Rep. Tlaib Votes to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) voted to pass H.R. 1585 a bi-partisan, robust, long-term Violence Against Women Act reauthorization.  The landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ushered in transformative progress by calling for the protection of all Americans from violence and abuse, and working to ensure all victims and survivors have the support they need. This critical reauthorization, which passed the House by a vote of 263-158, will safeguard and further build upon these life-saving protections for women throughout Michigan and across the country.

“I am overjoyed that 262 of my colleagues and I stood in solidarity and without fear of the gun lobby, which wanted nothing less than for this reauthorization to fail, and granted landmark protections to the thousands of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault across the state of Michigan and our nation,” Congresswoman Tlaib said. “They deserve nothing less than for the Senate to display the same courage, send it to the President’s desk, and make those landmark protections law.”

This reauthorization fulfills Congress’s responsibility to protect all Americans by reaffirming protections for every woman, as well as including vital improvements to address gaps in current law that have been identified by victims, survivors and advocates. This bipartisan bill:

• Improves the services available for victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking;
• Expands the housing protections and financial assistance available for victims and survivors;
• Improves protections for Native women, including by reaffirming tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indian perpetrators of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking;
• Closes loopholes in current firearm laws in order help prevent “intimate partner” homicides, by prohibiting persons convicted of misdemeanor stalking or dating violence from possessing firearms; and
• Invests in tools and resources for evidence-based prevention programs that make our communities safer.

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