House Concurrent Resolution 182
Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to child custody,
child abuse, and victims of domestic and family
violence. (Introduced in the House)
HCON 182 IH - 105th CONGRESS - First Session - H. CON. RES. 182
Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to child custody,
child abuse, and victims of domestic and family violence.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 30, 1997
Mrs. MORELLA (for herself, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. DAVIS of
Virginia, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Ms. FURSE, Ms.
CARSON, Mr. VENTO, Mr. LAFALCE, Mr. STARK, Mr. FROST,
Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HINCHEY, and Mr. SANDERS) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to child custody,
child abuse, and victims of domestic and family violence.
Whereas domestic violence has serious detrimental effects on
children, even when they do not directly witness such violence;
Whereas courts still hold women to higher standards of conduct
than they do men;
Whereas gender bias still exists within the courts, particularly
those making and affecting child custody determinations;
Whereas gender bias has long existed and still exists within
the mental health system;
Whereas, as a result of this gender bias, many myths are that
women make false allegations of domestic violence or child abuse,
and most particularly of child sexual abuse, during divorce and
custody proceedings;
Whereas false accusations by women are in fact rare, occurring
no more often than do other false reports of crimes, such as
bank robbery;
Whereas the myth that women make false accusations is so
widely believed that many child protective service agents have
policies of not bothering to investigate such allegations when
made during the pendency of divorce or custody proceedings or
only superficially investigate such allegations;
Whereas there are many myths that fathers are discriminated
against in custody proceedings, even though studies show that
fathers fighting for custody actually win sole custody or joint
custody in 40 to 70 percent of these disputes;
Whereas the American Psychological Association's Presidential
Task Force on Violence and the Family has found in a 1996
Presidential Report that Congress views as authoritative on
questions of domestic violence, child abuse, and custody
determination that--
(1) fathers who abuse their children's mothers are more likely to
dispute custody and visitation than are fathers who are not
violent;
(2) there is no reliable data to support the phenomenon of
`parental alienation' syndrome, although courts and custody
evaluators frequently use that term and other inappropriate
terms to discount the children's fear in hostile and psychologically
abusive situations; and
(3) psychological evaluators not trained in domestic violence
ignore or minimize the violence and give inappropriate pathological
labels to women's responses to chronic victimization, including
`parental alienation' to blame mothers for their children's
reasonable fear or anger toward their violent fathers.
Whereas many courts and professionals use the baseless
parental alienation syndrome to force mothers into joint or shared
parenting arrangements or to give custody to fathers, especially
when mothers try to protect themselves or their children from
men who abuse them or their children;
Whereas almost every custody evaluator or judge recognizes
how important familiar routines and objects are to a child,
particularly in times of stress, but often fails to recognize the
importance for the child of maintaining its living arrangement with
the child's primary caretaker parent;
Whereas Congress never intended that the Parental Kidnapping
Prevention Act be used--
(1) to encourage forcing shared parenting arrangements when it
is not in the child's best interest;
(2) to prohibit an abused or protective parent from protecting
themselves or their child;
(3) as a tool to punish a parent, without regard for the needs of
the child, by removing physical custody of a child from a fit
abused or protective parent; or
(4) as a tool to punish abused or protective parents who act to
protect themselves or their children;
Whereas when there is domestic or family violence or major
discord between the parents, shared parenting arrangements,
couples counseling, or mediation arrangements only exacerbate
the difficulties of the children and give the abusive parent more
tools with which to victimize the other members of the family;
Whereas children who grow up not seeing abusive parents clearly
held accountable for their abuse are reinforced in believing
that domestic and family violence are socially acceptable and
effective means of behavior; and
Whereas every State has legislation or judicial decisions that base
its custody determinations on what is in the best interests of
the child: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) for purposes of determining child custody, it is in the
best interest of children to have a presumption that
children should have their main physical residence with
their primary caretaker parent unless that parent is unfit;
(2) for purposes of determining child custody, it is not in
the best interest of children to--
(A) force parents to share custody over the objection of one
or both parents or when there is a history of
domestic or family violence;
(B) punish abused or protective parents who protect themselves
or their children;
(C) presume that allegations of domestic and family
violence are likely to be made falsely or for tactical
advantage during custody and divorce proceedings; and
(D) make `friendly parent' provisions a factor when there is
abuse by one parent against the other or a child;
(3) child abuse and child sexual abuse allegations should be
fully and impartially investigated regardless of when
they are raised or whether the child has recanted the allegation;
(4) States should be far more protective of victims of
domestic and family violence in custody and visitation
determinations and not order mediation, couples
counseling, shared custody, mutual orders of protection,
unsupervised visitation, or other measures when they may
endanger victims of domestic and family violence; and
(5) States should provide training in domestic violence and
child abuse, as they impact custody, child support and
visitation determinations, to all professionals who interact
with children and parents (including judges, attorneys,
guardians ad litem, therapists, mental health professionals,
custody evaluators, child protective services personnel,
and court appointed special advocates).
