The Mary Kay delegation joined hundreds of other women in Washington today to urge passage of a strong new measure. The effort was organized by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV).

"Renewal of this legislation is critical if our nation is to continue to improve the criminal and civil judicial response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking," said Anne Crews, vice president of government relations at Mary Kay. "One in three women in the U.S. today will be the victim of violence during her lifetime."

"During the ten-year history of the Violence Against Women Act, states have passed more than 660 laws to combat domestic violence," said Lynn Rosenthal, NNEDV executive director. "But new legislation is now critically needed. Even with domestic violence reductions, as many as three million women are physically abused each year."

Today's Congressional breakfast, held in the Capitol Building, included talks by numerous members of Congress including the bill's three co-sponsors, Senators Biden(D-DE), Hatch(R-UT) and Specter(R-PA). Texas Representative Kay Granger(R-Ft. Worth) and other Members of Congress spoke about the need to develop enhanced services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, and to provide funding for expanded services that address dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and other concerns.

Following the NNEDV-sponsored breakfast, the Mary Kay Independent National Sales Directors drove their pink Cadillacs in front of the Capitol Building to symbolize the strong commitment of Mary Kay Inc. and its 650,000 Independent Beauty Consultants in the U.S. to ending domestic violence and enhancing the original bill. The May Kay independent salespeople wore their purple national sales director suits by St. John, fitting because purple also is the color that is symbolic of the fight against domestic violence.

Source: Mary Kay Inc.

CONTACT: Al Madison, +1-202-756-2476, or Jim Van Orden, +1-972-231-2575,
both for Mary Kay Inc.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information or interviews with Lynn Rosenthal and Anne Crews, please call contacts.