On 4-4-19, the House passed, by a bipartisan margin of 263 yeas to 158 nays, H.R. 1585, a bill to reauthorize, or update, and strengthen the NAACP-supported and very successful Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Sadly, the law expired on February 15, 2019.

Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) introduced H.R. 1585, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, and Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA) introduced the identical language in the Senate (S. 2843) on 11-13-19.  This legislation not only reauthorizes necessary funding increases to VAWA programs, but it also makes modest yet vital enhancements to existing law, based on input from VAWA service providers as well as those who have benefitted from the program.

We must now let the Senate know that a weaker reauthorization of VAWA are not acceptable, nor are rollbacks of existing protections for survivors.

For more information about the problem, as well as the solution, and to learn how to advocate, please review the attached Action Alert and take Fast Action.