Congressman Dan Burton held a Violence Against Women Summit at the Indiana Wesleyan University Student Center on July 14, 2007. Burton invited a number of speakers from women’s and medical organizations, as well as law enforcement officials to discuss how to expose and stop spousal abuse.
Burton stated, “As a former victim of child abuse who witnessed my father beating my mother many, many times, I know how important it is that we focus on this issue as often as possible. Abuse of women and children must be exposed and stopped.”
A Personal Message From Dan
Growing up in Indiana, I personally experienced the horrors of domestic violence, and the issue is never far from my mind. I know first-hand the importance of treatment and counseling for the family victims of domestic violence. Fortunately, for me and my brother and sister, my mother was able to escape that horrible situation and built a stable home life for us. The public needs to be better educated about the effects of abuse. In addition, it is important that women and children living in abusive homes know that there are people and organizations available to help them. They should not have to live in fear of abuse. The law should be there to protect them, and when it does not, we should take steps to ensure their safety.
Videos
Dan Burton tells his own story
Burton introduces Anita Carpenter, CEO of the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault
David Gilbert- Chief of Police, City of Marion
Carrie Hyatt-Bloomquist- Legal Counsel, Indiana Coalition against Domestic Violence
Linda Wilk- Director, Hands of Hope
Loretta Moore- PREVAIL Victim Awareness Program
Rhonda Metzger- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Resources
Press Release
Shattering the Silence, WTHR (Channel 13), Indianapolis
Marion Chronicle-Tribune story about the Summit
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Representative Dan Burton:
H.Con.Res. 209, a bill supporting the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the sense of Congress that Congress should raise awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating effects on families.Summary: Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress should raise awareness of domestic violence in the nation by supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
HR 2876, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
Summary: Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to set fourth revised definitions and grant conditions, including: (1) not requiring matching funds for entities demonstrating financial need; (2) requirements for the protection of the confidentiality and privacy of persons receiving services under such Act; and (3) standards for the release and sharing of confidential information by grantees and sub grantees.
Passed the House September 28, 2005 Public Law 109-162.
For greater than a decade, VAWA has served as a landmark piece of legislation that has provided crucial aid to women, men and children experiencing violence. VAWA programs and services, with the support of federal, state and private funding, have changed and improved our nation's responses to violence at the federal, state, local, campus, institutional and tribal level.
The reauthorization of the VAWA extends core programs on domestic violence, and makes improvements to enhance our ability to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Furthermore, it also addresses the problem of violence against children and youth by including programs for college campuses and assistance to youth who are themselves victims of violence. Specifically, the legislation:
- Reauthorizes appropriate levels of funding for rape crisis centers, and efforts to combat violent crimes on campuses;
- Places special victim assistants in local law enforcement agencies to serve as liaisons between law enforcement and victims;
- Improves access to the courts for teenagers;
- Creates a national education curriculum for state and national judicial educators to ensure that all courts have access to information about relevant laws and best practices;
- Extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking offenses and offenses against children to 10 years; and,
- Includes a new program to enhance community responses to families where there is both child maltreatment and domestic violence.
Summary: Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of State, and the Department of Defense (DOD) to incorporate anti-trafficking and protection measures for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, into their post-conflict and humanitarian emergency assistance and program activities. Amends the Violence Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to extend the sexually violent offender registration program to foreign offenses. Amends the Homeland Peculiarity Act of 2002 to authorize the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement to appoint a guardian for an unaccompanied alien child if the Director believes such a child to be a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons.