Bishop Urges House Leadership to Reauthorize VAWA Before Year's End

Press Release

Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in urging House Leadership to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) before the end of the 112th Congress.

"We write today asking you to move quickly on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by bringing a bill inclusive of protections for all victims of domestic violence, similar to that which has already passed the Senate, to the House floor for a vote during these final weeks of the 112th Congress," the letter states. "The Violence Against Women Act is crucial for the victims of domestic violence and those agencies and organizations who serve them. We must send the President a strong, bipartisan bill that protects all those vulnerable to domestic violence."

The Violence Against Women Act was passed in 1994 and has since been a successful tool in combating domestic violence. However, authorization for the programs under VAWA has expired. The Senate and the House have each passed two substantially different reauthorization acts. A strong bipartisan bill is needed to ensure that women, children, and families all across the United States are protected from domestic violence.

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