Should Congress reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994?
Bill Summary
This bill reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which expired in 2018. It also builds on this legislation by providing grants and support to various groups that work on issues relating to sexual assault, domestic violence, and the prevention of such issues. The bill further improves access to housing for victims and survivors and eliminators impunity for non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal land.
Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, California, District 18)
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Opponents say
• "The NRA opposes domestic violence and all violent crime, and spends millions of dollars teaching countless Americans how not to be a victim and how to safely use firearms for self-defense. It is a shame that some in the gun-control community treat the severity of domestic violence so trivially that they are willing to use it as a tool to advance a political agenda."
Source:Jennifer Baker (National Rifle Association)
• "[Democrats] have sought at every turn to make this bill into a political weapon, rather than a critical resource for victims and tools to support law enforcement." Source:Former Rep. Doug Collins (Republican, Georgia, District 9)
• "[Democrats] have sought at every turn to make this bill into a political weapon, rather than a critical resource for victims and tools to support law enforcement." Source:Former Rep. Doug Collins (Republican, Georgia, District 9)
Proponents say
• "VAWA has been reauthorized three times with bipartisan support in the years since we first passed it. Each time, I worked to enhance the legislation to address barriers and to expand access to safety and well-being for all survivors, including those from marginalized communities. Studies demonstrated that in the first two decades following VAWA’s implementation the rates of domestic violence declined significantly."
Source:President Joseph Biden
• "Congress must continue to aggressively combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by passing our bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021. VAWA has been instrumental in improving and enhancing our nation’s response to safeguarding women and children from abuse, anguish, and violence. Congress has historically reauthorized VAWA with broad, bipartisan agreement..." Source:Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Republican, Pennsylvania, District 1)
• "Congress must continue to aggressively combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by passing our bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021. VAWA has been instrumental in improving and enhancing our nation’s response to safeguarding women and children from abuse, anguish, and violence. Congress has historically reauthorized VAWA with broad, bipartisan agreement..." Source:Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Republican, Pennsylvania, District 1)
- Statement by President Biden on the Introduction of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 (Press Release)
- Jackson Lee, Nadler and Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 (Press Release)
- House Republicans, at NRA’s Urging, Vote Against Women Act (ABC News)
- The Violence Against Women Act is Turning 25. Here’s How it has Ignited Debate. (The New York Times)
- The NRA is Fighting Like Hell to Keep Stalkers and Abusers Armed (Jezebel)
