Congressman Don Young Votes for Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

Statement

Today, Alaska Congressman Don Young voted in support of H.R. 1585 -- reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Yesterday, Congressman Young fought successfully for the inclusion of his amendment to help end the disproportionately high violence against Indigenous women in Native villages. Congressman Young's amendment was adopted unanimously by the House during amendment debate. The House-passed legislation now heads to the United State Senate.

"Every year, women and girls around the country survive rape, domestic abuse, and other forms of tragic violence," said Congressman Don Young. "Alaska often ranks first as the state with the highest rates of women killed by men, and Alaska Native women are 10 times more likely to experience domestic violence than other women in the United States. Congress has a duty keep the promises made under VAWA, and I felt it was important to reauthorize critical programs that benefit women and survivors of violence.

I am pleased this bill included my amendment to help combat violence directed at Native American women, and I am grateful to my colleagues for adopting it unanimously. I have consistently supported the programs and services funded by VAWA every time the law has come up for reauthorization. We can and must do more to prevent violence against women, support survivors, and bring perpetrators of heinous acts to justice. For the sake of our nation's women and girls, we must get reauthorization legislation signed into law. I encourage my Senate colleagues to swiftly move VAWA reauthorization through the legislative process."

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