Malinowski Votes to Pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019

Press Release

Today, the House passed H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which helps victims of domestic and sexual violence. Since its passage in 1994, intimate partner violence against women has decreased by 65%, and grantees funded by the Act trained 11,519 sexual assault nurse and forensic examiners, 89,937 law enforcement officers, and 18,404 court personnel.

A new provision in this iteration of the bill will close the "boyfriend loophole", which allows unmarried domestic abusers to purchase guns. According to the Giffords Law Center, abused women are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a firearm, and women in the United States are 16 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than in peer countries.

"The Violence Against Women Act has provided essential services to victims of domestic abuse for over 20 years. I am especially proud this bill closes the "boyfriend loophole" which will keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, and will save thousands of lives in the years to come."

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