Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/3011

 PUBLIC LAW 109–162—JAN. 5, 2006

119 STAT. 2993

sexual assault, and stalking who face obstacles to using more traditional services and resources. (g) NON-EXCLUSIVITY.—Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted to exclude linguistic and culturally specific community-based programs from applying to other grant programs authorized under this Act.

TITLE II—IMPROVING SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING SEC. 201. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following: 1⁄3 of American women report physical or sexual (1) Nearly abuse by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. (2) According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 248,000 Americans 12 years of age and older were raped or sexually assaulted in 2002. (3) Rape and sexual assault in the United States is estimated to cost $127,000,000,000 per year, including— (A) lost productivity; (B) medical and mental health care; (C) police and fire services; (D) social services; (E) loss of and damage to property; and (F) reduced quality of life. (4) Nonreporting of sexual assault in rural areas is a particular problem because of the high rate of nonstranger sexual assault. (5) Geographic isolation often compounds the problems facing sexual assault victims. The lack of anonymity and accessible support services can limit opportunities for justice for victims. (6) Domestic elder abuse is primarily family abuse. The National Elder Abuse Incidence Study found that the perpetrator was a family member in 90 percent of cases. (7) Barriers for older victims leaving abusive relationships include— (A) the inability to support themselves; (B) poor health that increases their dependence on the abuser; (C) fear of being placed in a nursing home; and (D) ineffective responses by domestic abuse programs and law enforcement. (8) Disabled women comprise another vulnerable population with unmet needs. Women with disabilities are more likely to be the victims of abuse and violence than women without disabilities because of their increased physical, economic, social, or psychological dependence on others. (9) Many women with disabilities also fail to report the abuse, since they are dependent on their abusers and fear being abandoned or institutionalized. (10) Of the 598 battered women’s programs surveyed—

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