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Congressman Kildee Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

March 17, 2021

Bill Seeks to End Instances of Domestic Violence; Funds Local Efforts to Support Victims of Domestic Violence

WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded the reauthorization of theViolence Against Women Act(VAWA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bipartisan bill seeks to end instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by improving law enforcement responses to violence and funding local programs to support victims.

VAWA, a landmark piece of legislation, was first passed by Congress in 1994 and reauthorized in 2000, 2005 and 2013, each time with strong bipartisan support. The law transformed the nation's response to domestic and sexual violence and provided significant resources to states and communities to combat violence and support survivors.

"Today the U.S. House of Representatives reaffirmed its bipartisan commitment to protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act will continue to help Americans and women who face domestic abuse, dating violence and sexual assault. This legislation, supported by Republicans and Democrats, gives law enforcement the tools they need to respond to instances of violence and improves services to support victims and survivors," said Congressman Dan Kildee. "I was proud to cosponsor this legislation and happy to see it pass in the House today. I hope the Senate takes up and passes this crucial bill quickly to protect victims of domestic violence."

Underground Railroad, Incorporated of Saginaw has received funding from VAWA to improve and support its services to those throughout Mid-Michigan.

The reauthorization of VAWA improves current law in several important areas:

  • Enhances and expands victim services;
  • Reauthorizes grant programs to improve the criminal justice response to gender-based violence and expands allowable uses;
  • Invests in violence prevention;
  • Improves access to housing for victims and survivors;
  • Helps survivors gain and maintain economic independence;
  • Ends impunity for non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse co-occurring with domestic violence, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal lands;
  • Supports Communities of Color;
  • Protects victims of dating violence from firearm homicide;
  • Maintains existing protections for all survivors;
  • Improves the healthcare system's response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking; and
  • Expands firearms laws to prohibit persons convicted of dating violence, misdemeanor stalking, or subject to protective orders from possessing firearms.

The passage of VAWA today in the House of Representatives is the latest action by the Democratic majority to make Congress work for the people. In recent weeks, the Democratic majority in the House has passed other key pieces of legislation, including:

  • H.R. 1319, theAmerican Rescue Plan Act,signed into law on March 11, 2021, providing immediate economic relief to Michigan families, seniors and small businesses with direct cash payments,accelerating vaccine distribution, extending small business relief and reopening schools safely.
  • H.R. 5, theEquality Act, to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and gender identity in public accommodations, education, federal funding, employment, housing, and access to credit.
  • H.R.1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, landmark to hold police accountable when they break the law and reform police training and policies.
Issues:Local Issues