Rep. Katko Supports Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Urges Bipartisanship to Send Final Bill to President's Desk

Statement

Today, with the support of U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24), the House passed a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Rep. Katko released the following statement:

"Today, I supported the bill before Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA is an essential program that helps organizations like Vera House provide critical programming to free our communities of domestic violence and sexual assault, and work to change the conversation surrounding sexual violence.

"This should not be a partisan issue and I am disappointed Democrats refused to work across the aisle to engage more actively with Republicans to produce a bipartisan piece of legislation that would pass both chambers. While the bill before the House today is far from perfect, it represents the first step as this bill makes its way through the legislative process. The bill now moves to the Senate, where legislators in that body will make changes. As they consider this bill, I urge my colleagues to work across party lines so we can send a comprehensive and bipartisan VAWA reauthorization to the President's desk for signature, and give organizations nationwide the funding they need to plan for the long term."

Since being signed into law in 1994, VAWA has helped to protect and support millions of Americans who have faced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

Background:

Rep. Katko has long urged a long-term, bipartisan and comprehensive reauthorization of VAWA, leading efforts in the House and joining with local stakeholders and advocates at home in Central New York to prioritize this issue.
As part of this effort, Rep. Katko hosted Randi Bregman, Executive Director of Vera House, Inc. in Washington as his guest for the 2019 State of the Union address.

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