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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Provisions authored by U.S.
Representative Jan Schakowsky to protect immigrant women from abusive spouses
were included in H.R. 3402, the Department of Justice Authorization Act, which
passed the House of Representatives today. These provisions would help protect
immigrant women fleeing abusive relationships by preventing the victim’s
deportation while their applications are considered, providing access to work
permits and economic security, and extending additional legal protections to
vulnerable family members.
Representative Schakowsky introduced H.R. 3188, the
Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act, on June 30. This comprehensive
bill would allow battered victims access to health insurance, food, and other
benefits required to escape their abusers in addition to the provisions included
in the Department of Justice Authorization Act which passed the House today.
Representative Schakowsky delivered the following
floor statement today in support of these provisions to protect immigrant women:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of provisions
from my bill, H.R. 3188, the Immigrant Victims of Violence Protection Act, which
are included in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization.
These immigrant provisions reflect hard bipartisan
work of many members of Congress. And I thank Representative Conyers for
his leadership on this issue. This bill is a good start. It would
help immigrant women who need to leave their abusive spouses by preventing their
deportation while their application is being considered. It would provide
them access to work permits so that they can get a job on their own and gain
economic security independent of their abusers. In addition to spouses,
this bill would also protect battered children as well as parents from abusive
family members.
However, we can do more. For example, this
bill does not include provisions which would allow battered victims access to
health insurance, food, and other benefits required to escape their abuser.
I will work hard to include these provisions in the final bill that is enacted.
As a first-generation American and someone who
represents an immigrant-rich community in Chicago, I understand the unique
challenges immigrant women face.
“My neighbor called the police, but I didn’t sign
the report out of fear,” said a Mexican immigrant and mother of four at a press
conference I held in Chicago. She said she stayed with her abusive husband
for 13 years to be with her children.
This is the voice of women across the country that
need our help to get out of the cycle of abuse. This Congress must remain
vigilant in this fight to protect one of the most vulnerable populations in this
country. I challenge my colleagues to make the fight against domestic
violence a top priority. |
