worked together in a collective impact to
+help a survivor.
+ Ms. Novoryta. Sure, I think that what I'd like to highlight
+as part of, in my response here, is the transitional housing
+program that Representative Thompson just mentioned. And
+housing is, I think, one of the most complex interventions to
+put into place, and to sustain over time. And it absolutely
+requires blending and rating public and private funding as well
+as a wide network of partnerships.
+ The success of this program that we found at Catholic
+Charities is three-fold. First, we provide transitional housing
+for up to 2 years. The healing does not happen overnight. And
+securing the skills, and then securing a job to have stable
+employment that takes time. And there are going to be
+challenges along the way.
+ Second, we know that housing alone is insufficient, and so
+in addition to the women who are in our transitional housing
+program, receive intensive case management services, access to
+benefits. This includes Snap, this includes WIC, this often
+includes Medicaid, and they commit to actively participating in
+a healing and recovery programming, including weekly classes,
+some of which are led by folks at Catholic Charities in
+Chicago, and some of which are from partner organizations.
+ These range from addictions and anger management, financial
+literacy, budgeting, mindfulness, journaling and reflection,
+that trauma informed counseling, English as a second language
+if needed, particularly with the immigrant community, and job
+readiness.
+ We also are able to provide onsite childcare if needed. And
+finally, as the last piece that cannot go unStated, is
+survivors actively participate in our aftercare program, that
+provides an ongoing support system. They know they can reach
+out if and when they are struggling, and they need extra
+support.
+ Our support doesn't have an end date. We continue to
+provide counseling, small group sessions, food pantry,
+clothing, to help our survivors over the long haul as they hit
+those bumps in the road.
+ Mr. Mrvan. And I just want to say the partnership that I
+had as an elected official in my agency to collaborate with
+those collective impact and those services such as Section 8
+housing, and access to housing.
+ Ms. Novoryta. Yes.
+ Mr. Mrvan. Those are all things that we worked together to
+make sure people had access to Federal programs. I thank you
+very much. And in closing I have a question for Ms. Timmons.
+Very quickly, Ms. Timmons, on my part quickly, we have seen an
+increase in the rates of physical intimate partner violence and
+sexual assault in this COVID-19 and the pandemic.
+ What characteristics do you think the COVID-19 pandemic
+have lent other than isolation to this increase in violence
+among domestic partners?
+ Ms. Timmons. Well, I think isolation plays a key role. I
+think that just the inherent lack of privacy and lack of
+support that happens with this kind of isolation is a
+significant piece. Also, the stress. There's a concurring, we
+see concurring incidents where there's stress, addiction,
+alcohol substance abuse use, and those kinds of things
+definitely increase if there's domestic and sexual violence in
+the family. And I think that that has played a significant
+role.
+ Mr. Mrvan. Thank you to all the witnesses. I appreciate
+your answers and your time and what you do for victims and
+survivors.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. And I now recognize
+Representative Bowman from New York for five minutes for your
+questions.
+ Mr. Bowman. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all
+the witnesses for being here. And thank you all for
+highlighting the need for trauma informed schools, and trauma
+informed education. A big shoutout to my colleagues for
+bringing up that particular issue.
+ You know my background is education. I worked 20 years in
+public schools as a teacher, counselor, and middle school
+principal, and trauma informed approaches do work, having more
+counselors in our schools, having more music programs, having
+direct instruction in these areas really work very strongly, so
+thank you all for highlighting that.
+ Dr. Miller, I wanted to ask you. One of the main prevention
+strategies in the Delta Program is engaging influential adults
+and peers. In your testimony you referenced the Coaching Boys
+Into Men Program, and the success the program has had with
+increasing positive bystander behaviors among middle and high
+school athletes.
+ Can you please elaborate on the successes of the program,
+especially around creating a culture of respect, and reducing
+intimate partner violence and sexual assault?
+ Dr. Miller. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you so very much
+for asking about this program. And Coaching Boys Into Men is
+just one example of the kind of prevention programs that we can
+co-create with communities. And you know the history of this
+work was recognizing that we needed more adult allies involved
+in this work, while victims service advocates do phenomenal
+work in our communities, more people need to be spokespersons
+for prevention.
