“Today’s passage in the Senate of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization is a significant step towards protecting all victims of violence. I applaud Senate Democrats and Republicans for working together to pass a strong, bipartisan VAWA Reauthorization bill, and urge my GOP colleagues to take up this bill quickly and so we can get it to the President’s desk for signature,” said Congresswoman Johnson.
“It has been 501 days since House Republicans allowed VAWA to expire. A delay in bringing this bill to a vote in the House is unconscionable,” Congresswoman Johnson noted. “We are essentially asking victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to wait for the protection they desperately need. Congress must send a strong message that the American people will not tolerate violent crimes against women.”
The bipartisan Senate bill includes provisions to ensure that all victims of domestic violence, including Native Americans, immigrants and members of the LBGT community, receive the resources and protections they need. VAWA will significantly strengthen the ability of Federal and State governments, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
On January 22, 2013, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), House Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), and other House Democrats introduced H.R. 11, a VAWA Reauthorization identical to the Senate bill. H.R. 11 currently has 194 Democratic cosponsors.
