Speech #1090099677

Just as the Family Medical Leave Act protects individuals caring for a sick loved one. the SAFE Act would allow domestic violence victims to take time off from work to appear in court cases and other judicial proceedings without jeopardizing their employment at a time they need it the most. It is my hope that the Senate will revisit this issue soon. Immigrant women often face a difficult time escaping abuse because of immigration laws. language barriers. and social isolation. Title VIII of todays bill builds on the progress of VAWA 1994 and VAWA 2000 to remove obstacles hinder or prevent immigrants from fleeing domestic abuse and participating in prosecutions. Further. the bill expands VAWA relief to: (1) elder abuse victims who have been abused by adult U.S. citizen sons or daughters. and (2) victims of child abuse or incest who are less than 25 and would have qualified as child selfpetitioners. It will allow adopted children who have been abused by an adoptive parent to obtain permanent residency without having to reside with the abusive parent for 2 years. In an important move to help battered immigrant women achieve desperatelyneeded economic stability. the bill permits employment authorization to battered women and abused spouses of certain nonimmigrants. Title VIII enhances immigration protection for victims of trafficking by removing barriers that block some victims from accessing to T and U visas. Title VIII also facilitates the reunion of trafficking victims with their family members abroad who are in danger of retaliation from international traffickers. and will increase access to permanent residency for victims of severe forms of trafficking who are cooperating in trafficking prosecutions. Finally. title VIII will arm foreign fiancees with background information about their U.S. citizen fiance. and will educate foreign flancees about U.S. domestic violence laws and resources.