SENT BY FAX AND E-MAIL

April 12, 2000

TO:
 JCPA Member Agencies
FROM:

Karen Senter, Assistant Executive Vice Chair
Reva Price, Washington Representative
Jonah H Goldman, Public Policy Fellow
RE:

Violence Against Women Reauthorization (HR 1248)

 

ACTION SUMMARY

Unless Congress acts now, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) will expire at the end of this fiscal year. It is imperative that Members of Congress understand the importance of this landmark legislation and that they must act quickly to ensure the continuation of basic services necessary to address domestic violence. The House of Representatives has introduced a bill that would do this and the Senate is considering similar legislation.

 

ACTION REQUESTED:

  • Let your Representatives know there is strong grassroots support for VAWA reauthorization.
  • Urge those who have not done so to cosponsor the VAWA Reauthorization Bill, HR 1248. Remember also to thank those who have already signed on as co-sponsors. (See list attached.)
  • Ask Members of Congress to urge the leadership to move this bill forward for floor action now.
  • Contact your Senators and ask them to make VAWA reauthorization a priority

 

BACKGROUND

Millions of dollars have gone to communities across the country over the last 5 years in an important first-step endeavor to address the problem of violence against women and families. The programs created under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) have already made a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of women, aiding in the prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse cases, increasing services for victims and resources for law enforcement personnel, and creating a National Domestic Violence Hotline. The VAWA Reauthorization bill, championed by Representatives Constance Morella (MD) and Nancy Johnson (CT), along with 161 other co-sponsors, will enable these crucial programs to continue for another five years at levels essential to service providers and law enforcement personnel. To ensure that funding for these vital programs is not reduced or eliminated, VAWA must be reauthorized before the FY 2001 budget and appropriations process begins.

TALKING POINTS

  • VAWA ’94 has created programs that have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of women. These programs have bolstered the prosecution of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence cases, increased services for victims by funding shelters and sexual assault crisis centers, increased resources for law enforcement and prosecutors, and created a National Domestic Violence Hotline.
  • Funding for VAWA ’94 programs has either expired or is set to expire on October 1 of this year. Without this crucial funding, many programs serving battered women and their children will cease to exist.
  • HR 1248 reauthorizes VAWA for five more years at levels requested by states, communities, law enforcement officials, and service providers. Programs requiring reauthorization include STOP grants, Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies, and funding for Battered women’s shelters and rape prevention programs.
  • Domestic violence does not only affect the lives of adult men and women, it also harms children who are witnesses to violence in their homes and adolescents who experience violence in their own dating relationships. VAWA reauthorization will demonstrate our nation’s commitment to making our streets and homes safe for men, women and children.
  • On January 11th, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Brzonkala v. Morrison, a case testing the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Remedy of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The suit was brought by Christy Brzonkala, a Virginia Polytechnic Institute student who was allegedly raped by two student football players from her own school. Specifically the Court was asked to decide if Congress had the constitutional authority to enact the VAWA provision, allowing women to sue their assailant for monetary damages including medical expenses and lost wages. The Court is expected to rule on the case this spring. Regardless of its ramifications on the civil rights remedy, the outcome of this case should not put in jeopardy funding for domestic violence and sexual assault programs authorized under VAWA.

 

NOTE: In addition to H.R. 1248, which requires immediate action, other initiatives have been proposed in the Congress that would expand VAWA programs. For example Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL) has introduced the Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act (HR 3083). Senators Kennedy (MA) and Abraham (MI) have announced intentions to introduce a similar bill in the Senate to address the problem of domestic violence in the immigrant community. Legislators should be made aware of strong grassroots support for all efforts to strengthen and expand these services.

