A Foundation from the HEART - Hope Exists After Rape Trauma

January 28, 2008

To the friends of H-E-A-R-T,

We are facing some critical issues at this time. Before we get into that though, we have great news: Congress has funded the Debbie Smith Act at its highest level yet, $147 million out of the $151 million authorized! This is a result of a great deal of work by many people. Your input as citizens to your members of Congress has definitely been persuasive. We are going back to the Hill next month to start the process for the funding appropriations for FY2009. Please help us keep up the pressure. If a dozen or more constituents contact their legislators, it gets their attention.

The next step is to convince Congress to re-authorize our bill for an additional 5 years. We started that process this past fall with a personal visit to the chairman of the House sub-committee on crime, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia who happens to be our representative. We were overwhelmed by his show of support in not only being willing to propose a bill to reauthorize the larger Justice For All Act, but to seek additional funds. On Friday, January 18, 2008, Congresswoman Maloney along with Congressmen Conyers and Lamar Smith, introduced the reauthorization of the Debbie Smith Act. We need your help in making calls to your representatives to support this legislation. Please call, write or e-mail as soon as you can to show them the interest that is out there for this effort. Rob and I will be doing all we can to move both pieces of legislation forward so we can get more DNA funding out to the states to not only solve more crimes, but to prevent even more. One in six women are raped in this country, let’s reduce those numbers now!

Our second critical issue is funding for H-E-A-R-T, Inc. Due to the increased number of speaking engagements we are attending, our personal efforts at fund raising are very limited. As a result, we will start asking for a $700.00 donation to H-E-A-R-T for our speaking engagements. This money will not go to either one of us as speakers, but will be part of the much needed operating budget. To that end, we also ask that any of you who can, please participate in our upcoming Fund Raising Cruise in June, or our 6^th Annual Golf Tournament in October. If you or someone you know is looking for a tax deductible place to make a one time contribution or even a regular monthly contribution, please share our contact info with them. We are very aware that financial times are tight for everyone and in no way want you to consider this request unless you are truly able and willing.

From my heart,

Debbie Smith

For more information about The Debbie Smith Act, visit the website of Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney at http://www.house.gov/maloney/issues/DebbieSmith/

Debbie Smith Act

On March 3,1989, Debbie Smith was kidnapped from her home while her husband, a police officer, was sleeping upstairs. She was dragged into the woods behind her Williamsburg, Virginia home and raped. The rapist threatened Debbie not to tell, and reminded her that he knew where she lived. Bravely, Debbie went forward and told her husband Robert of the assault. The rape was officially reported and she consented to a forensic exam.

After the sexual assault, Debbie feared that her unknown attacker would return to further harm her or her family. This fear was paralyzing. During the first few years following this attack, Debbie was suicidal. Only the fear of her family finding her body prevented her from following this thought through. Some days, she and Robert drove around Williamsburg looking at homes because Debbie wanted to move. Other days she felt furious at her attacker for the effect he had on her and her family. On those days, she refused to move.

The traumatic effect of the assault remained with Debbie and her family for six and ½ years, and then her perpetrator was finally caught through a DNA database known as CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). The man who sexually assaulted her had abducted and robbed two other women. Their attacker was identified through an ATM photo where he made them take out their money. When his DNA was put into the system there was a match. Debbie’s attacker was convicted of rape, abduction, robbery, burglary and larceny. He was sentenced to two life terms plus 25 years in prison.

Because of the suffering Debbie and countless other victims of sexual assault have faced, legislation has been passed to improve investigations and services for this crime. The Debbie Smith Act, now part of the Justice For All Act of 2004, was signed into law on October 30, 2004. For a complete look at this law, see the web site noted above.

Debbie Smith travels around the country with her husband Robert to talk about her experience. Her purposes for talking about the attack are to help in her healing and to be a voice for the many women who have not been able to speak out. They would like to take away the stigma that comes with rape that puts the blame back on the victim. They would also like to put rapists in jail before they have a chance to continue their rampage, as most rapists will attack between eight and twelve women.