+ And wow, coaches are amazing, right? Because they are role
+models, they're mentors, you know, and in some instances really
+serve as an adult caregiver role for many of our young people,
+especially young people in minority communities as well.
+ And so what is amazing about the Coaching Boys Into Men
+Program is that we ask coaches to spend 10 to 1five minutes a
+week talking about respectful language, talking about
+leadership, talking about consent, right, very, very basic
+healthy relationship skills, and that that is part of being a
+leader in the school community and on the team.
+ And what is really quite wild is that as athletes hear and
+discuss amongst themselves, they develop a code word of like
+they see a peer engaging in disrespectful behavior, they go,
+whoa, Boys to Men right, and it interrupts that behavior.
+ And so what we have seen with both middle school and high
+school, again in very rigorous randomized trials, is that at
+the end of the sports season these athletes who get exposed to
+the program are much more likely to speak up and stand up when
+they see disrespectful behavior.
+ And in fact, one of our local school districts that has
+probably turned out more NFL players in the country, is you
+know they were early adopters of Coaching Boys Into Men, and
+this is like the one school district where they say the
+football players are the most respectful in the entire school
+community.
+ And so, it is a joyful program. It's one that very easily
+athletic coaches are able to adopt, and this is really you
+know, the difference between the cost of prevention, which is
+training victims' service advocates training coaches to do this
+program that is otherwise free, right?
+ And compared to the cost of one sexual assault, the CDC
+estimating $123,000.00 to U.S. society for one sexual assault.
+The cost for one instance of intimate partner violence about
+over $100,000.00 for women, about $23,000.00 for men is what
+the CDC estimates.
+ And so, you know, we can all do the math very quickly.
+Prevention is a great return on investment.
+ Mr. Bowman. Awesome. Thank you for that. Ms. Timmons,
+research shows that trauma is intergenerational, with mothers
+transmitting trauma to their children. Children also bear a
+significant burden in the house when there is intimate partner
+violence. They may suffer significant trauma in their own
+right.
+ If we do not break the cycle of violence and trauma, how
+much do children stand to lose from the proliferation of
+domestic violence?
+ Ms. Timmons. That's an awesome question. Thank you. I think
+that one of the most devastating impacts of a 30-year career in
+domestic violence is seeing the impact on kids, of this--of
+domestic and sexual violence. And children stand to lose a
+significant portion of their future when they're impacted by
+this.
+ Our whole selves as I've said earlier, is impacted. I can't
+over-emphasize how holistic and inclusive and complicated that
+trauma impacts us as humans. And so, I just would say that
+children have a significant amount to lose if we don't
+intervene in the cycle of violence.
+ Mr. Bowman. So when we talk about a public health holistic
+approach, we're talking about education, K to 12 systems, we're
+talking about housing, we're talking about healthcare system,
+preventative measures in the community, and measures to support
+those who have been victims of emergency housing and other
+services. Thank you all for that. That was amazing thank you. I
+yield back my time.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. And now I recognize the
+Chair of the Full Committee Representative Scott from Virginia
+for five minutes for your questions.
+ Ms. Scott. Thank you, Madam Chair. Ms. Novoryta, you
+mentioned positive parenting. Exactly what does that mean? And
+why is it important?
+ Ms. Novoryta. Thank you for your question. And my father is
+going to be grateful that the name Novoryta is getting so much
+play today. I think that positive parenting which is a really
+critical and important aspect of the work that we're discussing
+today, was brought up by Dr. Miller, and I actually would love
+to ask Dr. Miller to comment further on that.
+ Mr. Scott. OK.
+ Dr. Miller. Thank you very much. So, the term positive
+parenting encompasses a number of different supports for
+parents. And I want to begin by, one, the first part is
+recognizing that for many parents, including adolescents who
+are pregnant and parenting, that they may not have always been
+exposed to healthy and respectful environments.
+ And in fact, we know for adolescents who are pregnant and
+parenting, that far too often it was also in the context of
+unhealthy environments. And so, exposure to violence is part of
+the story that we earlier heard about the ACE's study in
+adverse childhood experiences study as well.
+ So, we all recognize as Ms. Timmons was saying, that the
+intergenerational impact of exposure to violence, it can impact
+the way in which one parents. What is so vital however, is that
+how we approach and work with parents as a pediatrician, I both
+acknowledge that sometimes, No. 1, parenting is hard.