--end text of concurrent resolution--
Contact information:
Note: where available, multiple district addresses have been included, as
well as telephone no., fax no., email address, and web page urls.
Information was obtained via Juan Cabanela's web site (
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ ).
105TH Congress
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3951
http://www.house.gov/judiciary/mem105.htm
--
MR. HYDE (ILLINOIS), CHAIRMAN
Henry Hyde
Illinois' 6th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2110 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1315
Tel: (202) 225-4561
Fax: 202-225-1166
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/hyde/welcome.htm
Home State Contact Info:
50 E. Oak St., Suite 200
Addison, IL 60101
(630) 832-5950
House Judiciary Members:
Mr. Sensenbrenner (Wisconsin)
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
Wisconsin's 9th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2332 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4909
Tel: (202) 225-5101
Fax: 202-225-3190
sensen09@mail.house.gov
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner/welcome.html
Home State Contact Info:
120 Bishops Way, Room 154
Brookfield, WI 53005
Telephone: (414) 784-1111
Outside the Milwaukee Metro calling area, toll-free
HOTLINE number: 1-800-242-1119.
Mr. Conyers (Michigan), Ranking
John Conyers, Jr.
Michigan's 14th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2426 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Ph: 202-225-5126
Fax: 202-225-0072
jconyers@hr.house.gov
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/conyers/welcome.html
Home State Contact Info:
669 Federal Building
231 West Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48226
Ph: 313-961-5670
Fax: 313-226-8085
Mr. McCollum (Florida)
Bill McCollum
Florida's 8th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2266 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-2176
Fax: (202) 225-0999
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/mccollum/
Email: bill.mccollum@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Suite 650
605 East Robinson Street
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 872-1962
Fax: (407) 872-1944
Mr. Frank (Massachusetts)
Barney Frank
Massachusett's 4th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2210 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515-2104
Tel: (202) 225-5931
Fax: 202-225-0182
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/frank/welcome.htm
Home State Contact Info:
29 Crafts Street
Newton, MA 02158
(617) 332-3920
558 Pleasant Street
Room 309
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 999-6462
222 Milliken Place
Third Floor
Fall River, MA 02721
(508) 674-3551
89 Main Street
Bridgewater, MA 02324
(508) 697-9403
Mr. Gekas (Pennsylvania)
George W. Gekas
Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2410 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2817
Phone: 202-225-4315
Fax: 202-225-8440
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/gekas/
Home State Contact Info:
Harrisburg Area District Office:
Second Floor, 3605 Vartan Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9335
Phone: 717-541-5507
Fax: 717-541-5518
Lancaster County District Office:
Suite 102-A, 222 South Market Street
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2447
Phone: 800-210-0206
Fax: 717-367-6602
Lebanon County District Office:
108 B Municipal Building, 400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042-6794
Phone: 717-273-1451
Fax: 717-273-1673
Mr. Schumer (New York)
Charles E. Schumer
New York's 9th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Room 2211
Rayburn Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-6616
Fax: 202-225-4183
Personal Web Page:
http://www.nydems.org/elected/schumer.html
Home State Contact Info:
1628 Kings Highway
Brooklyn, NY 11229
Tel: 718-627-9700
Mr. Coble (North Carolina)
Howard Coble
North Carolina's 6th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-3065
Fax: 202-225-8611
Email: CobleNC6@hr.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Tel: 910-333-5005
Mr. Berman (California)
Howard L. Berman
California's 26th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2231 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC, 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4695
Fax: 202-225-5279
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/berman/
Home State Contact Info
10200 Sepulveda Blvd., #300
