Gwen Moore Statement on Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization
Washington, DC,
January 3, 2013
Tags:
Working for Women
We must reauthorize VAWA, and we must do it now.
Contact: Nicole Y. Williams or Staci Cox (202) 225- 4572 Gwen Moore Statement on Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4) released the following statement regarding the inability of the 112th Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): “I am extremely disappointed that the 112th Congress failed to reauthorize VAWA. The Senate managed to pass—with a strong bipartisan vote—a bill that reflected many important improvements requested by our nation’s domestic violence service providers, law enforcement, advocates, and others who fought long and hard for their ‘best practices’ to be incorporated. For example, this bill added new housing protections for victims, campus sexual assault provisions, and enhanced services and programs for tribal, immigrant and LGBT victims of violence as well as communities of color. “I am devastated that in the last Congress we missed a critical chance to pass a bill that incorporates all these greatly-needed improvements. Victims will have to continue waiting for help that, at this rate, may be a long time coming. On behalf of those victims, I am deeply upset about the House majority’s lack of action on a comprehensive VAWA bill in the 112th Congress. “However, reports that VAWA is ‘dead’ are untrue; VAWA’s authorization expired over a year ago, but its programs and services continue to operate under language last updated in 2005. Still, VAWA’s current form is in serious need of the updates and enhancements suggested by the domestic violence and sexual assault community. “We must continue to fight for funds for VAWA through the appropriations process, and we absolutely must make sure that the sequester doesn’t hit at the end of February. The sequester’s cuts to VAWA programs would be incredibly harmful, particularly at the state and local level. “Our goal for the next few weeks and months is to speak out on behalf of VAWA and ensure it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of the debt ceiling and ongoing budget-related discussions. “We must reauthorize VAWA, and we must do it now.” ### For More News Updates Follow Gwen Moore on Twitter @RepGwenMoore and Like Gwen Moore on Facebook
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