>APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK OF LYNN ROSENTHAL

(Senate - December 15, 2005)

   Mr. CRAPO, Mr. President, today I recognize outgoing executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Lynn Rosenthal. Lynn began at NNEDV in 2000, when I had the wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with her. Since that time, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of victims of domestic violence nationwide. In the course of the past 5 years, she has educated me and other Members of Congress about the high incidence and terrible consequences of domestic violence in the United States and has been instrumental in my becoming ever-increasingly involved in advocating for victims of this terrible crime.

   Lynn began her work in her home State of Florida where her leadership and character earned her the Florida Governor's Peace at Home Award. After working in domestic violence advocacy on a regional level, she went on to become the director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence before serving as the executive director of NNEDV.

   Lynn has devoted her life to advocating for safe and nurturing communities and promoting equality. With dignity, poise, and energetic conviction, as executive director of NNEDV, Lynn has been an invaluable voice of education on domestic violence issues for Members of Congress. She speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves, those imprisoned in their homes, victims of cruelty with no way out and no hope. Her work on the Violence Against Women Act has kept it a powerful policy tool to address the injustices that so many women, children, and men face in their own homes. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with such an incredible woman, and I wish her the very best as she goes to work on economic justice issues back in Florida.