Mission Hills, CA., 91345
Phone: (818) 891-0543
Mr. Smith (Texas)
Lamar S. Smith
Texas' 21st Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Phone: 202-225-4236
Fax: 202-225-8628
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/lamarsmith/
Email: lamars@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
Tel: 210-821-5024
Mr. Boucher (Virginia)
Rick Boucher
Virginia's 9th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2329 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3861
(202) 225-0442 FAX
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/boucher/
Email: ninthnet@hr.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
188 East Main Street
Abingdon, Virginia 24210
(540) 628-1145
(540) 628-2203 FAX
311 Shawnee Avenue East
Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219
(540) 523-5450
(540) 523-1412 FAX
P.O. Box 1268
Pulaski, Virginia 24301
(540) 980-4310
(540) 980-0529 FAX
Mr. Schiff (New Mexico)
Steven Schiff
New Mexico's 1st Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2404 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-6316
Fax: 202-225-4975
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/schiff/
Home State Contact Info
625 Silver Ave. SW, Suite 140
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-766-2538
Mr. Nadler (New York)
Jerrold Nadler
New York's 8th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2448 Rayburn HOB
Washington D.C. 20515
Tel: 202-225-5635
Fax: 202-225-6923
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/nadler/
Email: jerrold.nadler@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Manhattan:
11 Beach Street, Suite 910
New York, NY 10013
Tel: (212) 334-3207
Brooklyn:
532 Neptune Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11224
(718) 373-3198
Mr. Gallegly (California)
Elton Gallegly
California's 23rd Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Office of Congressman Elton Gallegly
2427 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0523
Phone: (202) 225-5811
Fax: 202-225-1100
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/gallegly/
Home State Contact Info
Office of Congressman Elton Gallegly
300 Esplanade Drive, Suite 1800
Oxnard, California 93030-1262
Phone: (805) 485-2300 or
Toll Free:(800) 423-0023
Mr. Scott (Virginia)
Robert C. Scott
Virginia's 3rd Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Phone: 202-225-8351
Fax: 202-225-8354
Home State Contact Info
Phone: 757-380-1000
Canady (Florida)
Charles T. Canady
Florida's 12th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2432 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-1252
Fax: 202-225-2279
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/canady/
Email: Rep.Charles.Canady@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
Marble Arcade Building
129 South Kentucky Avenue
Suite 910
Lakeland, FL 33801
Tel: (941) 688-2654, 688-2651
Mr. Watt (North Carolina)
Mel Watt
North Carolina's 12th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-1510
Fax: 202-225-1512
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/watt/
Email: melmail@hr.house.gov , nc12.public@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
CHARLOTTE
324 N. College Street
Suite 201
Charlotte, NC 28202
Tel: 704-344-9950
Fax (704) 344-9971
DURHAM
315 East Chapel Hill Street
Suite 202
Durham, NC 27701
Telephone (919) 688-3004
Fax (919) 688-0940
GREENSBORO
301 S. Greene Street
Suite 210
Greensboro, NC 27401
Telephone (910) 379-9403
Fax (910) 379-9429
Mr. Inglis (South Carolina)
Bob Inglis
South Carolina's 4th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-6030
Fax: 202-226-1177
Home State Contact Info
864-232-1141
Ms. Lofgren (California)
Zoe Lofgren
California's 16th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
318 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-3072
Fax: 202-225-3336
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/lofgren/
Email: zoegram@lofgren.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
635 North 1st Street, Suite B
San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: 408-271-8700
Mr. Goodlatte (Virginia)
Bob Goodlatte
Virginia's 6th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
123 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5431
(202) 225-9681 FAX
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/goodlatte/
Email: talk2bob@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
Roanoke Office:
10 Franklin Road, SE
540 Crestar Plaza
Roanoke, VA 24011
(540) 857-2672
(540) 857-2675 FAX
