John Conyers

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act, which is simply a plan to default on the full faith and credit of the United States. Under this measure, the Treasury could not borrow above the federal debt limit for any other purpose than to pay selected holders of our debt, many of whom are outside the United States. While supposedly prioritizing this debt, all other already-incurred debt would still be paid by general revenues on a cash-flow basis. Forcing Treasury to default on many of our fundamental obligations, such as paying our active-duty troops, paying doctors and hospitals that care for our seniors on Medicare, paying veterans' benefits, and before American small businesses are paid. Raising the debt ceiling to pay bills already incurred should not be negotiable, and certainly should not be held hostage for cuts to programs that serve everyday Americans. The pursuit of this bill is not in the best interest of Americans. It rebuts economists who say that debt prioritization is an awful, if not impossible policy, especially in light of the fact that the Treasury makes 80 to 100 million payments per month. The Bipartisan Policy Center and the Council of Inspectors General on Financial Oversight, as well as the Treasury itself, all agree on the conclusion that it would be simply impossible for them to pick and choose which bills are paid and which are not. By virtually ensuring a state of daily defaults on legal obligations of the federal goverment, this misguided proposal is more likely to create chaos in credit markets than ease investors' fears. We should not forget the lessons of 2011, when we last neared default over disagreements to raise the debt ceiling. Political brinksmanship with the debt ceiling caused uncertainty on Wall Street, the U.S. government's credit rating was downgraded for the first time in history, and we saw increases in borrowing costs to the tune of $1.3 billion according to a report from the Government Accountability Office, which will add up to $19 billion in unnecessary additional debt over the next decade. The consequences of a default would be much worse and reverberate across our economy, affecting every American through higher interest rates, investors fleeing the U.S. market and broad economic uncertainty. This legislation has a very clear purpose--forcing the United States government to default on its obligations during forthcoming debt ceiling negotiations. America is not a delinquent nation, and we cannot risk becoming one. I urge my colleagues to oppose this dangerous bill, H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of National Nurses Week. Nurses form the backbone of our nation's healthcare system. Patients depend upon nurses when they are at their most vulnerable, families entrust the care and comfort of their loved ones to their capable hands, and a happy and healthy nursing workforce means a happy and healthy American people. This week is an opportunity for us to thank the roughly 3 million registered nurses in the United States, who provide the front-line patient contact that is critical to medical treatment that is effective and efficient--and they do so with a humanity that is refreshing. They provide understanding care to victims of domestic violence, a compassionate touch for family members who have lost a loved one, and the support and strength our wounded veterans need to recover. As our nation looks towards implementing the Affordable Care Act, nurses will play a leading role in providing cost-effective, high- quality care to millions of new patients. One of the most important things we can do to control costs and improve patient outcomes is encourage and support both current and future members of the nursing profession. The current nursing shortage is a major hurdle that we must confront if we want to lead the world in health care quality and efficiency. By recruiting, training, and retaining the best nursing workforce that we possibly can, our nation will be investing in itself. The acknowledged relationship between increased nurse staffing levels and decreased patient complications and reduced hospital stay lengths is too important to ignore. Shorter hospital stays means smaller premiums for all Americans. It also means fewer tax dollars being spent. But in more important terms, it means husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters who are around longer, with better quality of life. That is what nurses provide, and it is that for which I rise to say thank you.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1406, the so-called ``Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013.'' After reviewing the text, I must confess I am confused about how the Majority came up with the name for this bill. The ``Pay Working Families Less Act of 2013'' certainly does not have the same ring to it--but it would be a fair title for legislation that undermines the rights that workers have struggled for generations to secure. By repealing overtime protections in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, this legislation offers flexibility for bosses eager to exploit their workforce and roll back pro-family reforms that 21st century families need. In their place, is the illusion of flexibility wherein an employee can take overtime compensation in time rather than pay--but only when the employer decides it is convenient. However, just giving employers more flexibility is not what this bill is really about--H.R. 1406's ultimate goal is the systematic evisceration of overtime laws and all the benefits they guarantee. No longer will employers have an incentive to boost employment by hiring enough workers to do the job. No longer will employers be forced to do something as basic as treat employees equally. No longer will employers be forced to pay every employee time- and-a-half for working more than 40 hours a week. Instead, they can shuffle overtime hours to employees who agree to take time rather than compensation. Of course, this bill purports to protect against such manipulation. H.R. 1406's sponsor has said that the bill addresses these concerns because it bans employers from intimidating, coercing, and threatening workers. However, she also very clearly and very tellingly failed to include protections against discrimination. This lets employers force their employees to compete against one another for who will do the most work for the least amount of compensation. If my friends across the aisle were serious about being friendly to families, they would find a way to help them without gutting important wage and hour protections that middle class families need to survive. If my friends across the aisle were serious about workers' familial responsibilities, they would support Representative DeLauro's Health Families Act. If they wanted to ensure that an illness did not bankrupt a family, they would help working families save by supporting the Fair Minimum Wage Act. If they cared about working mothers, they would support the Paycheck Fairness Act so that women aren't receiving 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. Unfortunately, they simply are not serious--at least not about helping working class families find the stability and security that a flexible work environment offers. I urge my colleagues to provide working families with legislation that provides real workplace flexibility and oppose this flawed and disingenuous bill.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I have a one-sentence bill, H.R. 900, that repeals the sequester, and many of my colleagues have already begun talking about it and joining with me on it today. These cuts are currently diminishing our Nation's education quality, our research output, leaving more with untreated mental illness, more hunger, more homelessness and fewer Federal criminal prosecutions. The sequester means that we'll have 2,100 less food inspectors for examining the safety of our food. If Congress is unable to craft a bipartisan agreement that takes sequestration off the table, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 900, my one-sentence bill to repeal the sequester.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to begin our discussion with H.R. 1549, which will be up tomorrow, Helping Sick Americans Now Act. I am not supporting this bill because the bill's proposals are counterintuitive to the anticipated outcome of the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This legislation strips 4 years of funding from the prevention fund to pay for a very short extension of a new enrollment in the preexisting condition insurance plan. Further, the bill insists on a partisan offset that effectively eliminates the Prevention and Public Health Fund through 2016 to, instead, reopen the Federal High-Risk Pool Program provided by the Affordable Care Act through the end of the year. While I support reopening the high-risk pool, I cannot support how this bill goes about creating the funding.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Chair, this week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to take up the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). Among other things, the legislation would authorize open-ended sharing of threat information between certain private companies and the federal government, and grant those companies unlimited legal immunity. I--along with more than 30 civil liberties and privacy groups ranging from the ACLU to the Competitive Enterprise Institute--believe the bill is badly flawed, and will harm the privacy and civil liberties of our citizens. While the Intelligence Committee amended CISPA last week, purporting to address privacy-related issues, the changes do not ameliorate the core concerns I have with the bill. CISPA would create a ``Wild West'' of information-sharing, where any ``certified'' private-sector entity could share information with any federal government agency for various ill-defined purposes. By allowing for the direct sharing of information between the private sector and the National Security Agency, as well as other Defense Department agencies, the legislation hastily casts aside time-tested legal prohibitions against intelligence agencies and the military from operating on U.S. soil. The bill should be amended to prevent this direct sharing with non-civilian agencies. CISPA would also create duplicative information-sharing processes with no central oversight or accountability. Successive administrations have expended enormous resources building proper information-sharing programs at the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI; these efforts should be enhanced, not clouded by permitting the proliferation of redundant programs across the federal government. The legislation also removes current legal protections applicable to companies that facilitate and process our private communications and share them with the government and one another. Companies sharing information would be exempt from all privacy statutes and would be relieved of liability for recklessly sharing, or deciding not to share information. Without narrowly defining the information that may be shared, limiting to whom it may be shared and why, and preserving mechanisms to provide accountability for wrongdoing, the privacy of our citizens and confidence in the trustworthiness of our electronic communications networks would be weakened. For example, the bill would not prevent a company sharing cyber threat information from including data not necessary to understanding the threat, such as private emails between family members or personal information such as medical records, in a data dump to the government. The bill should narrowly define the categories of information that may be shared, such as malicious code or methods of defeating cybersecurity controls, and require that companies sharing the data take reasonable steps to remove information identifying individuals not involved in the threat. It is not enough to require government