I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 144
To establish a task force to recommend a uniform strategy to protect women
against violent crime.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 4, 1995
Mr. SOLOMON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To establish a task force to recommend a uniform strategy
to protect women against violent crime.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Violence Against
Women Research Act’’.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Attorney General shall establish a task
force to be known as the ‘‘National Task Force on Vio-
lence Against Women’’ (referred to in this Act as the
‘‘task force’’).
SEC. 3. DUTIES.
(a) GENERAL PURPOSE OF TASK FORCE.—The task
force shall develop a uniform Federal, State, and local law
enforcement strategy aimed at protecting women against
violent crime, punishing persons who commit such crimes,
and enhancing the rights of victims of such crimes.
(b) DUTIES OF TASK FORCE.—The task force shall
perform such functions as the Attorney General deems ap-
propriate to carry out the purposes of the task force,
including—
(1) considering the reports of past Federal and
State task forces or commissions on violent crime,
family violence, and crime victims, including the
President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime (1982),
the Attorney General’s Task Force on Family Vio-
lence (1984), and the task forces and commissions
established by the States of Alabama, Alaska, Ar-
kansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New
York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia,
Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming;
(2) developing strategies for Federal, State, and
local law enforcement designated to protect women
against violent crime, and to prosecute and punish
those responsible for such crime;
(3) evaluating the adequacy of sentencing, in-
carceration, and release of violent offenders against
women, and making recommendations designated to
ensure that such offenders receive appropriate pun-
ishment; and
(4) evaluating the adequacy of the treatment of
victims of violent crime against women within the
criminal justice system, and making recommenda-
tions designed to improve such treatment.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The task force shall consist of up
to 10 members, who shall be appointed by the Attorney
General not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act. The Attorney General shall ensure that the
task force includes representatives of State and local law
enforcement, the State and local judiciary, and groups
dedicated to protecting the rights of victims.
(b) CHAIRPERSON.—The Attorney General or a des-
ignee shall serve as the chairperson of the task force.
SEC. 5. PAY.
(a) NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION.—Members of
the task force who are officers or employees of a govern-
mental agency shall receive no additional compensation by
reason of their service on the task force.
(b) PER DIEM.—While away from their homes or reg-
ular places of business in the performance of duties for
the task force, members of the task force shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
at rates authorized for employees of agencies under sec-
tions 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.
(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The task force shall
have an Executive Director who shall be appointed
by the Attorney General not later than 30 days after
the task force is fully constituted under subsection
(c).
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Executive Director
shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed the
maximum rate of the basic pay payable under GS–
15 of the General Schedule as contained in title 5,
United States Code.
(b) STAFF.—With the approval of the task force, the
Executive Director may appoint not more than 12 individ-
uals to serve as staff and fix the compensation of such
additional personnel as the Executive Director considers
necessary to carry out the duties of the task force.
(c) APPLICABILITY OF CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—The
Executive Director and the additional personnel of the
task force appointed under paragraph (2) may be ap-
pointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such
title relating to classification and General Schedule pay
rates.
SEC. 7. POWERS OF TASK FORCE.
(a) HEARINGS.—For the purpose of carrying out this
section, the task force may conduct such hearings, sit and
act at such times and places, take such testimony, and
receive such evidence, as the task force considers appro-
priate. The task force may administer oaths before the
task force.
(b) DELEGATION.—Any member or employee of the
task force may, if authorized by the task force, take any
action that the task force is authorized to take under this
section.
(c) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The task force may
secure directly from any executive department or agency
such information as may be necessary to enable the task
force to carry out this section, to the extent access to such
information is permitted by law.
(d) MAIL.—The task force may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions
as other departments and agencies of the United States.
SEC. 8. REPORT.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the
task force is fully constituted under subsection (c), the At-
torney General shall submit a detailed report to the Con-
gress on the findings and recommendations of the task
force.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $500,000 to
carry out the purposes of this Act.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
The task force shall cease to exist 30 days after the
date on which the Attorney General’s report is submitted
under section 9.
Æ