In a new letter from the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, the coalition of national, tribal, state, territorial and local organizations and individuals calls on Senators to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
HR 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which updated VAWA based on guidance from direct service providers, passed the House of Representatives in April. The re-authorization legislation would expand investments in prevention programs, improve access to justice for Native survivors, offer new protections to victims in federal housing, stop abusers from accessing firearms, outline new healthcare responses to sexual and dating violence and create financial support programs for survivors.
“Now is not the time to maintain the status quo, nor is it acceptable to turn back the clock and reduce access to safety and justice for victims and survivors,” the NTF letter declares. “We hope that all Senators, on a bipartisan basis, will recognize the importance of this legislation to their constituents and pass HR 1585 or introduce and pass a substantially similar bill that has the support of the gender-based violence field.”