Lynchburg Office:
916 Main Street
Suite 300
Lynchburg, VA 24504
(804) 845-8306
(804)845-8245 FAX
Staunton Office:
114 North Central Avenue
Staunton, VA 24401
(540) 885-3861
(540) 885-3930 FAX
Harrisonburg Office:
2 South Main Street
Suite A, First Floor
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 432-2391
(540) 432-6593 FAX
Ms. Jackson Lee (Texas)
Sheila Jackson Lee
Texas' 18th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
1520 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3816
Fax: (202) 225-3317
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/jacksonlee/
Email: tx18@lee.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
Houston Offices
The Mickey Leland Federal Building
1919 Smith Street, Suite 1180
Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: (713) 655-0050
Fax: (713) 655-1612
Acres Home
6719 West Montgomery Road
Room 204
Houston, Texas 77091
Phone: (713) 691-4882
Heights Office (New)
420 West 19th Street
Houston, Texas 77008
Phone: (713) 861-4070
Mr. Buyer (Indiana)
Stephen E. Buyer
Indianna's 5th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
326 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5037
Fax: 202-225-2267
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/buyer/
Home State Contact Info
Kokomo, IN
215 W Sycamore Street
Kokomo, IN 46901
(765) 454-7551
Monticello, IN
100 S Main Street
Monticello, IN 47960
(219) 583-9819
Ms. Waters (California)
Maxine Waters
California's 35th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
2344 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-2201
Fax: 202-225-7854
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/waters/
Home State Contact Info
10124 S. Broadway
Suite 1
Los Angeles, CA 90003
Phone: 213-757-8900
Mr. Bono (California)
Sonny Bono
California's 44th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Phone: 202-225-5330
Fax: 202-225-2961
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/waters/
Home State Contact Info
PALM SPRINGS STAFF
1555 S. Palm Canyon
#G101
Palm Springs, CA 92264
Tel: (760) 320-1076
Fax: (760) 320-0596
MORENO VALLEY STAFF
11401 Heacock Street, Suite 340
First Floor
Moreno Valley, CA 92557
Tel: 909-485-4827
Fax: 909-485-4897
HEMET VALLEY
1600 East Florida Avenue #306
Hemet, CA 92544
Tel: 909-658-2312
Fax: 909-652-2562
Mr. Meehan (Massachusetts)
Martin T. Meehan
Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
U.S. House of Representatives
2434 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-3411
Fax: (202) 226-0771
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/meehan/
Email: mtmeehan@hr.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
Lowell District Office
11 Kearney Square
Lowell, MA 01852
Tel: (508) 459-0101
Fax: (508) 459-1907
Lawrence District Office
Bay State Building
11 Lawrence Street - Suite 703
Lawrence, MA 01840
Tel: (508) 681-6200
Fax: (508) 682-6070
Marlborough District Office
Walker Building
255 Main Street, Room 104
Marlborough, MA 01752
Tel: (508) 460-9292
Fax: (508) 460-6869
Mr. Bryant (Tennessee)
Ed Bryant
Tennessee's 7th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
408 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20037-4207
(202) 225-2811
Fax: 202-225-2989
Personal Home Page:
http://www.house.gov/bryant/
Home State Contact Info
Memphis
5909 Shelby Oaks Drive
Suite 213
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 382-5811
Clarksville
330 North Second Street
Suite 111
Clarksville, TN 37040-3210
(615) 503-0391
Columbia
810 1/2 South Garden Street
Columbia, TN 38401-8100
(615) 381-8100
Mr. Delahunt (Massachusetts)
William D. Delahunt
Massachusetts' 10th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-3111
Fax: 202-225-5658
Email: william.delahunt@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info
Tel: 617-770-3700
Mr. Chabot (Ohio)
Steve Chabot
Ohio's 1st Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-2216
Fax: 202-225-3012
Home State Contact Info:
Tel: 513-684-2723
Mr. Wexler (Florida)
Robert Wexler
Florida's 19th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-3001
Fax: 202-225-5974
Email: robert.wexler@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Tel: 561-988-6302
Mr. Barr (Georgia)
Bob Barr
Georgia's 7th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
1130 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4611
Phone: (202) 225-2931
Fax: (202) 225-2944
Personal Home Page:
http://www.house.gov/barr/
Home State Contact Info:
CARROLLTON OFFICE
Carroll County Admin. Bldg.