recipients of the data to remove the private information because it should never be sent to the government in the first place. The bill therefore should be amended to require that companies sharing cyber threat information make reasonable efforts to remove such personally identifiable information from the data they share with other companies and the government. The bill's liability protection provisions are also unnecessarily broad and eliminate the ability of aggrieved citizens and companies to protect and secure their privacy, as well as their property and physical well-being. Regardless of whether a company acted recklessly or negligently, the bill would prevent civil or criminal actions for decisions made for cybersecurity purposes ``based on'' cyber threat information. In effect, the legislation removes critical incentives for industry to act reasonably concerning cyber threat information. Consider a situation in which a telecommunications company through its operations becomes aware of a cyber threat directed toward a utility but fails to notify the critical infrastructure company of the threat, denying the utility the opportunity to engage in defensive measures and resulting in a catastrophic event producing substantial property damage and loss of life. Under the legislation, the telecommunications company characterizing its decision not to notify as one made for a cybersecurity purpose would be able to avoid legal liability. The bill's exemption from liability should therefore be narrowed to exclude protection for such decisions. The cyber threats our nation faces are serious, and we need to take action. The president's recent executive order directing the enhanced sharing of cyber threat information by the government to industry is a significant step in the right direction. Legislation encouraging information-sharing by the private sector is also required, but it must be carefully crafted and limited to actual threats. The House version of CISPA is not the right solution to this real problem, and it must be fixed before it reaches the president's desk.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1120, the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act. This legislation is anti-worker, anti-management, and rather than creating certainty, it would throw the world of labor relations into complete chaos by shutting down the final arbiter--the National Labor Relation Board. And it would do this all in the name of upholding a single decision that overturns decades of court precedent and executive practice upholding intra-session recess appointments as constitutional. If H.R. 1120 becomes law, it would put us in a situation where employees and employers would be denied recourse in the courts--a fundamental guarantee in our society. Final review of decisions would be all but impossible to obtain, effectively nullifying the consequences for unfair labor practices. The National Labor Relations Act, overseen and enforced by the National Labor Relations Board, protects working Americans' rights to form unions, bargain collectively for fair wages, and ensure they work in a safe environment. The National Labor Relations Board also protects employers, who have recourse before the Board in the same way employees do. Eliminating the Board helps only those who wish to violate labor laws without consequence. That is not a constituency this Congress should be representing. H.R. 1120 does two things. First, it prevents the NLRB from operating, which is in and of itself a reason to oppose it--America's workers depend on a functioning Board. Second, H.R. 1120 legitimizes the obstructionism of the minority in the Senate, which led President Obama to make these recess appointments in the first place. It is responding to hostage taking by giving the hostage-takers everything they want and more. This creates a no-win situation where neither side has any incentive to compromise for the good of our country. The Framers of the United States Constitution included the recess appointment clause in Article II of the Constitution to ensure that our government could function even if the Senate is unavailable to confirm the President's appointments. It is time that we honor their wisdom. That means that here in the House of Representatives, we vote down this wrongheaded bill; in the Senate, that means getting to work and voting on whether the Presidents' appointees are qualified or not. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation and uphold over a half-a-century of precedent and practice, and ensure our working men and women are not denied justice by way of delay.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H. Con. Res. 25, the Ryan Republican Budget, and the coarse meanness it embodies. I rise today in defense of those who are the subject of this legislation's contempt. I rise today in support of the New Deal, the Great Society, and the programs that have pulled our people out of poverty and our Nation out of depression--the programs that Mr. Ryan's budget demolishes to pay for tax breaks to the already wealthy. There is so much wrong with the Chairman's budget I do not know where to start. It attacks the poor, the working, and middle class; it guts programs that protect our seniors, our children, and our environment; it relies upon fuzzy math and budgetary tricks that are not befitting of federal legislation. It is quite simply a perfect distillation of the disdain its authors have for everyone who is not a millionaire. Mr. Ryan's budget is one of the cruelest that has been introduced in the House of Representatives. It shifts Medicare to a voucher system, which virtually assures that many seniors will be unable to receive the care that they need. It destroys two million jobs with the same wrongheaded austerity measures that have Europe standing on the precipice of economic calamity. It hands a six-figure tax cut to millionaires. But then you see the other side of the Chairman's budget--the fantasist side. That is the side that imagines all those tax cuts will be paid for by eliminating deductions; the side that imagines that those deduction eliminations will not harm the middle class; the side that imagines that after a majority of Americans roundly rejected this ``tax cuts now, tax revenues later'' platform last fall, it is a good time to double down. Earlier this week my friends across the aisle seemed to admit a hard to swallow fact: they are out of touch with Americans. The report that came out Monday suggested that Republicans need to reach out to a broader segment of society; that they need to court voters outside the insular world of the million dollar a year club. Given that a majority of Americans last fall cast their vote for a Democratic President, a Democratic Senator, and a Democratic Representative--I would tend to agree. But let me offer you some friendly advice about outreach--the answer is not to keep making the same base attacks on the poor we heard last summer and last fall. The answer is not to weaken Medicaid and TANF; the answer is not to weaken Social Security, or turn Medicare into a voucher system; and the answer is not to eviscerate all labor laws--as the Republican Study Committee budget would. The answer is none of the above--the answer is creating a budget that helps more than just the small crescent of the wealthy who make it into rooms where they can hear about how much better they are than 47% of Americans. If you want answers, take a look at the budgets put out by the Congressional Progressive Caucus' ``Back to Work Budget'' and the Congressional Black Caucus' ``Pro-Growth, Pro-People, Pro-America Budget.'' If you want to show Americans that your party cares for those who are not already millionaires, you need to provide the answers they are asking for. Those answers involve federal investment in the programs critical to having Americans who are prepared in mind, body, and spirit to build a new economy for the next generation. Those answers address concerns about our educational system, our infrastructure, and the critical services that will make sure our children are prepared to lead the world in the 21st Century. Those answers understand that any changes to Social Security need to be made separate from the yearly budget process. Those budgets understand that Social Security is a multi-generational pact--not a ``pay for'' and that it should not be changed to reflect the whims of a particular wing of a particular party. The answers that the American people are looking for reflect the fundamental proposition they voted for last fall--that those who have benefited the most from our society's bounty are blessed to have the most to give back. The American people recently spoke to the Budget Committee Chairman, but sometimes I wonder if he was listening. As much as you may wish that it is the answer to your political problems and the economic issues facing our country, the answer Americans are searching for does not involve continuing to repeal the Affordable Care Act again and again and again--you'll excuse me if I don't say ``again'' for each time my friends across the aisle have voted to repeal the ACA. It would seem a rather pointless exercise and it would take quite a while. While we may be tired of the gimmicks and the pointless political theatre, we are not too tired to defend a century of progress. You cannot exhaust the conviction of Americans that Social Security is a promise to our seniors; that Medicare should not be a voucher; that Medicaid should not be a block grant left to the states; and that children should not be left to fend for themselves. These repeated attempts to do so are wastes of our, and by extension, America's time. I know sometimes it is tempting for my friends across the aisle to engage in name-calling and class warfare: implying that those who need federal services are lazy, laying about on hammocks. But not everyone is born into a family made wealthy through government infrastructure contracts. Some children are born to parents who simply are not prepared to provide all the skills and knowledge that our modern society requires of students, workers, and citizens. That is where Medicaid and CHIP come in: ensuring that children grow up healthy. That is where food assistance comes in: ensuring that children are not too hungry to learn, too hungry to care about their future. That is where Head Start comes in: ensuring that children receive the early engagement critical to success. When we consider the Chairman's budget--I want us to think what we would want for our own children if we were rendered unable to help them. I hope you will consider that question. What if it was my child who needed the programs I am cutting to give six-figure tax cuts to everyone who makes more than a million dollars a year? What if it was my child who was struck by a chronic ailment--but they could not get treatment? What if it were my child who needed the support I am now denying to other people's children? No, we would want them to have the services protected and improved in the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus' budgets. Whether you care to admit it or not, no child who goes to sleep hungry or in pain, is comforted by the thought that millionaires have a few extra hundred thousand dollars in their banks. So instead of Chairman Ryan's budget, which guts federal assistance to the poor and threatens to plunge us into a deep recession, I encourage all my colleagues to endorse the budgets offered by the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. These bills get Americans back to work; they invest in infrastructure improvements and repairs which necessity dictates must happen eventually. They know that the key to addressing our deficit is not cuts, but economic growth, that is why the Congressional Black Caucus adopts my Humphrey-Hawkins legislation, which puts every American who wants a job to work. And they provide trillions in deficit reduction over the next decade, but they do so through cuts and revenues that reflect a balanced approach. For example, they keep the Bush-era tax cuts for those making less than a quarter million dollars a year. And they treat the income of hedge fund billionaires just like they treat the income of a bus driver, something even President Ronald Reagan supported. I want to praise these budgets for their focus on the future. In the great choice that we face as a Nation, they do not simply abdicate responsibility as H. Con. Res. 25 does. They do not simply shovel money to the wealthiest Americans in ruinous tax breaks that are all but assured to explode the deficit--instead, they invest. They invest in infrastructure across the nation; they invest in our youth, providing increase in Pell Grants and workforce training; they invest in our public servants, the men and women who teach our children, guard our streets, and pull us from burning buildings. And they actually pay for all that with specific proposals rather than accounting gimmicks. Mr. Chair, let us end the division. Let us end the giveaways to those already lucky enough to make more than a million dollars a year. Let us come together--not just some, but all of us--and pass a budget--one that benefits not just some, but all of us. I urge all my colleagues to vote against H. Con. Res. 25, and for the CBC and CPC alternatives.