+ No. 2, parenting is extra hard for parents for whom they
+may have had prior exposure to violence, in that they may have
+been harmed as children. And the third is to say that they are
+not alone. The pediatrician's office, to be able to say there
+is no shame, no judgment here.
+ I'm offering information to all of the parents because I
+recognize that sometimes parenting is hard. And here are
+opportunities for parents? programs and support, yes.
+ Mr. Scott. Essentially positive parenting using positive
+reinforcement as a strategy to change behavior, rather than
+slapping the child?
+ Dr. Miller. Absolutely. But also recognizing the parents do
+need support, and so they need to be given the supports around
+mindfulness and wellness and recognizing that parent mental
+health is vitally important to the health and wellness of their
+children as well.
+ So, it is absolutely around identifying strategies to
+support your child's developing behaviors that does not involve
+corporal punishment, while simultaneously recognizing that
+parents often need more support and services.
+ Mr. Scott. Thank you. Vice Chair Schlater, are there
+complications in the criminal justice system that make it
+difficult to hold Native Americans who are guilty of violence
+accountable in the criminal justice system?
+ Ms. Schlater. Yes. Currently there are many challenges
+Congressman Scott. You know, one of them is, you know, non-
+Native perpetrators on Indian land. And I'll send you something
+in writing. I'll answer that in writing, thank you.
+ Mr. Scott. OK. Does this bill do anything about it?
+ Ms. Schlater. What this bill will do if the proposed
+enhancements are granted, it will give survivors, victims, an
+access to heal, and get those resources. But in regard to
+holding perpetrators accountable on our land for their actions,
+that I think falls outside of FVPSA's funding.
+ But kind of goes into Department of Justice. But if there
+are some considerations and measures and additional funds, we
+would gladly take it.
+ Mr. Schlater. And it probably wouldn't be within our
+jurisdiction. It would probably be in the Judiciary Committee,
+but I know when I was on the Judiciary Committee, we had some
+problems. You mentioned hotlines. How effective are they?
+ Ms. Schlater. They are actually a lifeline. We've noticed
+an uptick in calls to the Native Hotline, so we've also noticed
+on the National Hotline, as they're parenting the StrongHearts
+Native Help Line currently, that a lot of Native callers will
+call in, but if they don't get connected to the Native Hotline,
+prior to them going 24/7, they would wait until they could talk
+to a Native advocate on the hotline.
+ And so, the Native Hotline is gathering a lot of tribal
+resources and data that are specific to the survivors that can
+get connected to their lifelines back in their tribal nations.
+ Mr. Scott. Thank you, Madam Chair. I yield back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you, Chairman Scott. I now
+recognize Representative McBath from Georgia for five minutes
+for your questions.
+ Ms. McBath. Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and to all of
+the subcommittee Members. Thank you so much for having this
+important hearing today and allowing me to take part in it. And
+I want to thank all of our witnesses today for sharing their
+expertise and insight, and just thank you so much for all the
+preventive measures that you take to protect women and
+families.
+ Since it was first authorized in 1984, I'm so sorry, and I
+just lost my remarks for a second. Hold on. Oh goodness hold
+on. I knew that was going to happen. It's been happening all
+day. OK. Since it was first authorized in 1984, the Family
+Violence Prevention and Services Act has provided the resources
+and funding necessary for shelters and organizations to help
+survivors of domestic and dating violence.
+ And in that time however, we've learned, you know, there
+are far better methods for prevention and support. And that's
+why last Congress I introduced the Family Violence Prevention
+and Services Improvement Act, FVPSA, with Representatives Gwen
+Moore, Tom Cole and Katko, John Katko.
+ And I look forward to reintroducing this legislation again,
+thus we can provide more equitable resources and access to
+funding for all communities. Madam Chair, I think we've already
+done so, I'd like to enter into the record a letter of support
+we've already provided, that's been signed by 19 organizations
+stating their support for the FVPSA Improvement Act of 2019,
+and their desire for the passage of the comprehensive FVPSA
+legislation during this Congress.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Without objection.
+ Ms. McBath. Thank you. As the new and improved methods of
+prevention have been discovered over the years, so too has the
+link between intimate partner violence and gun violence.
+According to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, about
+4.5 million women in the United States have been threatened
+with a gun, and nearly 1 million women have been shot or shot
+at by an intimate partner.
