ACTION ALERT:
The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018 has been introduced in the U.S. House
Tell your Representative to Co-Sponsor VAWA NOW!!!
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), working closely with the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and consulting with bipartisan Hill staff, has introduced legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. H.R. 6545, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2018, is a very strong bill that goes the next step to address the needs of survivors and to support the community programs and services who serve them.
With each iteration of VAWA, Congress responds to emerging issues brought forward by advocates on the ground. Based on extensive conversations with local programs and advocates, the NTF suggested several key enhancements to leaders of both parties in both the House and Senate, and we are very pleased that Representative Jackson Lee’s legislation includes almost all of these. From increased investment in sexual violence prevention programs to provisions to hold offenders accountable on tribal lands to efforts to make our criminal justice system more responsive to survivors to updated definitions to protections for incarcerated survivors, this legislation includes the realistic enhancements survivors need and advocates have asked for.
While the NTF has been working hard over the past two years in the Senate and House to find bipartisan sponsors for VAWA reauthorization against a timeline of the September 30 expiration date, we can no longer afford to wait to begin pushing a bill. Representative Jackson Lee’s bill has all of the key components we’ve asked for, we wholeheartedly support it, and we need to act now to convey our support and secure as many co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle as possible.
We can’t stress enough how important it is for a groundswell of voices to demand that Congress reauthorize VAWA now.
In order to break through the noise, we will have to be strong, loud, persistent and determined.
Survivors deserve action on VAWA now!
Call your Representative today.
You can find your Representative and contact information at house.gov.
Check the sponsor list and thank your House member if they are an original cosponsor (104) and encourage them to urge their colleagues to join them.
If your Member is not a sponsor, please contact them with this message: We need the Violence Against Women Act reauthorized now. Survivors can’t wait for lifesaving responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced H.R. 6545, moderate legislation reauthorizing VAWA that Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle can support. Please co-sponsor this legislation today!
If a staff person acts like their Member might sponsor, please send their contact info to president@triadnow.org. let us know, but also advise them to contact Rep. Jackson Lee’s staff: Monalisa Dugué, (202) 225-6906 Monalisa.dugue@mail.house.gov.
We can’t stress enough how important it is for a groundswell of voices to demand that Congress reauthorize VAWA now. In order to break through the noise, we will have to be strong, loud, persistent and determined.
What does the bill do?
- Increases authorization for the Rape Prevention & Education Program from $50 million to $150 million to address skyrocketing need and demand for community prevention programs.
- Returns sovereignty to tribes to prosecute non-native offenders of sexual assault, trafficking, stalking, and child abuse.
- Adds new definitions including Abuse in Later Life; Alternative Justice Response; Digital Services; Forced Marriage; Economic Abuse; and Technological Abuse and updates the definition of domestic violence.
- Strengthens public housing protections for survivors including those seeking housing transfers based on safety concerns.
- Adds a new purpose to the Improving Criminal Justice Response grant program to implement alternative justice responses that are focused on victim autonomy, agency and safety to provide resolution and restitution for the victim.
- Strengthens privacy protections across state line, online with digital records, and preserves confidentiality upon survivor’s death in accordance with their wishes.
- Acknowledges the trauma of incarceration on women and their family members, especially their children, and improves health care services and trauma informed responses to better prepare incarcerated women to return to their communities.
- Improves enforcement of current federal domestic violence-related firearms laws and closes loopholes to reduce firearm-involved abuse and intimate partner homicide.
- Expands VAWA’s ability to respond to sexual harassment.
Know that as you’re making your phone calls, we’re meeting with leaders in both the House and Senate to find additional support and bipartisan sponsors for a VAWA bill that protects all survivors.
Together, we can insist Congress passes a strong, bipartisan bill that protects ALL survivors and prevents domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in our communities!
Join us on Social Media!
The hashtags for VAWA reauthorization are #VAWA4All and #VAWA18.
Congressional Twitter handles and Facebook accounts can be found here.
Example tweets with hashtag.
Tweets that already exist for VAWA 2018
- I strongly support programs that prevent sexual and gender-based violence and protect individuals who have experienced violence. [@YourRepresentative], now is the time to reauthorize #VAWA18
- Our world sees too much violence, and women are particularly impacted. [@YourRepresentative], act to prevent abuse and violence by reauthorizing #VAWA4All.
New Sample Tweets
- Survivors can’t wait for lifesaving responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. [@YourRepresentative], now is the time to reauthorize #VAWA4All.
- [@YourRepresentative], stand in solidarity with victims of gender-based violence. Support the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act! #VAWA18
- All people deserve to lead violence-free lives, Congress has a duty to uphold this right! #VAWA18.
Program Specific
- [@YourRepresentative], gender-based violence happens in our community, too. Reauthorize #VAWA4All and support prevention and education programs that keep our jurisdiction safes
- Violence doesn’t discriminate and neither should our laws! [@YourRepresentative] support #VAWA4All and ensure Native survivors of gender-based violence have access to justice on tribal lands!
- Violence doesn’t discriminate and neither should our laws! [@YourRepresentative], support #VAWA18 and ensure incarcerated survivors of gender-based violence have access to trauma-informed care!
- [@YourRepresentative], support #VAWAReauth and ensure survivors of domestic abuse access to safe housing!
- [@YourRepresentative], reducing access to firearms saves lives! Support #VAWA18 and help prevent firearm-involved intimate partner homicides.
- Reauthorize #VAWA4ALL so schools are equipped to protect young survivors! #VAWA18
- Young survivors can’t wait for lifesaving responses to dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Now is the time to reauthorize #VAWA4All
- [@YourRepresentative], gender-based violence happens in our community and young people are at particular risk! Reauthorize #VAWA4All and support prevention and education programs that keep young people safe!
- Young people deserve to lead violence-free lives, Congress has a duty to uphold this right! #VAWA18
- Violence doesn’t discriminate and neither should our laws! [@YourRepresentative], support #VAWA18 and ensure young survivors of gender-based violence have access to justice!
Leave a Reply