Congress Must Move VAWA Forward
September 26, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NNEDV Communications Team (Communications@NNEDV.org)
Washington, DC – The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is relieved that Congress has passed H.R.6157, which prevents a government shutdown and funds the federal agencies through December 7, 2018. The bill now heads to the president’s desk for signature.
This continuing resolution ensures that all Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)-funded programs will receive funding for the next 10 weeks. Also, we’re pleased to see the small increase for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to $164.5 million, and that the National Domestic Violence Hotline received an increase of $1 million.
However, we remain disappointed that Congress failed to fully reauthorize VAWA before its September 30 expiration. NNEDV and our allies have been working with Congress for more than two years to make critical improvements that move VAWA forward. NNEDV stands ready to work with Congress to find a bipartisan compromise that protects survivors and fully reauthorizes VAWA.
“Congress missed an historic opportunity to show the world that it prioritizes combating violence against women. Our nation’s efforts to fully meet the needs of all survivors should never be politicized,” said Kim Gandy, NNEDV President & CEO. “NNEDV urges Congress to work in a bipartisan manner and reauthorize VAWA, making necessary fixes to ensure it lives up to its true promise. Now, more than ever, our nation is looking to Congress to support survivors.”
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The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) represents the 56 state and U.S. territorial coalitions against domestic violence. NNEDV is a social change organization working to create a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence no longer exists. NNEDV works to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.