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 803, ``The Supporting Knowledge And Investing in Lifelong Skills Act.'' I join with the National Skills Coalition, a national network of business leaders, union affiliates, community colleges, community-based organizations, and public workforce agencies who oppose H.R. 803. This bill eliminates more than thirty-five federal job programs. H.R. 803 gives states too much discretion to decide who would receive jobs services, and what kinds of programs would be offered. I also agree with the National Skills Coalition that consolidation, in and of itself, will not produce reform. Block granting 35 programs, including those designed to serve adults, youth farmworkers, dislocated workers, and other disadvantaged populations without any independent evaluations of whether or not these programs would benefit from consolidation is bad public policy. I am particularly concerned that H.R. 803 would have a harmful impact on job and training opportunities for our most vulnerable citizens, including the long-term unemployed, veterans, individuals with disabilities, low-income youth, and adults from underserved communities. H.R. 803 eliminates the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, and other supported employment programs that benefit people with disabilities. We must ensure that every veteran who has served our nation with distinction can return home and be able to quickly find a good job at a livable wage. Therefore, we in Congress, in good conscience, should do everything in our power to strengthen funding for WIA programs that help veterans find jobs--not eliminate them. Clearly, at risk youth and adults lead more productive and law- abiding lives, when they have the dignity and hope that comes with being employed. H.R. 803 also completely eliminates the priority of service delivery for low-income adults and youth. Youth will now have to compete against adults for Workforce Investment Fund funding. This is not the time to eliminate training opportunities for low-income adults and youth, especially during one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. I must respectfully ask the following question: what job programs have my friends on the other side of the aisle put forward to create jobs for our nation's veterans, and the millions of Americans who are currently out of work? I have not seen one direct job-creation program being proposed by conservative lawmakers, and I continue to see fierce opposition to any direct job creation programs proposed by President Obama and my other colleagues in the House of Representatives. H.R. 803 is simply another example of ``you're on your own,'' ``fend- for-yourself'' public policy that is bad for business, bad for the economy, and harmful to the unemployed. Respectfully, I would request that Congress give serious consideration to legislation that would create millions of ``fast track'' jobs for unemployed veterans, youth, and adults. We can put America back to work now rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, schools, housing, and communities. I therefore urge Congress to pass a comprehensive direct job creation bill now, like the program I have proposed in H.R. 1000, ``The Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment And Training Act.'' I urge this body to vote ``no'' on H.R. 803.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 890. I urge members of both parties to oppose this legislation, which in only a few pages demonstrates all that is wrong with Washington--politicians putting partisan concerns ahead of constructive policy. Governors from several states have overcome partisan differences to support the waivers H.R. 890 wishes to eliminate. Let us follow their lead and defeat this legislation together. H.R. 890 is a simplistic bill. It prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from giving effect to the July 2012 guidance that granted states waivers regarding the design of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) programs. It also prohibits further experimentation, banning pilot programs or demonstration programs that could potentially revolutionize TANF, making it more effective and less costly. Though these changes seem small, they can mean a world of difference for families in need of the training and educational opportunities that new approaches to TANF could provide. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is one of the most remarkable pieces of work that I have ever seen considered on this floor. Not because it is such a bad piece of policy. Not because of how abominably it misrepresents the current state of federal and state practices. Not even because we are still litigating a claim which was dreamed up by a failed presidential campaign last summer, and which was roundly rejected by the American people. No, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is remarkable because my friends across the aisle are demanding that we wrest control from the states in favor of a more inflexible and inefficient approach. The claims of federalism invoked by my Republican colleagues in so many of legislative battles I have witnessed over the years are nowhere to be heard. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 890 is wrong--and it is wrong for all the wrong reasons. Despite H.R. 890's claims, the waivers granted to TANF program operators in July 2012 do not weaken TANF's work requirements--they strengthen them. These waivers provide states with the opportunity to determine what works best for them. These waivers allow states to experiment with alternative employment and training programs that reflect the varied problems confronting TANF recipients who wish to join the work force. Successful programs can then be replicated in other states and limited resources can be stretched further to ensure more effort is expended finding jobs instead of complying with red tape. Despite what H.R. 890 presumes, these waivers won't lead to TANF recipients laying on hammocks, but rather are the key to unlocking the potential of men and women who want their own piece of the American dream. The waivers will allow program officials to provide the training and education necessary for many beneficiaries to join the ever more competitive labor market. Further, they will allow states to tailor their programs to the specific demands of their local economies, and ensure that TANF continues to improve in its mission to see recipients become self-sufficient. This--Mr. Speaker--is what good government looks like. This--Mr. Speaker--is why Republican and Democratic governors across the nation support these waivers. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask my friends across the aisle to put aside partisan concerns for just this moment and vote their conscience on this matter. I want them to ask whether they can in good conscience continue to oppose these commonsense reforms simply because it plays well with the fringes of their party. I want them to consider what it will sound like next time I hear from them that the federal government is too large and should cede more authority to the states. I want them to consider what people will hear when they claim to favor state solutions to national problems. Quite simply I want them to consider their professed principles instead of partisan politics--for if they do, they cannot support H.R. 890. I urge everyone, Democrat and Republican, to vote ``no'' on H.R. 890. We've litigated this long enough--lets finally put it to rest.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 34th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). Having served in this body during the passage of this historic legislation, I am happy to note the success that the Act has achieved. When Congress debated the Act, it sought to protect the freedom and integrity of the people of Taiwan at a time when the island's future was uncertain. The TRA's success in helping to provide the climate for Taiwan's remarkable economic growth and its model democracy has proven beyond all doubt the merit of this particular agreement. Today, Taiwan's people have one of the best health care systems in the world, which I believe we would be well-served to emulate. Its people enjoy a true democracy with all the benefits of a free people. Its economy is the envy of many nations around the world. The Taiwan Relations Act continues to play an important role in maintaining peace in an important region of the world and I am certain that it will continue to do so for many years to come.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise my voice against the set of across-the-board cuts--known as ``the sequester''--currently taking effect across the country. These devastating cuts are unique among American public policies for a simple reason: they were purposefully designed to be a bad idea. During the debt ceiling standoff of 2011, the ``sequester'' was designed as a default option so revolting to both Democrats and Republicans that it would force the bipartisan ``Super Committee'' to adopt a workable budget plan. While that Committee failed at this objective, the American people have been left to pay the price. The sequester, if fully implemented, will put more than 2 million jobs at risk--more than half of which are associated with small businesses: The sequester will also create tremendous uncertainty in financial markets and among consumers, ultimately contributing to an estimated one-half of one percent drag on economic growth this year; These cuts will also undermine military readiness, educational quality, and research output while leaving us with longer airport security lines, more untreated mental illnesses, more hunger, more homelessness, and fewer federal criminal prosecutions. It should come as no surprise that, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll, Americans oppose the sequester by a more than 2- to-1 margin. If Congress is unable to craft a bipartisan agreement that takes sequestration off the table, this body has a duty to avert these catastrophic cuts by any means necessary. This is why I introduced the ``Cancel the Sequester Act,'' a one-sentence bill that would repeal the section of the Budget Control Act of 2011 that created these senseless, job-destroying cuts. Please consider cosponsoring the ``Cancel the Sequester Act,'' so that we can prevent Washington's dysfunction from inflicting further harm on the American people.

Mr. CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa).

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus from New York, Mr. Joe Crowley.

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California, Susan Davis.

