Rep. Schrier’s Amendment Passes House, Included in Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced an amendment this week, which was unanimously adopted in H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. The amendment would increase the number of healthcare professionals who are able to assist children exposed to violence. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passed the House on Thursday.

Schrier said, in part, "The long-term effects of childhood exposure to adverse experiences, which include domestic and sexual violence that go unaddressed, are chilling. Children exposed to violence, when they become adults, are more likely to have addictive behaviors, to drop out of school, and to be violent themselves.

The effects of these adverse experiences can be mitigated through counseling and other intervention services, which is why my amendment would require funding authorized under this section to be used to increase the number of social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, trauma specialists, and others who are trained in counseling children exposed to violence.

As a pediatrician, I know firsthand that if we treat adverse childhood experiences early, we can mitigate the costly long-term effects that occur later in life."

To watch her full floor speech, click here or on the image above.