Capito Urges Reauthorization, Strengthening of Violence Against Women Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today testified before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary about the need to reauthorize, update, and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

VAWA was enacted in 1994 to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The law makes federal resources available for programs that assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking, including children, teenagers, the elderly, persons with disabilities and Native Americans. The legislation has been reauthorized multiple times since 1994, but expired in 2018.

FULL TESTIMONY:

"I am proud to be here for this important hearing, Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA.

"I'd like to begin by thanking all the people that work in this area across our country. This is tough work. It's so important…thanking our survivors for their ability to fight back against this scourge.

"Ending domestic violence and other VAWA-related crimes has been a priority of mine since I became a senator, but also as a congresswoman.

"As a matter of fact, the first time I ever came over to the senate was to join with then-Senator Biden to celebrate one of the reauthorizations in the early 2000s.

"I have also previously served as the chairman of the board of a local organization that worked to combat domestic violence the YWCA in Charleston, West Virginia.

"This work would not be possible without the funding and support that VAWA provides, and why it is critical that this bill be reauthorized. I was told by a leader in West Virginia that these funds are a "lifeline' to their work.

"As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am proud that we have consistently championed, and in many cases increased, the amount of money available for services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in a bipartisan fashion.

"Now that the Office of Violence Against Women has announced the most recent round of grant funding, I am a bit concerned about how the Department of Justice is allocating some resources…specifically, my state of West Virginia, while we have great challenges, I wanted to make sure we are accorded sufficient priority under existing statutory funding.

"As the only state that lost population, the population-based metrics are not helpful to meet those demands.

"One of my concerns that VAWA formulas may require updating to better reflect the needs of our nation's rural populations. I also am concerned about the plight of services providers that are struggling to recover economically post-COVID. They need our help now more than ever.

"I urge the Department of Justice to update, to the maximum extent possible, its allocation methods to better reflect the needs of rural and remote areas, where many victims have unique challenges to reporting these crimes and seeking assistance.

"VAWA reauthorization has historically been a bipartisan effort…and I am happy to see so many of my colleagues present with us today, demonstrating that willingness to work together to get survivors of domestic violence the resources they need.

"We can pass this bill, which encompasses the provisions on which there already is widespread bipartisan consensus. Doing so would not end our conversation or our work on behalf of victims and survivors because we know there are things we must continually improve to meet the needs and challenges.

"I would also like to thank Senators Feinstein and Ernst for their dedicated movement to get this passed.

"For example, a few years ago, human trafficking was not as great a concern in my home state. But sadly, now it is. In addition to the challenges presented by COVID, we continue to be overwhelmed by the impact of an opioid epidemic.

"We are all here today with a shared goal, because I have heard from individuals and organizations that need our help.

"We can provide that help.

"I am ready to work together during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond to see this goal accomplished, so that we can continue to empower victims, support our survivors, and protect families in every single one of our states."

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