+ Women are also five times more likely to be murdered when
+their abuser has access to firearms. And in my home State of
+Georgia, 73 percent of reported domestic violence related
+deaths were committed by firearms in 2019 alone.
+ Dr. Miller, my questions are for you. Could you please
+speak to how these efforts to reduce gun violence and murder
+are such an intrinsic part of a comprehensive plan to prevent
+intimate partner violence?
+ Dr. Miller. Absolutely. And I want to begin first by
+saying, Representative McBath, thank you so much for your
+leadership on this issue, knowing that it is deeply personal
+for you. And I'm just incredibly grateful for your lifting up
+the intersections of different forms of violence.
+ So, we know, right, that intimate partner violence is
+inextricably linked with gun violence, and violent loss in our
+communities. And when I talk about violence prevention, we were
+talking about trauma sensitive school practices, for example,
+or positive parenting strategies.
+ Ways to create safe and supportive environments. Those
+kinds of cross cutting violence prevention strategies where we
+bring in our faith-based organizations, our healthcare systems,
+our community organizations, those cross cutting preventions
+will also reduce gun violence and murder, and that is why the
+CDC has invested so much in prevention around influential
+adults and peers, safe and supportive environments as well as
+economic supports for our families, because we know that's what
+is needed to create safer communities.
+ But certainly, as a pediatrician, and somebody currently
+working in schools, I also want to lift up what Representative
+Bowman was identifying as a former middle school teacher. We
+currently are in the midst of this pandemic doing work
+virtually with young people who have been exposed to violence
+in our middle schools here in Pittsburgh.
+ Over 60 percent of the young people in our research study
+have experienced violent loss. That means losing a friend or
+loved one to murder. It is extraordinary exposure to violence
+that our young people are facing, and those of us who are on
+this call together have an obligation to work together to end
+gun violence, and intimate partner violence. So, I'm grateful
+to you for that question.
+ Ms. McBath. Well, absolutely. Thank you so much. And Dr.
+Miller, I know that you've also done some research on the
+impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence.
+Can you share some of what you learned about how prepared
+service providers were for the pandemic, and what needs to be
+done moving forward to ensure that intimate partner violence
+providers are prepared for any future emergencies such as
+COVID-19?
+ Dr. Miller. Absolutely. Thank you. So, I have had the
+immense privilege of working with the CDC and the American
+Academy of Pediatrics in Futures Without Violence, on a project
+interviewing intimate partner violence. victim service
+advocates, as well as child welfare workers, and
+administrators.
+ Domestic violence coalitions across the country, to
+understand how they have responded to this pandemic. And I have
+to say the victims service advocates were my heroes long before
+the pandemic, they certainly taught me everything I know about
+how manage and support survivors.
+ But they are like way up there in triple gold stars now,
+because what they have accomplished with almost nothing in
+terms of resources, has been extraordinary. Incredibly nimble
+ways of supporting survivors. Ms. Novoryta earlier was talking
+about the importance of privacy.
+ We had heard from advocates who had figures out all kinds
+of clever solutions for interacting with survivors in ways that
+support their privacy and safety. And what we are learning is
+that we were woefully unprepared for this, and we can do so
+much better.
+ Because it turns out that even in my city of Pittsburgh,
+intimate partner violence, child abuse, was not part of our
+emergency preparedness plan. That's changing, right? Because
+moving and coming out of this pandemic we recognize the victim
+services have to be much more robust. We have to be able to
+much more nimbly respond, because suddenly you know, congregate
+living in shelter was not a safe option, so.
+ Ms. McBath. Thank you so much for your answers. I yield
+back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you. We do have another Member
+joining us. Representative Spartz from Indiana, I recognize you
+for five minutes for your questions.
+ Ms. Spartz. Thank you very much. I appreciate it, it's
+important conversation. And I think it's you know, a pandemic
+puts a lot of different things you know to a different
+perspective, and really kind of brought to our attention.
+ What I want to ask, Ms. Novoryta, what do you believe how
+we can do a better job to individualize services to meet family
+needs and survivors where they are to make sure that we have
+more on the ground tailored services? If you have any ideas and
+could share with us.
