123STA T . 3 7 1 0PROCL A M AT I O N84 28 — OCT. 1 , 200 9Proclam a ti o n842 8o fO cto be r 1, 2 0 0 9Nation a lD o mes ti cV iolence Aw a r eness M ont h,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Domesticv io l e n ce to u c h es the lives o fA me r ic a nsofalla g es , leaving a d evastating im p act on w omen, men, and children of ever yb ac k- ground and circumstance . A family ’ s home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness, and desperation when a woman is battered by her part- ner, a child witnesses the abuse of a loved one, or a senior is victim- i z ed by family members. S ince the 19 9 4 passage of the landmark V io- lence Against W omen Act, championed by then Senator J oe B iden, our N ation has strengthened its response to this crime and increased serv- ices for victims. Still, far too many women and families in this country and around the world are affected by domestic violence. During Na- tional Domestic Violence Awareness M onth, we recommit ourselves to ending violence within our homes, our communities, and our country. T o effectively respond to domestic violence, we must provide assist- ance and support that meets the immediate needs of victims. F acing social isolation, victims can find it difficult to protect themselves and their children. They re q uire safe shelter and housing, medical care, ac- cess to j ustice, culturally specific services, and economic opportunity. The Family Violence P revention and Services Act supports emergency shelters, crisis intervention programs, and community education about domestic violence. I n the best of economic times, victims worry about finding a job and housing, and providing for their children
these problems only inten- sify during periods of financial stress. That is why the American R e- covery and Reinvestment Act provides $325 million for the Violence Against Women Act ( VAWA ) and the Victims of C rime Act (V O CA). This funding will supplement the Federal VAWA and VOCA dollars that flow to communities every year, and enable States, local govern- ments, tribes, and victim service providers to retain and hire personnel that can serve victims and hold offenders accountable. These funds will also bring relief to victims seeking a safe place to live for them- selves and their children. Victims of violence often suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn, with little or no guidance and support. Sadly, this tragedy does not just affect adults. E ven when children are not directly injured by violence, e x posure to violence in the home can contribute to behavioral, social, and emotional problems. H igh school students who report having ex- perienced physical violence in a dating relationship are more likely to use drugs and alcohol, are at greater risk of suicide, and may carry pat- terns of abuse into future relationships. Our efforts to address domestic violence must include these young victims. During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of vi- olence. By providing young people with education about healthy rela- tionships, and by changing attitudes that support violence, we recog- nize that domestic violence can be prevented. We must build the ca- pacity of our Nation’s victim service providers to reach and serve those in need. We urge community leaders to raise awareness and bring at-