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased now to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of our time, 4\1/4\ minutes, to the distinguished gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. CONYERS. I thank the gentlelady. Members of the House, I was here in 1994 when the Violence Against Women Act was introduced to provide critical lifesaving assistance for women, children and men. This law has been the centerpiece of our government's commitment to combating domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. The results have been striking: In the nearly two decades since the landmark legislation was passed, the rate of intimate partner violence against women has dropped by nearly two-thirds. On two occasions since its enactment, Members of both bodies have worked on a bipartisan basis to extend the Violence Against Women Act's protections and to make necessary improvements. Unfortunately, in the last Congress, we weren't able to agree on a bill, and the authorization was allowed to lapse. This month, the Senate took the unique opportunity to pass strong bipartisan legislation by a vote of 78-22--with all of the women in the Senate. It incorporates years of analysis of the problem and the solutions proposed by law enforcement and victim service providers. In my judgment, it is much stronger. I urge my colleagues to join with me, the 78 Senators, the President, and the more than 1,300 organizations in supporting S. 47, the Violence Against Women Act. I reserve the balance of my time. National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women, February 22, 2013. Dear House Leaders: We, the undersigned local, state, tribal, and national organizations, represent and support millions of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking throughout the United States, American Indian Tribal lands and U.S. Territories. On behalf of the victims we represent, and the professionals who serve them and the communities that sustain them, we ask that you support the Violence Against Women Act's (VAWA) reauthorization by bringing the recently-passed bipartisan Senate VAWA (S.47) to the House floor for a vote as speedily as possible. As you know, VAWA passed the Senate on Tuesday, February 12 with a resounding bipartisan vote of 78-22 in favor of an all-embracing bill that strives to address violence for all victims in communities, homes, campuses and workplaces all around the country. VAWA's programs support national, state, tribal, territorial, and local efforts to address the pervasive and insidious crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. These programs have made great progress towards reducing the violence, helping victims to be healthy and feel safe and holding perpetrators accountable. This critical legislation must be reauthorized to ensure a continued response to these crimes. Since its original passage in 1994, VAWA has dramatically enhanced our nation's response to violence against girls and women, boys and men. More victims report domestic violence to the police and the rate of non-fatal intimate partner violence against women has decreased by 64%. The sexual assault services program in VAWA helps rape crisis centers keep their doors open to provide the front-line response to victims of rape. VAWA provides for a coordinated community approach, improving collaboration between law enforcement and victim services providers to better meet the needs of victims. These comprehensive and cost-effective programs not only save lives, they also save money. In fact, VAWA saved nearly $12.6 billion in net averted social costs in just its first six years. VAWA has unquestionably improved the national response to these terrible crimes. Nonetheless, much work remains to be done to address unmet needs and enhance access to protections and services for all victims, including housing, campus security, and addressing the needs of racial and ethnic communities, tribal, immigrant and LGBT victims. We urge you work with your colleagues in both parties as we all work to build upon VAWA's successes, continue to enhance our nation's ability to promote an end to this violence, to hold perpetrators accountable and to keep victims and their families safe from future harm. Thank you. Sincerely, National Organizations 1. 3 DVas, LLC 2. 9to5 3. Abortion Care Network 4. AFGE Women's/Fair Practices Departments 5. AFL-CIO 6. African Action on Aids 7. AFSCME 8. After The Trauma 9. Alianza--National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence 10. Alliant International University 11. American Association of University Women (AAUW) 12. American Baptist Women's Ministries, ABCUSA 13. American College Health Association 14. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 15. American Dance Therapy Association 16. American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO 17. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations 18. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 19. American Federation of Teachers, AFL/CIO 20. American Humanist Association 21. American Postal Workers Union 22. American Psychiatric Association 23. American Psychological Association 24. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) 25. Americans for Immigrant Justice, Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center 26. Amnesty International USA 27. Anti-Defamation League 28. Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum 29. Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence 30. Asian American Justice Center, member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice 31. Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO 32. Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project 33. ASISTA Immigration Assistance 34. Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies 35. Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent in N. America (APPNA) 36. Bah'ais of the United States 37. Battered Mothers Custody Conference 38. Black Women's Health Imperative 39. Black Women's Roundtable 40. Break the Cycle 41. Business and Professional Women's Foundation 42. Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities 43. Casa Esperanza 44. Center for Family Policy and Practice 45. Center for Partnership Studies 46. Center for Reproductive Rights 47. Center for Women Policy Studies 48. Central Conference of American Rabbis 49. Choice USA 50. Church Women United 51. Circle of 6 App 52. Clan Star 53. Clery Center for Security On Campus 54. Coalition of Labor Union Women 55. Coalition on Human Needs 56. Communications Workers of America 57. Communications Workers of America (CWA) 58. Community Action Partnership 59. cultureID 60. CWA National Women's Committee 61. Daughters of Penelope 62. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority 63. Dialogue on Diversity 64. Disciples Justice Action Network 65. Domestic Abuse intervention Programs 66. Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DV LEAP) 67. Elder Justice Coalition 68. Episcopal Church 69. Episcopal Women's Caucus 70. Expert Panel on violence, American Academy of Nursing 71. FaithTrust Institute 72. Falling Walls 73. Family Equality Council 74. Federally Employed Women (FEW) 75. Feminist Agenda Network 76. Feminist Majority 77. Feminist Peace Network 78. Freedom from Hunger 79. Friends Committee on National Legislation 80. Friends of Nabeela 81. Futures Without Violence 82. Gay & Lesbian Medical Association 83. General Board of Church & Society, United Methodist Church 84. General Federation of Women's Clubs 85. George Washington University Law School 86. Girls Inc. 87. GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality 88. GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) 89. Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. 90. HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) 91. Hindu American Seva Communities 92. Human Rights Campaign 93. Indian Law Resource Center 94. Inspire Action for Social Change 95. Institute for Interfaith Activism 96. Institute for Science and Human Values 97. Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community 98. IOFA 99. Jewish Council for Public Affairs 100. Jewish Labor Committee 101. Jewish Women International 102. Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation 103. Labor Council for Latin American Advancement 104. League of United Latin American Citizens 105. Legal Momentum 106. LiveYourDream.org 107. Log Cabin Republicans 108. Media Equity Collaborative 109. Men Can Stop Rape 110. Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office 111. Men's Resources International 112. Methodist/Catholic 113. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund 114. Migrant Clinicians Network 115. MomsRising 116. Ms. Foundation for Women 117. Muslim American Society 118. Muslim Bar Association 119. Muslim Public Affairs Council 120. Muslims for Progressive Values 121. NAACP 122. NAPAFASA 123. National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd 124. National Alliance to End Sexual Violence 125. National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) 126. National Association of Commissions for Women (NACVV) 127. National Association of Hispanic Organizations 128. National Association of School Psychologists 129. National Association of State Head Injury Administrators 130. National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators 131. National Center for Lesbian Rights 132. National Center for Transgender Equality 133. National Center for Victims of Crime 134. National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence 135. National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women 136. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence 137. National Coalition for LGBT Health 138. National Coalition of 100 Black Women 139. National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) 140. National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 141. National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse 142. National Congress of American Indians 143. National Council for Jewish Education 144. National Council of Churches, USA 145. National Council of Jewish Women 146. National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 147. National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA 148. National Council of Women's Organizations 149. National Council on Independent Living 150. National Dating Abuse Helpline 151. National Domestic Violence Hotline 152. National Employment Law Project 153. National Fair Housing Alliance 154. National Family Justice Center Alliance 155. National Focus on Gender Education 156. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund 157. National Hispanic Council on Aging 158. National Housing Law Project 159. National Indian Health Board 160. National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health 161. National Latina Psychological Association 162. National Latina/o Psychological Association 163. National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty 164. National Network to End Domestic Violence 165. National Org of Asian Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence 166. National Organization for Men Against Sexism 167. National Organization for Women (NOW) 168. National Organization of Asian Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence 169. National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives 170. National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault 171. National Partnership for Women & Families 172. National Research Center for Women & Families 173. National Resource Center on Domestic Violence 174. National Stonewall Democrats 175. National WIC Association 176. National Women's Health Network 177. National Women's Law Center 178. National Women's Political Caucus 179. Native American Indian Court Judges Association 180. Native American Indian Housing Council 181. NCAI 182. NCCE 183. NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby 184. NLPA 185. Nursing Network on Violence against Women International 186. NVC Academy 187. One Woman's Voice 188. Our Bodies Ourselves 189. OWL--The Voice of Midlife and Older Women 190. Peaceful Families Project 191. PFLAG National 192. Rape Crisis Services 193. