NORWALK, CT—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4), Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia, State Senator Bob Duff, and local domestic violence prevention advocates today called on U.S. House leadership to protect funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the critical local programs it supports. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a reauthorization of VAWA that rolls back decades of progress on improving protections for victims of domestic violence. Himes opposed that bill and is pushing for a Senate version of the legislation, which passed with broad bipartisan support, that preserves and expands those protections.
“Funding to prevent domestic violence never has and never should be a partisan issue. We need Congress to pass legislation that continues the programs we rely on to keep all victims of this horrific crime safe,” Mayor Moccia said. “I look forward to working with Congressman Himes and other local leaders to convince House leadership to pass legislation that protects the decades of progress we have made in preventing sexual and domestic violence.”
“Every victim of domestic violence should have access to help, regardless of who committed the assault or where they live,” Congressman Himes said. “Instead of improving the law to match our evolving understanding of how to prevent domestic violence, the House bill eliminates protections we have fought for decades to achieve.”
The reauthorization of House version of the VAWA authorization repeals or weakens critical protections, especially those that keep survivors of domestic and sexual violence safe. The legislation could discourage immigrants who are here legally from seeking protection from their abusers and delay or deny protection to many who do seek help. The bill neglects to include a provision that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT victims in VAWA grant programs and fails to protect Native American victims from attacks by people outside of their tribe’s jurisdiction. Last week, the Senate passed a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act that passed with broad bipartisan support. Their version preserves and expands protections for all victims of domestic violence, including those who are tribal, LGBT, and immigrants.
The bill neglects to include a provision that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT victims in VAWA grant programs and fails to protect Native American victims from attacks by people outside of their tribe’s jurisdiction.
“We are thankful that Congressman Himes is standing with sexual assault victim advocates in opposing a reauthorization of VAWA that falls short of protecting all victims of sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence,” said Laura Cordes, Executive Director of Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Inc. (CONNSACS), the statewide coalition of nine community-based sexual assault services programs. “Rape victims need a VAWA that is inclusive and comprehensive. We cannot say that we want to end violence against women if we deliberately marginalize LGBT victims, immigrants, and Native women.”
“The Violence Against Women Act has been the single most effective federal effort to address domestic violence” said Rachelle Kucera Mehra, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. “Every individual who has received services from the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) since its passage has benefited from its protections, and it is essential that this legislation continues to evolve to address the needs of our most vulnerable population.”
Teresa Younger, Executive Director, Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, issued the following statement: “The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women strongly supports Senate Bill 1925 and urges its immediate passage. Unlike the partisan bill passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate’s bi-partisan version of the Violence Against Women Act retains protections for members of the LGBT community, immigrants, and native American women. No woman, regardless of her sexual orientation, legal status or ethnicity, should be subjected to violence, and it’s an outrage that the issue of women’s health and safety has become a political football. The only courageous, moral and enlightened move is for Congress to pass the bill with teeth – the original, and far-reaching Violence Against Women Act.”
Since 1994, VAWA has helped protect victims of domestic and sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable. Until now, VAWA has enjoyed broad bipartisan support, and according to the Department of Justice, domestic violence has dropped by more than half since the legislation became law.