Speeches & Testimony

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to share our collective recommitment to end domestic violence.

Each October, we remember all those lost to and scarred by domestic violence, a tragic continuing scourge that cuts across all boundaries. Long after we have said goodbyes, long after physical wounds have healed, the psychological and social consequences continue and magnify. Domestic violence truly touches each and all of us.

Tragically, COVID-19 has magnified this challenge. In my home state of Hawaii, the Domestic Violence Action Center saw hotline calls 
increase by 188 percent from February 2020 to 2021. Survivors are further cut off from activities that allow them to escape an abusive environment, such as work or school, and domestic violence organizations face challenges in reaching survivors or providing 
services.

I am incredibly grateful for the service of the domestic violence organizations in my Hawaii, such as the Hawaii State Coalition Against 
Domestic Violence and the some twenty other domestic violence organizations that provide services to survivors and their families, 
along with each and all of their dedicated workers and volunteers. I am also grateful for our local first responders and law enforcement, who have taken actions to better equip themselves to recognize and respond to domestic violence.

There is so much work to be done still in raising awareness and educating our communities about domestic violence. But for now, for 
anyone experiencing, witnessing or suspecting domestic violence, please call or text a local or national helpline. They are not alone.

Mahalo and aloha.