+ Ms. Novoryta. Sure. Absolutely. So, this healing journey is
+a very long process with many ups and down. Every survivor's
+experience has been different. Everybody's journey is going to
+be different as well.
+ Many victims who come to us are not yet prepared to safely
+exit their situation. We do know that on average, the average
+survivor leaves their abuser seven times before they safely,
+fully leave. So, the work that we do at charities and so many
+of the other organizations that are being lifted up today help
+each person to create a plan to stay safe, understands their
+options and know that they are not alone.
+ It may take years, but we are right there with survivors,
+accompanying them in their journey. Meeting with the victims of
+domestic violence where they are, can mean meeting them in
+houses of worship. In preparation for today's discussion one of
+our counselors shared with me the experience of a woman who had
+been experiencing domestic violence for many years.
+ She and her 10-year-old son came to church regularly, and
+one Sunday in the homily a speaker who was there on behalf of
+Catholic Charities gave a sermon about domestic violence,
+saying that the church did not condone staying in a violent
+marriage, and shared where to seek help.
+ This woman reached out to Catholic Charities and she shared
+with her counselor, who I spoke with in preparation for today,
+that her 10-year-old soon sparked that outreach. He told his
+mom as they left service that day, hey, he was talking about
+you. He was talking about us.
+ We have so many different clients who come to us, and so
+many different situations, and at different points on their
+journey. We had one client recently who called because her
+physically abusive boyfriend is being released from jail.
+ She has no support. She is unemployed, and he is returning
+home. She's single, so her options currently for shelters are
+quite limited. We stayed on the phone with her and helped her
+create a safety plan in that moment and worked with her to
+secure transportation and placement at an emergency shelter the
+next day.
+ Another client called us recently for counseling. She has
+an order of protection and two children. She is employed, and
+wants to remain in her apartment, and we are providing
+counseling for her and her children, and helping her go to the
+court to amend her order of protection, creating that safety
+plan, and providing her with the linkages that she needs for
+food, to legal services, to kind of the whole gamut.
+ So I think here to your question and kind of the need to
+tailor services, those are three specific examples of women who
+have come to us at different points in their journey, in very
+different life situations, and really the expertise of the
+folks on the ground that we get to lift up today is essential
+to provide that trauma informed and client centered support,
+you know, an accompaniment along the journey.
+ Mr. Spartz. Just quickly to followup. Can you share some
+best practices? It seems to me it would take collaboration of a
+lot of different groups and entities. And sometimes it's very
+fragmented different things and services. Could you share some
+best practices you've seen of great collaboration of different
+organizations on the ground?
+ Ms. Novoryta. Absolutely. You know, I think one of the
+things that's happening in Illinois right now, which is really
+exciting, is a new alliance again, actually in the midst of
+COVID. And it's called the Alliance for Shared Safety. And what
+the Alliance for Shared Safety is doing, is it's bringing
+together advocates and organizations in different spaces.
+ So, bringing together folks from gun violence spaces, from
+domestic violence, doing criminal justice system reform, and
+folks who are kind of experiencing community violence. I think
+one of the things that's really powerful with that
+collaboration is recognizing the intersectionality of the
+issues, and they were successful.
+ We were successful in Illinois earlier in 2020 in bringing
+Federal dollars and some CARES dollars in a more integrated
+fashion, directly to organizations serving victims of violence.
+I think that's a really exciting collaboration to keep an eye
+on.
+ Ms. Spartz. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. I yield back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you very much. And that was a
+very meaningful testimony from all of our witnesses today. Now
+we're going to material submitted for the hearing record. I
+remind my colleagues that pursuant to committee practice,
+materials for submission to the hearing record must be
+submitted to the Committee Clerk within 14 days following the
+last day of the hearing, so by close of business on April 5 of
+2021, preferably in Microsoft Word format.
+ Only a Member of the subcommittee, or an invited witness
+may submit materials for inclusion in the hearing record.
+Documents are limited to 50 pages each.
+ Documents longer than 50 pages will be incorporated into
+the record via an internet link that you must provide to the
+Committee Clerk within the required timeframe, but please
+recognize that in the future that link may not longer work.
+ And at this time, because Representative McBath is on the
+Full Committee, but not on the subcommittee, I offer for
+inclusion into the record the materials that Representative
+McBath offered in support of the policy we're discussing today
+and those will be admitted without objection.
