Tampa Republic

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell introduced the Supporting the Abused by Learning Options to Navigate Survivor (SALONS) Stories Act, which would incentivize domestic violence awareness training for cosmetologists and beauty professionals.

"Domestic violence is one of the most underreported crimes in the nation, with one in four women falling victim in her lifetime. Oftentimes, friends and family members may not recognize the extent of the abuse," said Rep. Laurel Lee.

"Beauty professionals have a vantage point to recognize emotional and physical signs of abuse, making it potentially lifesaving for them to be equipped with the resources needed to recognize the signs of domestic violence and successfully navigate conversations with clients who could be in danger. That is why I introduced the bipartisan, bicameral SALONS Stories Act to provide grants for states that have laws in place requiring cosmetologists seeking licensing to undergo free domestic violence awareness training," Rep. Lee explained.

"Women experiencing domestic violence or abusive relationships are often isolated, cut off from friends and family and feel like there’s nowhere they can turn for help. Cosmetologists and beauty professionals have a close and unique relationship with their clients and have the opportunity to be a lifeline for women who may not be able to communicate with anyone else. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Laurel Lee to educate cosmetologists to recognize the often-overlooked signs of domestic violence and ensure they have the resources and knowledge to support victims, and help them remove themselves from dangerous situations," said Rep. Dingell.

"My career has been dedicated to ending violence against women and girls—I served as the lead prosecutor for the Child Exploitation Task Force in Florida, I was the coordinator for the Violence Against Women Act for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and I helped numerous victims of violence get protection orders against their abusers. Now as a Member of Congress, I am committed to continuing the work I started in Florida at a national level," Rep. Lee continued.

"Local YWCAs continue to see a sharp increase in demands for domestic and sexual violence services, and salon professionals are uniquely positioned to recognize the signs of abuse, respond, and provide resources to their clients," said YWCA USA CEO Margaret Mitchell. "The SALONS Act will help us reach survivors of domestic violence even sooner, to help them find the safety and support they need, when they need it, through community solutions like the Shear Haven Training in Nashville, Tennessee. We thank Representatives Debbie Dingell and Laurel Lee for introducing this important bill."

In the United States, three women are killed each day by an intimate partner. In 2020, the rate of women being murdered by men spiked to an almost 20-year high. This legislation would preserve states’ autonomy in setting their cosmetology licensing standards while incentivizing lifesaving legislation.