S. 47, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed the House on February 28, 2013, and is now on its way to the President. Eighty-seven Republicans crossed party lines to support an inclusive bill, and it passed by a vote of 286-138. The reauthorization bill enhances responses to sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking […]

Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Michael Crapo (R-ID) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have joined a coalition of bi-partisan Senators to co-sponsor the VAWA reauthorization bill (S.47) and take action to ensure VAWA’s swift passage.  The U.S. Senate voted by a wide margin, […]

By Monique Coppola, Public News Service-VA Reauthorization of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) remains in limbo. The legislation has implications for the victims of rape, stalking and domestic violence in Virginia and around the nation. Originally enacted in 1994, the Senate passed a reauthorization last month (S. 1925) with expanded protections for Native […]

Programs that provide legal assistance, shelter, counseling, and other support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse are in jeopardy throughout Virginia, as lawmakers in Washington battle over reauthorization of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Legal Aid, which is in the vanguard of protecting victims, is already in a fiscal crisis, due to […]