+ Pursuant to House rules and regulations, items for the
+record should be submitted to the clerk electronically by e-
+mailing submissions to [email protected].
+Member offices are encouraged to submit materials to the inbox
+before the hearing, or during the hearing at the time the
+Member makes the request.
+ Again, I want to thank each of our witnesses for their
+participation today. Members of the subcommittees may have some
+additional questions for you. We ask the witnesses to please
+respond to these questions in writing. The hearing record will
+be held open for 14 days in order to receive these responses,
+and I remind my colleagues that pursuant to committee practice,
+witness questions for the hearing must be submitted to the
+Majority Committee Staff or Committee Clerk within 7 days.
+ The questions submitted must address the subject matter of
+the hearing. And I now recognize the distinguished Ranking
+Member, Ranking Member Fulcher for a closing Statement.
+ Mr. Fulcher. Thank you, Madam Chair. To those who provided
+testimony today, this is one of those topics that is extremely
+necessary to have a conversation on, but I'll just tell you
+personally for me, it's one of the most difficult.
+ Put me down in front of a tax policy, infrastructure or
+foreign policy or resources, and I'm good to go. This one, it
+hits you where you live really quick. So, thank you for what
+you do. You've got a skill set and a knowledge base that I'm
+not as blessed with, but I know how important it is.
+ And Madam Chair, we probably agree on more of these things
+than we do on some of these other meetings today. But we know
+this is a problem. We know it's a significant problem. We know
+that women are extremely vulnerable with this. Multiple
+approaches are very necessary, and notably since 1984, the
+Family Violence Prevention Service Acts provided some vital
+support for survivors and families to State and local
+providers.
+ And most recently Congress has included additional support
+over the past year to respond to problems that have arisen due
+to the COVID. But just the high points that I wanted to
+reiterate was the local involvement is just so important. And I
+heard those who provided testimony affirmed that again, in
+areas that I don't have high expertise.
+ But I heavily suspect that there's a lot of things that are
+common denominators that have to be addressed that are very
+similar across the board. There are also things that are going
+to be different from place to place, and my hometown of
+Meridian and Boise is probably a little bit different from
+Chicago.
+ I mean, I can tell you it's a lot different than Chicago,
+but in terms of these issues there's probably some different
+approaches that are needed in the local, that personal touch,
+that you can do locally has got to be supported.
+ I am a huge fan of faith-based involvement with this issue,
+with civic groups it adds to that local side, and I think Ms.
+Novoryta, you articulated why that is very well-positioned to
+deal with these types of things. There's just some things that
+we can't do in government.
+ There are some things we can't do from Washington, DC, but
+Madam Chair that's my closing comment. To Ms. Novoryta, Dr.
+Miller, Ms. Schlater and Ms. Timmons, thank you for who you
+are, what you do. You're appreciated. Madam Chair, I yield
+back.
+ Chairwoman Bonamici. Thank you very much. And I now
+recognize myself for the purpose of making a closing Statement.
+I want to again thank our witnesses for guiding us through
+today's hearing. You each brought a particular expertise and
+answered our questions in a very meaningful way.
+ Intimate partner violence is a public health threat that we
+cannot ignore. I'm glad this has been a bipartisan
+conversation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues
+on both sides of the aisle to address this issue, and I
+especially of course we need the investment, and we also need
+to have that investment in prevention.
+ The increased rates of domestic violence during the
+pandemic have brought renewed attention to the urgent need to
+expand equitable strategies that prevent intimate partner
+violence and save lives. But let's be clear, this crisis is
+about much more than what's happened over just the past year,
+it's about the countless survivors across the country who for
+years have lived each day with the trauma of intimate partner
+violence.
+ For the health of our constituents and our communities, we
+must do everything we can to support survivors and eradicate
+intimate partner violence whenever and wherever it occurs. I am
+again, committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of
+the aisle to take meaningful evidence-based action to provide
+survivors with the support that they need, and to prevent
+intimate partner violence from happening in the first place.
+ I want to close by again encouraging anyone who needs
+support or help to visit www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-
+SAFE. If there is no further business without objection the
+subcommittee stands adjourned. Thank you again.
+ [Additional submission by Ms. McBath follow:]
+ [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
+
+
+ [Whereupon, at 1:51 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]
+
+ [all]
+