Capito Joins Bipartisan Effort to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues in announcing the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which expired in 2018.

VAWA was enacted in 1994 to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The law provides federal resources and technical support 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 2022 VAWA reauthorization would expand efforts in West Virginia to combat these crimes by aiding domestic violence prevention and support organizations, protecting survivors, and promoting safer communities for women and families.

"Ending domestic violence has long been a priority of mine," Senator Capito said. "I have consistently supported the Violence Against Women Act, and voted to reauthorize this critical legislation twice as a member of the House of Representatives. In conversations with local leaders in West Virginia, they have conveyed that the funding and support VAWA provides to local organizations working to combat domestic violence in our state is a "lifeline' to the work they do. I'm proud to join with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle today to introduce legislation that will ensure survivors of domestic violence have the resources they need, and expand efforts to prevent these crimes in the future."

Key sections of the 2022 VAWA reauthorization legislation include:

Improving the Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) grant program to support responding law enforcement and require prosecutors to include best practices.

Significantly increasing the authorized amount of grant funding to support domestic violence prevention and response organizations that provide victim services.

Reauthorizing funding for violence reduction and prevention programs.

Directly tackling the shortage of health professionals who perform medical sexual assault forensic examinations.

Expanding access to safe housing for victims.

Empowering law enforcement by providing additional tools to enhance public safety.

Increasing enforcement of cybercrimes and supports victims of "revenge porn."

Increasing authorized funding for responses to child abuse and child sex crimes.

In addition to Senator Capito, the 2022 VAWA Reauthorization is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan).

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