Lauren Underwood is one of our rising stars. On Wednesday (April 3), during passage of the House reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, H.R. 1585, Rep. Underwood successfully introduced an amendment expanding mental health and substance abuse treatment for domestic violence survivors (with co-sponsors Kim Schrier, D-WA, District 8, and Donna Shalala, D-FL, District 27). Underwood’s remarks on House floor are well worth a listen (it’s only a minute-and-a-half long):
www.dropbox.com/…
Complete transcript (any errors are my own):
Thank you. I rise today in support of this amendment, which I co-authored with my colleague from Washington. A female pediatrician and a female nurse working together to write legislation; this has literally never happened before in this body. Our amendment ensures that trauma and behavioral health specialists are included in this section of the bill to strengthen our health care system's response to domestic violence. Behavioral health care, of course, includes mental health care, as well as treatment for substance abuse disorders. Both are particularly important to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Mental health care can be lifesaving for domestic violence survivors. Survivors are three times more likely to meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. They are also more likely to have suicidal thoughts, and to attempt suicide. And mothers who experience domestic violence are nearly twice as likely to develop post-partum depression as those who don't. Access to treatment for substance abuse is also critical for domestic violence survivors. Survivors experience substance abuse disorders at rates two to six times higher than average. Violence against women isn't just a women's issue; it's a children's issue, it's a men's issue, it's a families issue, and it's an economic issue. That's why it's so important that our health care system take a comprehensive approach to its response. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our amendment.
Although I only managed to type up one (the shorter speech), Underwood succeeded in getting two amendments added:
underwood.house.gov/…
Underwood successfully included two key provisions in the final passage. The first would increase access to mental health care and substance abuse treatment for survivors of domestic violence. The second requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report to Congress the effects of the recent federal government shutdown on DOJ’s efforts to disperse funding and services to victims of domestic violence.
Underwood’s remarks on Amendment number 35 can be found at 6:50:07 on C-span:
www.c-span.org/...
edit April 7: Lauren Underwood needs your help keeping the seat she flipped last year. Her Act Blue link here:
secure.actblue.com/...