Violence Against Women Act

On April 27, 2012 the Senate voted (68-31) to expand the scope of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The Washington Post on April 30 said VAWA first passed in 1994 but support for LGBT victims, immigrants, and Native American women has traditionally underserved, according to the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women, a coalition of advocates who’ve convened upon the issue. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs LGBT victims are significantly less likely to seek out help: 45% of them have been turned away from domestic violence shelters and only 7% call the police after an incident of domestic violence. Women crossing the border illegally are subject to rape by their “coyotes” and border patrol officials according to confirmed reports and court cases, and they’re also at risk of sexual assault in immigration detention facilities. Native American women are among the most vulnerable with 46% subject to rape, physical violence or stalking by a domestic partner at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease.  

The legislation, for example, includes earmarked funding for community organizations that serve LGBT victims, a prohibition against LGBT discrimination by law enforcement and domestic-violence shelters, and an explicit allowance for states to use federal money to help LGBT victims. Right now, only 24 states currently take advantage of federal funding to support LGBT-specific anti-violence programs according to Sharon Stapel, executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, which provides counseling, education and support for LGBT victims. “If you are in a violent relationship and need somewhere to go it’s critical we have these services available in every state” Stapel said.

But the proposed changes to VAWA have drawn fierce opposition from Republicans who accuse Democrats of using the issue to fire up the base in a big election year. House Republicans are pushing their own version of VAWA without the new provisions aiding LGBT, immigrant and Native American victims of domestic abuse. They criticize the Senate bill for increasing the number of temporary visas given to illegal immigrants who are victims of domestic abuse. They question the constitutionality of the provision to allow Native American authorities to extend tribal jurisdiction to prosecute non-native suspects of abuse. As for the new LGBT protections they say - That’s part of the Democratic ploy to “make cheap shots and try to politicize [the issue] in an election year” Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) concluded last week. Advocates and survivors of domestic abuse don’t believe that’s the case. “The idea that we would pick and choose among survivors—it’s not only offensive but lethal,” Stapel said. A simple request for the members of Congress who stand against the Senate bill – is for them to take a minute and listen to themselves — I don’t want to give money to those who have been victims of violence - how does that sound to them.

There are so many things that I have not been aware of and this issue of discrimination within our programs is upsetting to me. Let’s see what else Congress has been up to.

The Senate on March 2 rejected a plan to repeal birth control mandate, on March 9 they blocked an attempt to speed up approval of the pipeline from Canada to Texas, on March 23 they approved a scaled-down bill banning insider trading by public officials and on April 26 the Senate approved an $11 billion bill to avoid bankruptcy by the US Postal Service.

The House of Representatives on March 29 rejected a $3.6 trillion bipartisan budget plan and an Illinois congressman was reprimanded for wearing a hoodie on the House floor in support of Trayvon Martin, on April 17 they voted to bestow a Congressional Gold Medal to golfer Jack Nicklaus and on April 26 the House passed a controversial cyber security bill. 

I’ll give you more (the latest) on the budget and cyber security bills later.