April 4, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 59 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H3072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

  (Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
  This critical legislation is important not only for survivors, but it 
impacts all of us. When we are talking about survivors, we need to also 
look at the root of the problem and the lasting impacts of trauma on 
the survivors and individuals as a whole. We must acknowledge the 
impact of adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs.
  ACE scores are based on a list of events one can witness or undergo 
before turning 18, including sexual abuse or death in a family. If a 
person scores higher than 4, they are 700 times more likely to develop 
depression and other negative impacts. Obesity, diabetes, and stroke 
also become more likely the higher one's ACE score.
  Oklahoma's average ACE score is 4.8, significantly higher than the 
rest of the country. It is no coincidence that we rank at the bottom 
for health, too.
  I am proud of leaders in my own district, like the Palomar Family 
Justice Center that uses ACE data and addresses trauma in treating 
survivors. I am thankful for the work of the Potts Family Foundation, 
which has helped lead the conversation on trauma in Oklahoma and across 
the Nation.
  These models need to be implemented on a wider scale across the 
country, and I am proud to stand with the reauthorization of the 
Violence Against Women Act today.

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