Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

April 30, 2002

An estimated 302,100 women and 92,700 men are forcibly raped each year in the United States. There were 9,443 reported forcible rapes in California in 1999 alone. This number is undoubtedly low, since a majority of rapes and sexual assaults are never reported. Sexual assault is a problem of sweeping proportions across the nation.

One way that we can combat sexual assault is by raising public awareness, both here in Congress and in our local communities. California officially recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month by resolution in 1987.

Sexual assault is a problem for us all. As legislators, we are responsible for letting women and families know that we take the problem of sexual assault seriously. The Violence Against Women Act provides funding to battered women's shelters, rape crisis centers, a hotline for domestic violence community programs on domestic violence, and rape education and prevention. With the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2000, Congress reaffirmed this nation's commitment to ending domestic and sexual violence.

Full funding of the Violence Against Women Act will allow communities across the country to carry this legacy forward. Unfortunately, President Bush's budget falls $111.3 million short of fully funding critically important programs such as transitional housing for victims of domestic violence, shelter services, and rape education and prevention. As we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I urge my colleagues to dedicate the necessary resources to fulfill the mission of the Violence Against Women Act.