The Violence Against Women Act has been passed!

In a unanimous vote on the Senate floor today of 95-0, the US Senate passed VAWA as part of the Sex Trafficking Conference Report! The House had passed this Conference Report on Friday with an overwhelming vote of 371-1. This marks a day of great hard-won victory for advocates of sexual assault, domestic violence, immigrant women nationwide.

The Debate

Senators spent most of the day debating the legislation. Controversy emerged when Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) objected to a provision only recently attached to the conference report, known as Aimee’s law. Senator Thompson’s appeal failed on a vote of 90-5.

During the debate, several Senators spoke in support of VAWA. “I can think of nothing of more consequence to the women of America and the children of America. This legislation is very, very important. It is the beginning of the end of the attitude in America that a woman is the possession of a man,” said Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE)

“When it was first enacted...the Violence Against Women Act signaled a sea of change to the approach of violence against women. The Violence Against Women Act took giant strides to take this terrible dirty secret and bring it above ground. But as impressive as the advances were under the original Violence Against Women Act, we still...have a long way to go...I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation,” said Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).

At an event Wednesday morning sponsored by the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) spoke in support of VAWA reauthorization. “Today is a great day for American families...I believe women and children are now safer than they were six years ago,” Senator Hatch said, stressing that there is more to be done at both the federal and community levels. “No matter how much money the government puts into it, we in our local communities have to do more.” Hatch, who along with Senator Biden was the author of VAWA Reauthorization, also criticized Congress for not acting sooner. “I’m sorry that it has taken until the end of the Congress to get this bill done... it is time to quit playing games and do what is right.”

The Legislation

This bill more than doubles the amount of money authorized in the original Violence Against Women Act to fund essential programs and services for battered women, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The new legislation authorizes a total of $3.3 billion over the next five years. It includes:

  • $925 million in Services for Training for Officers and Prosecutors (STOP) grants
  • $200 million to provide civil and legal services to victims of domestic and sexual violence
  • $875 million for shelter services for battered women
  • $140 million to address violence against women on college campuses
  • Programs to fund transitional housing for women fleeing domestic violence
  • grant programs to help service providers address the needs of women with disabilities who are victims of sexual and domestic violence
  • significant protections for battered immigrant women, who can face immigration law consequences if they seek to flee from or support prosecution of their abuser.

    The new VAWA legislation also provides funding for state and local grant programs that address stalking and domestic violence, and to train child protective service workers and judges. The legislation also supports programs that address teen dating violence, domestic violence in the workplace, the enforcement of orders of protection, and that support children who witness domestic violence.

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