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) 194. Reformed Church in America 195. Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice 196. Rural Women's Health Project 197. Rural Womyn Zone 198. Ryan Immigration Law 199. Safe Kids International 200. Safe Nation Collaborative 201. Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law 202. Sauti Yetu 203. School and College Organization for Prevention Educators 204. Secular Woman 205. Self Empowerment Strategies 206. SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc. 207. Service Employees International Union 208. Share Time Wisely Consulting Services 209. Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault 210. Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team 211. Sojourners 212. South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) 213. Spittin' Out the Pitts 214. Stonewall Democratic Club 215. SuhaibWebb.com 216. Survivors In Service 217. Tahirih Justice Center 218. Take Back The Night 219. The Episcopal Church 220. The Jewish Federations of North America 221. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights 222. The Line Campaign 223. The National Council on Independent Living 224. The National Resource Center Against Domestic Violence 225. The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church & Society 226. Tribal Law and Policy Institute 227. UAW 228. Union for Reform Judaism 229. Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO 230. Unitarian Universalist Association 231. United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries 232. United States Hispanic Leadership Institute 233. United Steelworkers 234. UniteWomen.org 235. US National Committee for UN Women 236. US women Connect 237. USAction 238. V-Day 239. Veteran Feminists of America 240. Victim Rights Law Center 241. Vital Voices Global Partnership 242. We Are Woman 243. Winning Strategies 244. Witness Justice 245. Women Enabled, Inc. 246. Women of Color Network 247. Women of Reform Judaism 248. Women, Action & the Media 249. Women's Action for New Directions 250. Women's Business Development Center 251. Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press 252. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom 253. Women's Media Center 254. Women's Resource Center 255. YWCA USA 256. Zonta Alabama 1. Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence 2. Alabama--NOW 3. St Vincent's Hospital 4. The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA) Alaska 1. WOMEN IN SAFE HOME, INC 2. Native Village of Emmonak Women's Shelter 3. South Peninsula Haven House 4. Yup''ik Women's Coalition 5. YWCA Alaska Arizona 1. Arizona Bridge to Independent Living 2. Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence 3. Arizona NOW 4. Arizona State University 5. Child Crisis Center Foundation 6. Community Alliance Against Family Abuse 7. Family LAW CASA 8. Hopi-Tewa Women's Coalition to End Abuse 9. Jewish Community Relations Council (Tucson) 10. M.U.J.E.R. Inc. 11. National Organization for Women--AZ 12. Phoenix/Scottdale NOW 13. Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO) 14. Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault 15. Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition 16. Yavapai Family Advocacy Center 17. Yup'ik Women's Coalition Arkansas 1. Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence 2. Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault 3. Arkansas NOW California 1. 9to5 Bay Area 2. 9to5 California 3. 9to5 Los Angeles 4. AAUW, Big Bear Valley Branch 5. Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault 6. Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault 7. Alliant International University 8. Antolino Family Wellness Center 9. Asia Pacific Cultural Center 10. Asian Law Caucus 11. Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice 12. Bay Area Turning Point, Inc. 13. Bay Area Women's Center 14. CA Rural Indian Health Board, Inc. 15. California Coalition Against Sexual Assault 16. California Latinas for Reproductive Justice 17. California National Organization for Women 18. California Partnership to End Domestic Violence 19. California Protective Parents Association 20. California School of Professional Psychology 21. California School of Professional Psychology at Al 22. California Women Lawyers 23. CARECEN Los Angeles 24. Catalyst Domestic Violence Services 25. Catalyst Domestic Violence Services 26. Center For A Non Violent Community 27. Center for the Pacific Asian Family 28. Central CA Coalition of Labor Union Women 29. Children's Institute, Inc. 30. Choices Domestic Violence Solutions 31. Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Los Angeles 32. Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse 33. County of Sacramento, Native American Caucus 34. C--VISA, Coachella Valley Immigration Service and Assistance 35. Domestic Abuse Center 36. Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County 37. DOVES in Natchitoches, LA 38. DOVES of Big Bear Lake, Inc. 39. End DV Counseling and Consulting 40. Episcopal Women's Caucus 41. Family Services of Tulare County 42. Forward Together 43. Freshwater Haven 44. Good Shepherd Shelter 45. Haven Hill, Inc 46. Haven Women's Center of Stan islaus 47. Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization for Women 48. House of Ruth, Inc. 49. Humboldt County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council 50. Immigration Services of Mountain View 51. Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Education Services (IMCES) 52. Instituto Para La Mujer 53. Inter-Tribal Council of California, Inc. 54. Lone Band of Miwok Indians 55. Jafri Law Firm 56. Jewish Community Relations Council 57. Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles 58. Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region 59. L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center 60. La Casa de las Madres 61. La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians 62. Law Students for Reproductive Justice 63. Marjaree Mason Center 64. Maya Chilam Foundation 65. MINDS--Medical Network Devoted to Service 66. Miracle Mile LA NOW 67. Monterey County Rape Crisis Center 68. MORONGO BASIN UNITY HOME 69. Mountain Crisis Services, Inc 70. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, San Francisco Chapter 71. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Silicon Valley Chapter 72. National Council of Jewish Women, Sacramento Section 73. National Hispanic Media Coalition 74. Oakland County Coordinating Council against Domestic Violence 75. OPCC 76. Option House, Inc. 77. Project: Peacemakers, Inc 78. Rainbow Community Cares 79. Rainbow Services, Ltd. 80. Sacramento Native American Health Center 81. Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments (SAVE) 82. Santa Fe Natl. Organization for Women 83. Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center 84. Shasta Women's Refuge 85. Shelter From the Storm 86. Sojourn Services For Battered Women And Their Children 87. South Asian Network (SAN) 88. Southern Indian Health Council, Inc. 89. STAND! for Families Free of Violence 90. Strong Hearted Native Women's Coalition, Inc 91. The Good Shepherd Shelter 92. Tri-Valley Haven 93. Valley Crisis Center 94. Victim Compensation and Government Claim Board 95. Violence Intervention Program 96. Wild Iris Women's Service in Bishop, Inc. 97. WOMAN, Inc 98. Women's and Children's Crisis Shelter, Inc. 99. Women's Center-High Desert, Inc. 100. Women's Crisis support--Defensa de Mujeres 101. WordsMatter.Episcopal Expansive Language Project 102. YWCA Glendale, CA 103. YWCA Greater Los Angeles 104. YWCA San Diego County Colorado 1. 9to5 Colorado 2. Advocate Safehouse Project 3. Advocates Crisis Support services 4. Advocates for a Violence-Free Community 5. Advocates for Victims of Assault 6. Alamosa County Sheriffs Office 7. Alamosa Victim Response Unit 8. Alternatives to Violence, Inc. 9. Archuleta County Victim Assistance Program 10. Catholic Charities Diocese of Pueblo 11. Center on Domestic Violence 12. Colorado Anti-Violence Program 13. Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence 14. Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault 15. Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) 16. Colorado Mesa University Association of Feminists 17. Colorado Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center 18. Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment 19. Domestic Safety Resource Center 20. Douglas County Task Force on Family Violence, Inc. 21. Dove Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Women and Children 22. Gateway Battered Women's Services 23. Gay-Straight Alliance, Colorado Mesa University 24. Gunnison County Law Enforcement Crime Victim Services 25. Gunnison County Sheriffs Office 26. Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County 27. Justice & Mercy Legal Aid Clinic 28. Latina Safe House 29. Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) 30. NEWSED C.D.C. 31. NOW Colorado 32. Park County Sheriffs Office, Victim Services 33. Pueblo Rape Crisis Services 34. Rape Assistance and Awareness Program 35. RESPONSE: Help for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 36. Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network 37. Rose Forensic & Treatment Services, LLC (Denver, CO) 38. San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center 39. San Luis Valley Victim Response Unit (Alamosa) 40. Servicios de La Raza 41. Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center 42. SLV Regional Medical Center 43. TESSA of Colorado Springs 44. The Latina Safehouse 45. Tu Casa, Inc. Connecticut 1. Beth El Temple Sisterhood 2. Betty Gallo & Company 3. Bridgeport Public Education Fund 4. Center for Women and Families--Bridgeport, CT 5. Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County Connecticut 6. Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence 7. Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services 8. CT NOW 9. Hartford GYN Center 10. Local 530 11. Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis, Inc. 12. New Haven Legal Assistance Association 13. Quinnipiac University 14. Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury 15. Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut, Inc. 16. Susan B. Anthony Project, Inc. 17. The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education 18. The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County 19. United Services, Inc. 20. Women and Families Center 21. Women's Center of Greater Danbury, Inc. 22. YWCA Darien-Norwalk 23. YWCA Greenwich 24. YWCA Hartford Region 25. YWCA New Britain District of Columbia 1. Ayuda 2. 51st State NOW 3. Community Action Partnership 4. DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence 5. District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) 6. Family Place 7. Freedom House 8. George Washington University Law School 9. Hispanic Federation 10. Human Rights Campaign 11. Lutheran Social Services 12. My Sister's Place DC 13. National Capital Area Union Retirees 14. National Organization for Women, Washington, DC Chapter 15. Ramona's Way 16. Safe Haven Ministries 17. SAGE Metro DC 18. Solutions Center 19. Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (SAFE), Inc. 20. The Family Place 21. Turning Anger Into Change 22. William Kellibrew Foundation 23. Women's Information Network 24. YWCA National Capital Area Delaware 1. ContactLifeline, Inc. 2. DE Coalition Against Domestic Violence 3. Delaware NOW 4. Delaware Opportunities, Safe Against Violence 5. Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County 6. HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow County 7. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Delaware Chapter 8. Sexual Assault Network of Delaware 9. Women's Resources of Monroe County, Inc. Florida 1. Americans for Immigrant Justice, formerly Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center 2. Betty Griffin House 3. Chain of Lake Achievers, Inc. 4. Children's Advocacy Center for Volusia and Flagler Counties 5. Community Action Stops Abuse 6. Democratic Women's Club of Northeast Broward 7. DOVES, Lake County 8. Empowerment Christian Community Corp 9. Enfamilia, Inc 10. Florida Consumer Action Network 11. Florida Council Against Sexual Violence 12. Florida Equal Justice Center 13. Florida National Organization for Women 14. Hispanic AIDS Awareness Program 15. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. 16. Manatee Glens Rape Crisis Services 17. National Coalition for 100 Black Women, Polk County Chapter 18. National Organization For Women, Bay County Chapter 19. National Organization for Women, Broward Chapter 20. Palm Beach County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center 21. Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force 22. Polk Co Women's Shelter 23. REACH / FCC 24. Safe Harbor Counseling, Inc. 25. South Florida CLUW chapter 26. The Haven of RCS 27. University of Miami School of Law Human Rights Clinic 28. UNO Immigration Ministry 29. West Pinellas National Organization for Women 30. Women's Center of Jacksonville 31. Women's Production Network, Inc. 32. YWCA Palm Beach County Georgia 1. 9to5 Atlanta 2. 9to5 Atlanta Working Women 3. Angels Recovery & Spirituality 4. Atlanta Women's Center 5. C.O.T.T.A.G.E.Life Coaching, LLC 6. Caminar Latino, Inc. 7. Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc 8. Cherokee Family Violence Center 9. Defying the Odds, Inc 10. Faith House, Inc. 11. Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence 12. Georgia Mountain Women's Center, Inc. 13. Georgia Rural Urban Summit 14. Hospitality House for Women, Inc. 15. International Women's House 16. Jewish Family & Career Services, Atlanta, Georgia 17. Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center 18. PADV Partnership Against Domestic Violence 19. Raksha, Inc 20. Ruth's Cottage 21. Safe Shelter 22. Sankofa Counseling Center 23. Sexual Assault Center of NWGA 24. Shalom Bayit Program of Jewish Family & Career Services 25. SpeakOut Georgia LBGT Anti-Violence 26. Support in Abusive Family Emergencies, Inc (S.A.F.E.) 27. Victim Services South Georgia Judicial Circuit Guam 1. Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence Hawaii 2. AARP Chapter 60 Waikiki 3. AAUW, Honolulu women's coalition, others 4. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section 5. Breasffeeding Hawaii 6. Catholic Charities Hawaii 7. Catholic Charities Hawaii 8. Child & Family Service--Hawaii 9. Community Alliance on Prisons 10. Domestic Violence Action Center Honolulu 11. Hawai'i Women's Coalition 12. Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women 13. Hawaii Rehabilitation Counseling Assoc. 14. Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence 15. Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus 16. Moloka'i Community Service Council 17. Parents And Children Together, A Family Service Agency 18. The Sex Abuse Treatment Center 19. Women Helping Women Lanai 20. YWCA Kauai 21. YWCA O'ahu Idaho 1. Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence 2. Idaho State Independent Living Council 3. Native Women's Coalition, Boise 4. United Action for Idaho 5. YWCA Lewiston-Clarkston Iowa 1. Aging Resources 2. Center for Creative Justice 3. Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault 4. Crisis Center & Women's Shelter 5. Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center 6. Des Moines NOW 7. DIAA/CSD 8. Domestic Violence Alternatives/Sexual Assault Center, Inc. 9. Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Iowa 10. Family Resources 11. Iowa Citizen Action Network 12. Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence 13. Latinas Unidas por un Nuevo Amanecer (LUNA, Iowa) 14. Mid-Iowa SART 15. Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa 16. Nisaa African Women's Project 17. Riverview Center 18. Rural Iowa Crisis Center 19. Seeds of Hope Illinois 1. A Safe Place Domestic Violence Shelter 2. ADV & SAS 3. Apna Ghar, Inc. (``Our Home'') 4. Arab American Family Services 5. Between Friends--Chicago 6. Center on Halsted 7. Christ United Methodist Church, Rockford,IL 8. Citizen Action/Illinois 9. Crisis Center for South Suburbia 10. DuPage County NOW 11. Family Rescue, Inc. 12. Family Shelter Service 13. GLOBES 14. Guardian Angel Community Services 15. Hamdard Center for Health and Human services 16. HEART Women & Girls 17. Hearts of Hope 18. HOPE of East Central Illinois 19. Hospira 20. Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence 21. Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault 22. Illinois National Organization for Women 23. Jewish Child and Family Services 24. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago 25. Kankakee County Center Against Sexual Assault (KC-CASA) 26. Mercer County Family Crisis Center 27. Metropolitan Family Services 28. Mujeres Latinas en Accion 29. Mutual Ground, Inc. 30. National Council of Jewish Women Illinois State Policy Advocacy Committee 31. Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault 32. Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services, Inc. 33. Rape Victim Advocates 34. Riverview Center 35. Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling 36. Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center 37. Sarah's Inn 38. Sexual Health Peers of the University of Illinois 39. Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc 40. South Suburban Family Shelter 41. Streamwood Police Department 42. The Center for Prevention of Abuse 43. Vermilion County Rape Crisis Center 44. Violence Prevention Center of Southestem IL 45. Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern IL 46. VOICE Sexual Assault Services 47. VOICES DV Stephenson County 48. WINGS Program, Inc. 49. WIRC-CAA Victim Services 50. YWCA Elgin 51. YWCA Evanston North Shore 52. YWCA Kankakee 53. YWCA McLean County 54. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago 55. YWCA Rockford 56. YWCA Sauk Valley 57. Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center Indiana 1. Alcohol and Addictions Resource Center 2. Franciscan Physician Alliance 3. Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence 4. Indiana Legal Services Organization 5. Legal Aid--District 11 6. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Indianapolis Chapter 7. Peace Over Violence 8. Praxis Advisors Kansas 1. Family Life Center of Butler County 2. Harvey County DV/SA Task Force, Inc 3. Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence 4. SAFEHOME, Kansas 5. SKIL Resource Center Inc. Kentucky 1. Barren River Area Safe Space, Inc. 2. Bethany House Abuse Shelter, Inc. 3. Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program 4. Center for Women and Families 5. Doves of Gateway 6. Hope's Place 7. Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs 8. Kentucky NOW 9. Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights 10. Kentucky Domestic Violence Association 11. MensWork: eliminating violence against women, inc 12. Safe Harbor of NE KY 13. The Center for Women and Families 14. The Mary Byron Project 15. UAW 862 16. University of Louisville PEACC Program 17. Women's Crisis Center Louisiana 1. Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of NW LA 2. Jeff Davis Communities Against Domestic Abuse CADA 3. LGBT Community Center of New Orleans 4. Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence 5. Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault 6. Louisiana NOW 7. National Council of Jewish Women, Louisiana State Policy Advocacy Chair 8. New Orleans Family Justice Center 9. New Orleans NOW 10. Project Celebration Inc. Maine 1. Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence 2. Maine People's Alliance 3. NCJW, Southern Maine Section 4. New Hope For Women 5. Safe Passage 6. Spruce Run Association 7. YWCA MDI Maryland 1. A Woman's Place 2. Anne Arundel County NOW 3. Baltimore Jewish Council 4. Circle of Hope 5. Clearinghouse on Women's Issues 6. Collaborative Project of Maryland 7. Downtown Bethesda Condo Assn 8. Family Crisis Center, Inc. 9. Family Crisis Services 10. First Step, Inc. 11. Global Connections 12. Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer 13. La Voz Latina 14. Maryland Commission for Women 15. Maryland National Organization for Women 16. Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence 17. Men On The Move 18. Minara Fellowship 19. Montgomery County Commission for Women 20. Nursing Students for Reproductive Health and Justice at Johns Hopkins University 21. Parent-Child Center 22. Progressive Maryland 23. Ryan Immigration Law 24. SAFE Harbor Inc. 25. Safe Journey 26. SafeCenter 27. Woman's Place 28. YWCA Greater Baltimore Massachusetts 1. Aging and Disability Resource Consortium of the Greater North Shore (ADRCGNS) 2. Boston Area Rape Crisis Center 3. Boston University Civil Litigation Program 4. Broward Women's Emergency Fund 5. Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled 6. Coalition for Social Justice 7. Everywoman's Center 8. Greater Boston Legal Services, Inc. 9. Independent Living Center of the North Shore & Cape Ann, Inc. 10. Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence 11. Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center 12. Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) 13. MataHari: Eye of the Day 14. Men's Resources International 15. Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence 16. The Network/La Red 17. The Second Step 18. Turning Point, Inc. 19. YWCA Malden 20. YWCA Western MA Michigan 1. ACCESS Social Services 2. Cadillac Area OASIS/Family Resource Center 3. Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Michigan 4. Detroit Minds and Hearts 5. Domestic And Sexual Abuse Services, MI 6. EVE (End Violent Encounters) 7. HAVEN--Live Without Fear 8. Islamic Association of Greater Detroit 9. Michigan Citizen Action 10. Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence 11. Michigan Muslim Community Council, United Way for Southeastern Michigan 12. Muslim Community of Western Suburbs 13. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Detroit Chapter 14. National Council of Jewish Women, MI State Policy Advocate Chair 15. SASHA Center 16. Shelters, Inc. 17. The Center for Women in Transition 18. The Underground Railroad, Inc. 19. U of M-Dearborn Student Philanthropy Council 20. Wayne County Chapter, National Organization for Women 21. Wayne State University 22. Women's Aid Service, Inc. 23. Women's Resource Center for the Grand Traverse Area 24. YWCA Greater Flint 25. YWCA Kalamazoo 26. YWCA West Central Michigan Minnesota 1. Anna Marie's Alliance 2. Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project 3. Bridges to Safety 4. Center for Policy Planning and Performance 5. Central MN Sexual Assault Center 6. Committee Against Domestic Abuse, Inc. 7. Cornerstone Advocacy Service MN 8. Day One of Cornerstone 9. Domestic Abuse Project 10. First Nations Coalition, Moorhead 11. Hands of Hope Resource Center 12. HOPE Center 13. Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota 14. Jewish Community Action 15. Mending the Sacred Hoop 16. Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault 17. Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women 18. Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center 19. Minnesota NOW 20. New Hope for Women 21. OutFront Minnesota 22. Pathways of West Central MN, Inc. 23. Pearl Crisis Center 24. Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault 25. Range Women Advocates of Minnesota 26. Safe Haven 27. SARA-Goodhue SMART 28. SCSU Women's Center 29. Sexual Assault Program of Beltrami, Cass & Hubbard Counties 30. The People's Press Project 31. Volunteer Lawyers Network 32. WINDOW Victim Services 33. Women's Business Development Center Mississippi 1. Jackson Engineering Womens League (JEWL) 2. Jackson NOW 3. Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence 4. Mississippi NOW 5. Mississippi Women Are Representing (WAR) 6. Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence 7. MS Coalition Against Sexual Assault 8. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Northeast Mississippi Chapter 9. Rape Crisis Center, Catholic Charities, Inc. Missouri 1. Buchanan County Prosecutor's Office 2. Kansas City Anti-Violence Project 3. Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) 4. Missouri NOW 5. Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition 6. Missouri Women's Network 7. National Council of Jewish Women--St. Louis Section 8. National Council of Jewish Women, Missouri State Policy Advocacy Chair 9. YWCA St. Joseph (MO) Montana 1. Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) of Carbon County Montana 2. DSVS Red Lodge, MT 3. Ft. Belknap Domestic Violence Program 4. HAVEN 5. Missoula County Crime Victim Advocate Program 6. Missoula County Department of Grants and Community Programs 7. Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence 8. Montana National Organization for Women 9. Montana Native Women's Coalition 10. Montana State Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence 11. NARAL Pro-Choice Montana 12. Red Lodge DSVS 13. Three Rivers Defense 14. Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter 15. YWCA Missoula Nebraska 1. Family Violence Council 2. National Organization for Women--Nebraska 3. Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition 4. Winnebago Domestic Violence Program 5. Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Domestic Violence Intervention Family Preservation Program Nevada 1. Clark County District Attorney Victim Witness Assistance Center 2. Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence 3. S.A.F.E. House, NV 4. Safe Nest 5. Sexual Assault Response Advocates, Inc. 6. Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans New Hampshire 1. Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support 2. Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire 3. New Beginnings Without Violence and Abuse 4. New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action 5. New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence 6. Sexual Assault Support Services 7. Starting Point: Services for Victims of Domestic & Sexual Violence 8. Support Center at Burch House 9. Voices Against Violence New Jersey 1. Center for Family Services SERV 2. Cherry Hill Women's Center 3. Coalition Against Rape and Abuse, Inc. 4. CWA 1032 5. Greater NJ CLUW 6. IFPTE Local 194, AFL-CIO 7. Manavi 8. Morris County Sexual Assault Center 9. National Council of Jewish Women Concordia Section NJ 10. National Council of Jewish Women, Jersey Hills Section 11. National Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey State Policy Advocacy Network 12. Nat'l Council of Jewish Women, Central Jersey Section 13. New Jersey Citizen Action 14. New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault 15. New Jersey Tenants Organization 16. NJ Coalition for Battered Women 17. NJ State Industrial Union Council 18. Partners for Women and Justice 19. Safe in Hunterdon 20. South Jersey NOW--Alice Paul Chapter 21. St. Francis Counseling Service 22. UFCW, Local 888 23. Unchained At Last 24. Womanspace, Inc. 25. Women of Color and Allies Essex County NOW Chapter 26. Youth Development Clinic 27. YWCA Bergen County 28. YWCA Central New Jersey 29. YWCA Eastern Union County 30. YWCA Princeton 31. YWCA Trenton New Mexico 1. Arise Sexual Assault Services 2. Center for Nonviolent Communication 3. Center of Protective Environment, Inc. (COPE) 4. Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, Albuquerque 5. Community Against Violence, Inc. 6. Enlace Comunitario 7. Gila Regional Medical Center SANE 8. New Mexico Asian Family Center 9. New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence 10. New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. 11. New Mexico NOW 12. New Mexico Voices for Children 13. New Mexico Women's Agenda 14. SANE of Otero & Lincoln County 15. Sexual Assault Services of NW New Mexico 16. Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services 17. Solace Crisis Treatment Center 18. Southern New Mexico Human Development, INC 19. Southwest Counseling Center 20. Taos SANE at Holy Cross Hospital 21. Tewa Women United, Santa Cruz 22. Valencia Counseling Service Inc. New York 1. African Services Committee 2. Albany Law School 3. Arab American Association of New York 4. BIBLE FELLOWSHIP PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY OF NY INC. 5. Catholic Charities of Chenango County 6. Citizen Action of New York 7. Committee on the Status of Women 8. COPO (COUNCIL OF PEOPLE ORGANIZATION) 9. Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center 10. Crime Victim Center of Erie County 11. CWA 1032 12. Domestic Harmony 13. Fordham Prep School 14. Hispanic United of Buffalo 15. In Our Own Voices 16. Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Inc. 17. Liberty House of Albany, Inc. 18. Local 301 19. Los Ninos Services INC 20. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Long Island Chapter 21. National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Rochester Section 22. Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence 23. National Council of Jewish Women NY 24. National Council of Jewish Women, Westbury 25. National Organization for Women--New York City 26. National Organization for Women New York State Young Feminist Task Force 27. National Organization for Women, Greater Rochester Chapter 28. National Organization for Women, NYC 29. New York Board of Rabbis 30. New York City Anti-Violence Project 31. New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence 32. New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault 33. Safe Homes of Orange County 34. SAFER--Survivors Advocating For Effective Reform 35. Sanctuary for Families 36. SEPA Mujer 37. Sojourner House 38. The Family Center 39. Turning Point for Women and Families 40. Unity House of Troy 41. Vera House, Inc. 42. VIBS Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center 43. Victim Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, Inc. 44. Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk 45. Violence Intervention Program 46. Women In Need 47. Wyckoff Heights Medical Center--Violence Intervention and Treatment Program 48. YWCA Adirondack Foothills 49. YWCA Binghamton & Broome County 50. YWCA Brooklyn 51. YWCA City of New York 52. YWCA Cortland 53. YWCA Elmira & The Twin Tiers 54. YWCA Genesee County 55. YWCA Jamestown 56. YWCA Mohawk Valley 57. YWCA New York City 58. YWCA Niagra 59. YWCA Orange County 60. YWCA Queens 61. YWCA Rochester & Monroe County 62. YWCA Schenectady 63. YWCA Syracuse & Onondaga County 64. YWCA Tonawandas 65. YWCA Troy-Cohoes 66. YWCA Ulster County 67. YWCA Western New York 68. YWCA White Plains/Westchester 69. YWCA Yonkers North Carolina 1. Charlotte NOW 2. Chrysalis Network 3. Crisis Council, Inc. 4. Families Living Violence Free 5. Family Crisis Council 6. Family Service of the Piedmont 7. Mitchell County SafePlace Inc 8. Muslim American Society of Charlotte 9. National Organization for Women, Fayetteville, NC 10. National Organization for Women, North Carolina Chapter 11. National Organization for Women, Raleigh Chapter 12. NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault 13. North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence 14. OASIS, Inc. 15. YWCA Central Carolinas North Dakota 1. First Nations Women's Alliance 2. ND Council on Abused Women's Services 3. Spirit Lake Victim Assistance Ohio 1. Abuse & Rape Crisis Shelter, Warren County 2. Abuse Prevention Council 3. Artemis Center 4. Asha-Ray of Hope 5. Belmont Community Hospital 6. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center 7. COMPASS Rape Crisis 8. Every Woman's House 9. Forbes House 10. Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati 11. Islamic Education Council 12. Mount Carmel Crime & Trauma Assistance Program 13. Muslim Mothers Against Violence 14. National Coalition of 100 Black Women Central Ohio Chapter 15. Nirvana Now! 16. Ohio NOW 17. Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence 18. Ohio Domestic Violence Network 19. OhioHealth 20. Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services 21. Otterbein University 22. ProgressOhio 23. Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit Counties 24. Salaam Cleveland 25. Sexual Abuse Prevention Awareness Treatment Healing Coalition of NWO 26. Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio 27. Sinclair Community College--Domestic Violence Task Force 28. Someplace Safe 29. The Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc. Richland County, Ohio 30. The SAAFE Center (rape crisis center) 31. The Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio 32. Trumbull County Democratic Women's Caucus 33. Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center 34. Violence Free Coalition 35. West Ohio Annual Conference Team on Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking 36. WomenSafe 37. YWCA Dayton 38. YWCA Greater Cincinnati 39. YWCA Hamilton 40. YWCA Youngstown Oklahoma 1. Community Crisis Center of Northeast Oklahoma 2. Family Crisis & Counseling Center, Inc. 3. Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma 4. Native Alliance Against Violence, Oklahoma City 5. OK Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 6. Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 7. Tulsa Immigrant Resource Network, University of Tulsa College of Law 8. Univ. of Tulsa College of Law 9. YWCA Oklahoma City 10. YWCA Tulsa Oregon 1. Clackamas Women's Services 2. Jackson County SART 3. Mary's Place Supervised Visitation & Safe Exchange Center 4. OCADSV 5. Oregon Action 6. Portland Store Fixtures 7. Saving Grace 8. VOA Oregon--Home Free Pennsylvania 1. Alice Paul House 2. Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center, Inc. 3. Alliance Against Domestic Abuse 4. Berks Women in Crisis 5. Bloomsburg University 6. Bucks County NOW 7. Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition 8. Business & Professional Women's Federation of Pennsylvania 9. CAPSEA, Inc. 10. Centre Co. Women's Resource Center 11. Clinton County Women's Center 12. Crime Victims Center of Fayet County 13. Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley, Inc. 14. Domestic Violence Center of Chester County 15. Franklin/Fulton Women In Need 16. HIAS Pennsylvania 17. International Association of Counselors & Therapists 18. Just Harvest 19. Keystone Progress 20. Laurel-House 21. Libertae, Inc. 22. Ni-Ta-Nee NOW 23. Northeast Williamsport NOW 24. Pa Democratic State Committee, Elected Member 25. PA Immigrant & Refugee Women's Network (PAIRWN) 26. PathWays PA 27. PCADV 28. Penn Action 29. Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence 30. Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape 31. Pennsylvania Council of Churches 32. Pennsylvania NOW 33. Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women 34. Philadelphia Women's Center 35. Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc. 36. Soroptimist International of Bucks County 37. Squirrel Hill NOW 38. Survivors Inc 39. Susquehanna County Victim Services 40. The Abuse Network 41. The Women's Center, Inc. of Columbia/Montour Counties 42. Victim Services Inc. 43. Wise Options/YWCA Northcentral PA 44. Women Against Abuse 45. Women In Transition 46. Women Services Inc. 47. Women's Law Project 48. Women's Resource Center 49. Women's Services, Inc 50. WOMEN'S WAY 51. YWCA Bradford 52. YWCA Dutchess County 53. YWCA Lancaster 54. YWCA Northcentral PA/Wise Options 55. YWCA Victims' Resource Center 56. YWCA York Rhode Island 1. DVRCSC 2. National Council of Women RI 3. Ocean State Action 4. Olneyville Neighborhood Association 5. Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence 6. Rhode Island NOW 7. The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health 8. Turning Point 9. Women's Medical Center of Rhode Island South Carolina 1. Appleseed Legal Justice Center 2. Safe Harbor 3. Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service 4. South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault South Dakota 1. South Dakota Coalition Ending Domestic & Sexual Violence 2. Native American Community Board, Lake Andres 3. Native Women's Society of the Great Plains, Timber Lake 4. White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Mission 5. Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc., Fort Thompson 6. Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate 7. Oglala Sioux Tribe Victim Services Tennessee 1. Abuse Alternatives, Inc. 2. Local 365 3. Muslim Community of Knoxville 4. National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter 5. Tennessee Citizen Action 6. Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence 7. United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. 8. YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee Texas 1. American Gateways 2. Artemis Justice Center 3. Casa de Esperanza 4. Casa de Proyecto Libertad 5. Catholic Charities of Dallas 6. Citizens Against Violence, Inc. 7. Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center 8. Daya Inc. 9. Fort Bend County Women's Center 10. Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council 11. Hospitality House, INC. 12. Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc. 13. Islamic Association of the Mid-Cities 14. Montrose Counseling Center 15. National Council of Jewish Women, Texas State Policy Advocacy Network 16. New Beginning Center 17. North Dallas Chapter of the National Organization for Women 18. Our Lady. Of the Lake University 19. Promise House, Inc. 20. Refugio del Rio Grande 21. SafePlace 22. Sam Houston State University 23. Sexual Assault Resource Center of the Brazos Valley 24. Sun City Democratic Club 25. Sun City/West Valley NOW 26. Texas Council on Family Violence 27. Texas Muslim Women's Foundation 28. The Family Place, Dallas TX 29. Travis County Attorney's Office 30. TX Association Against Sexual Assault 31. Women's Shelter of South Texas 32. YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County U.S. Virgin Islands 1. Women's Coalition of St. Croix Utah 1. Enriching Utah Coalition 2. Holy Cross Ministries 3. Icarus Group 4. Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Salt Lake City 5. National Council of Jewish Women Utah State Policy Advocacy Chair 6. NCJW, Utah Section 7. PERRETTA LAW OFFICE 8. Salt Lake Family Health Center 9. Utah Assistive Technology Foundation 10. Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault 11. Utah Domestic Violence Council 12. Utah Women's Lobby 13. West Valley City Victim Services 14. YWCA Salt Lake City Vermont 1. Circle--VT 2. Clarina Howard Nichols Center 3. Finding Our Voices 4. RU12 Community Center 5. Vermont Center for Independent Living 6. Vermont Council on Domestic Violence 7. Vermont Legal Aid, Inc. 8. Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence 9. Voices Against Violence/Laurie's House Virginia 1. American Postal Workers Union 2. Center For Behavioral Change, P.C. 3. Domestic Violence Action Center 4. DOVES of Big Bear Valley, Inc 5. Dream Project Inc. 6. Fredericksburg NOW 7. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies 8. NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia 9. National Organization for Women, Alexandria, VA Chapter 10. National Organization for Women, Virginia Chapter 11. Prince George's Crime Victim's Fund 12. S.H.A.R.E., Inc. 13. Transitions 14. Trinity Episcopal Church 15. Virginia Anti-Violence Project 16. Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance 17. YWCA Central Virginia 18. YWCA DVPC 19. YWCA Greater Harrisburg Washington 1. African Communities Network 2. ALLYSHIP 3. API Chaya 4. Cambodian Women Networking Association 5. Compass Housing Alliance 6. CIELO Project 7. King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence 8. LGO Consulting 9. Local 242 10. Lummi Nation Victims of Crime Program 11. National Council of Jewish Women, Seattle Section 12. National Council of Jewish Women, Washington State Policy Advocacy Chair 13. Navos Mental Health Solutions 14. NCJW Seattle section 15. New Beginnings 16. Northwest Immigrant Rights Project 17. Seattle NOW 18. Support, Advocacy & Resource Center 19. Tacoma Women of Vision NGO 20. WA State National Organization for Women 21. Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs 22. Washington Community Action Network 23. Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence 24. Women Spirit Coalition, Olympia 25. YWCA Bellingham 26. YWCA Clark County 27. YWCA Kitsap County 28. YWCA Pierce County 29. YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish 30. YWCA Spokane 31. YWCA Walla Walla 32. YWCA Yakima 33. Zonta Club of Yakima Valley West Virginia 1. Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc. 2. CHANGE Inc./The Lighthouse 3. CONTACT Huntington 4. Direct Action Welfare Group (DAWG) 5. Family Crisis Intervention Center 6. Family Refuge Center 7. Kanawha County Victim Services Center 8. Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living 9. Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc. 10. Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center 11. Shenandoah Women's Center, Inc. 12. West Virginia Citizen Action Group 13. West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence 14. West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services 15. Women's Aid in Crisis 16. WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence 17. WV NOW 18. YWCA Charleston WV 19. YWCA Wheeling Wisconsin 1. 9to5 Milwaukee 2. American Indians Against Abuse 3. Asha Family Services, Inc. 4. Beloit Domestic Violence Center 5. Bolton Refuge House, Inc. 6. Bridge to Hope 7. Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse, Inc. 8. Citizen Action of Wisconsin 9. Community Immigration Law Center 10. Daystar, Inc. 11. DCY Dubuque Domestic Violence Program 12. Golden House 13. Green Haven Family Advocates 14. Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs 15. HELP of Door County, Inc. 16. Hmong American Women's Association 17. Hope House of South Central Wisconsin 18. IndependenceFirst 19. Jewish Community Relations Council, Milwaukee Jewish Federation 20. Manitowoc County Domestic Violence Center 21. New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Inc. 22. People Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (PADA) 23. People Against Violent Environment 24. Personal Development Center, Inc. 25. Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians 26. Red Cliff Family Violence Prevention Program 27. Safe Harbor of Sheboygan County, Inc. 28. Sojourner Family Peace Center 29. St. Agnes Hospital Domestic Violence Program 30. The Bridge to Hope 31. The Women's Center, Inc. 32. Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Inc. 33. Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling 34. Tri-Valley Haven 35. UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence 36. United Migrant Opportunity Services 37. Uniting Three Fires Against Domestic Violence, Saulte Ste. Marie 38. Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence 39. Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault 40. Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers 41. Wisconsin Community Fund 42. Wisconsin NOW 43. Women and Children's Horizons 44. YWCA Greater Milwaukee 45. YWCA Green Bay 46. YWCA Madison 47. YWCA Rock County 48. YWCA Southeast Wisconsin Wyoming 1. Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation 2. Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 3. Sacred Shield dv/sa program

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CONYERS. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, the controlling objective here is that, if we reject the substitute and, instead, adopt the bipartisan and comprehensive Senate bill, the bill will go directly to the President for his signature. So I rise in strong opposition to the substitute and in support of the Senate bill, the Violence Against Women Act of 2013. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. CONYERS. I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the former chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution on the House Judiciary Committee, the gentleman from New York, Jerry Nadler.

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee. (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I include for the Record a number of letters from advocacy and nonprofit groups in opposition to the House substitute and in support of the Senate-passed bill. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Has Broad National Support More than 1400 local, state, tribal, and national organizations have expressed their strong support for passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S.47), including national service providers and victim advocates, law enforcement organizations, and faith-based organizations. Victim Service Providers and Advocates 9 to 5, National Association of Working Women Alianza-National Latino Alliance to End Domestic Violence Alternatives to Family Violence American Bar Association American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence American Medical Association Americans Overseas Domestic Crisis Center Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence ASISTA Immigration Assistance Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies Break the Cycle Casa de Esperanza: National Latino Network for Healthy Families and Communities Daughters of Penelope Futures Without Violence (formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund) Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project Institute on Domestic Violence in the African-American Community Jewish Women International Legal Momentum Men Can Stop Rape Men's Resources International National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators National-Alliance to End Sexual Violence National Center for Victims of Crime National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence National Coalition Against Domestic Violence National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs National Congress of American Indians Taskforce on Violence Against Women National Council of Jewish Women National Dating Abuse Hotline National Domestic Violence Hotline National Network to End Domestic Violence National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) National Organization for Women National Organization of Asian Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault National Resource Center on Domestic Violence Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International Rape Abuse and Incest National Network