Senate takes up expanded version of VAWA

Since it was first enacted in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has helped train thousands of law enforcement personnel and court officers in Wisconsin and across the nation, created a law to shield the privacy of rape victims and established a national domestic abuse help line. Instances of reported domestic assault have declined by more than 50 percent in the two decades that VAWA has existed, but now its programs are in jeopardy.

VAWA authorization came up for renewal in Congress last year. The Senate passed a largely bipartisan version of the law in April, which expanded the law’s reach to same-sex partner domestic violence, immigrants and Native Americans. House Republicans objected to the expansions and passed a more limited version of the bill, with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation voting down party lines. When no agreement was reached, VAWA’s authorization lapsed in January.

Recently, Democrats such as state Senator Tammy Baldwin have reintroduced the expanded version in the Senate. On Feb. 4, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to take up the bill. Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Milwaukee is calling for House Republicans to follow the Senate’s lead and take action. She says the expansions are needed to protect all victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Many credit VAWA as the catalyst for state action on the issue of domestic violence. Wisconsin’s current domestic violence law makes arrests mandatory for suspects of domestic violence regardless of the victim’s cooperation with authorities. This important aspect of the law makes it easier for domestic violence victims to leave their abusive relationships. VAWA’s programs are critical to the effort to help women live without fear. A knowledgeable family law attorney can provide additional resources.

Source: ExpressMilwaukee.com, “Violence Against Women Act On the Brink,” Lisa Kaiser, Feb. 5, 2013