As corporations expand their philanthropic giving, an epidemic that affects millions of American women is being pushed further out of sight: Domestic violence. The economic toll that domestic abuse exacts on our social service system, workplaces, and law enforcement is in the billions.
It has been a brutal summer for victims of family violence. If we send someone new to Washington DC, will they take action? Will a new Senator or House Representative reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)?
Originally passed in 1994, VAWA has been consistently reauthorized and improved with broad bipartisan support. This year, however, the far right wing in the House is insisting on leaving specific groups of women unprotected. Why?
VAWA. PRENDA. Aderholt. What do all these words (and acronyms) have in common? They represent the escalating attacks on the health and rights of women of color, and immigrant women in particular.
After consulting with a deranged all-dude activist group, the GOP-controlled House finally agreed to pass the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, but not before totally stripping it of its merits like it was a Ferrari in a chop shop.
The House of Representatives should take a deep breath, change course, and revise its Violence Against Women Act bill to ensure that our laws continue to uphold our nation’s proud tradition of protecting vulnerable immigrant victims.
Unfortunately, House Republicans are advancing H.R. 4970, which would undermine the core principles of VAWA. H.R. 4970 is not VAWA – it goes against the intent of VAWA which is to protect victims – if anything, this bill will only make it worse for victims.
The government cannot let abusers continue to have control. The government is supposed to protect victims. VAWA saved my life, and I hope it is left as it is now so it can continue to save other women in dangerous situations.
We are appalled at the immigration provisions that the judiciary committee in the House of Representatives passed in HR4970. This bill erodes protections available to immigrant victims who are the victims of domestic abuse.
This week, Senators Leahy and Crapo introduced a bill to reauthorize and amend the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The bad news is that the proposed bill substantively slashes funding by almost 20 percent.