423 College Street, Suite B, Room 503
Carrollton, Georgia 30117
Phone: (770) 836-1776
Fax: (770) 838-0436
LAGRANGE OFFICE
200 Ridley Avenue
LaGrange, Georgia 30240
Phone: (706) 812-1776
Fax: (706) 885-9019
MARIETTA OFFICE
999 Whitlock Avenue, Suite 13
Marietta, Georgia 30064
Phone: (770) 429-1776
Fax: (770) 795-9551
ROME OFFICE
600 East First Street, Suite 301
Rome, Georgia 30161
Phone: (706) 290-1776
Fax: (706) 232-7864
Mr. Rothman (New Jersey)
Steven R. Rothman
New Jersey's 9th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
1607 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Voice: 202/225-5061
Fax: 202/225-5851
Personal Home Page:
http://www.house.gov/rothman/
Email: steven.rothman@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Bergen County
Court Plaza North
25 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601-7089
Voice: 201/646-0808
Fax: 201/646-1944
Hudson County
30 Central Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306-2118
Voice: 201/798-1366
Fax: 201/798-1725
Mr. Jenkins (Tennessee)
William L. Jenkins
Tennessee's 1st Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-6356
Fax: 202-225-5714
Email: bill.jenkins@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Tel: 423-247-8161
Mr. Hutchinson (Arkansas)
Asa Hutchinson
Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
1535 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202)225-4301
Fax: 202-225-5713
Personal Web Page:
http://www.house.gov/hutchinson/
Email: Asa.Hutchinson@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
30 South 6th, Room 248
Fort Smith,Arkansas 72901
501-782-7787
35 East Mountain Street,
Room 423
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
501-442-5258
402 N. Walnut, Suite 210
Harrison, Arkansas 72601
870-741-6900
Mr. Pease (Indiana)
Edward A. Pease
Indianna's 7th Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-5805
Fax: 202-225-1649
Email: pease@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Tel: 812-238-1619
Mr. Cannon (Utah)
Chris Cannon
Utah's 3rd Congressional District
Washington Contact Info:
Tel: 202-225-7751
Fax: 202-225-5629
Personal Home Page:
http://www.chriscannon.org/
Email: cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov
Home State Contact Info:
Tel: 801-397-2500
Courtesy of:
Men's HOTLINE : 512-472-3237 : men@menhotline.org : www.menhotline.org
------- A crisis line for men -------
807 Brazos, Suite 315 : Austin, Texas 78701
A service of the Men's Health Network : Washington, D.C.
and Albert E. Whale
On Sun, 30 Nov 1997 14:11:53 -0500, "Jan F. Cohen" <janfcohen@pb.net>
wrote:
Please disseminate widely. Ref. Stuart Miller's Washington Times article
of November 30, 1997 Page B2.
Fwd/fyi - source: http://thomas.loc.gov
Albert E. Whale aewhale@access.hky.com
http://www.hky.com/aewhale.html
Sr. Database, Internet and Unix Systems Consultant
The Maxim Group - Information Systems Consultants
Pennsylvania Parenthood Initiative - It takes two people to become parents, the children need both of them!
Parents without Partners - Past President
Co-Founder of The Purple Heart Foundation
My Personal Custody Page - http://www.hky.com/custody.html
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