 

VAWA Reauthorization – HR 1248

Co-Sponsors

Sponsor: Morella (R-MD)

Abercrombie (D-HI) 

Fowler, T. (R-FL) 

Moran, James (D-VA) 

Ackerman (D-NY) 

Franks, Bob (R-NJ) 

Moran, Jerry (R-KS) 

Allen (D-ME) 

Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) 

Myrick (R-NC) 

Andrews, R. (D-NJ) 

Frost (D-TX) 

Nadler (D-NY) 

Baird (D-WA) 

Gejdenson (D-CT) 

Napolitano (D-CA) 

Baldacci (D-ME) 

Gilchrest (R-MD) 

Neal, R. (D-MA) 

Baldwin (D-WI) 

Gilman (R-NY) 

Northup (R-KY) 

Barrett, T. (D-WI) 

Granger (R-TX) 

Norton (D-DC) 

Bentsen, K. (D-TX) 

Green, G. (D-TX) 

Olver (D-MA) 

Berkley (D-NV) 

Gutierrez (D-IL) 

Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) 

Berman (D-CA) 

Hastings, A. (D-FL) 

Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) 

Biggert (R-IL) 

Hilliard, E. (D-AL) 

Pastor (D-AZ) 

Bilbray, B. (R-CA) 

Hinchey (D-NY) 

Payne, D. (D-NJ) 

Bishop Jr. (D-GA) 

Hinojosa (D-TX) 

Pelosi (D-CA) 

Blumenauer (D-OR) 

Hoeffel (D-PA) 

Pomeroy (D-ND) 

Boehlert (R-NY) 

Holt (D-NJ) 

Porter (R-IL) 

Bonior (D-MI) 

Hoyer (D-MD) 

Price, D. (D-NC) 

Borski (D-PA) 

Hulshof (R-MO) 

Pryce, D. (R-OH) 

Boucher (D-VA) 

Inslee (D-WA) 

Rahall II (D-WV) 

Brady, K. (R-TX) 

Jackson-Lee, S. (D-TX) 

Rangel (D-NY) 

Brady, R. (D-PA) 

Jefferson (D-LA) 

Reyes (D-TX) 

Brown, C. (D-FL) 

Johnson, E.B. (D-TX) 

Rodriguez (D-TX) 

Brown, G. Jr. (D-CA) 

Johnson, N. (R-CT) 

Romero-Barcelo (D-PR) 

Brown, S. (D-OH) 

Jones, S. (D-OH) 

Rothman (D-NJ) 

Burton, D. (R-IN) 

Kaptur (D-OH) 

Roukema (R-NJ) 

Calvert (R-CA) 

Kelly (R-NY) 

Roybal-Allard (D-CA) 

Capps (D-CA) 

Kennedy, P. (D-RI) 

Rush (D-IL) 

Capuano (D-MA) 

Kilpatrick (D-MI) 

Sanchez (D-CA) 

Cardin (D-MD) 

Kind, R. (D-WI) 

Sanders (I-VT) 

Carson (D-IN) 

Kolbe (R-AZ) 

Sandlin (D-TX) 

Christensen (D-VI) 

Kucinich (D-OH) 

Schakowsky (D-IL) 

Clayton, E. (D-NC) 

Kuykendall (R-CA) 

Sessions, P. (R-TX) 

Clement (D-TN) 

LaFalce (D-NY) 

Shays (R-CT) 

Clyburn (D-SC) 

Lampson (D-TX) 

Shows (D-MS) 

Conyers Jr. (D-MI) 

Lantos (D-CA) 

Slaughter, L. (D-NY) 

Cook, M. (R-UT) 

Larson (D-CT) 

Spratt Jr. (D-SC) 

Cooksey, J. (R-LA) 

Leach (R-IA) 

Talent (R-MO) 

Crowley (D-NY) 

Lewis, John (D-GA) 

Tauscher (D-CA) 

Cubin (R-WY) 

Lipinski (D-IL) 

Thompson, M. (D-CA) 

Cummings (D-MD) 

LoBiondo (R-NJ) 

Thurman, K. (D-FL) 

Danner (D-MO) 

Lofgren (D-CA) 

Towns (D-NY) 

Davis, D. (D-IL) 

Lowey (D-NY) 

Turner (D-TX) 

DeFazio (D-OR) 

Maloney, C. (D-NY) 

Udall, M. (D-CO) 

DeGette (D-CO) 

Maloney, J. (D-CT) 

Udall, T. (D-NM) 

Delahunt (D-MA) 

Markey (D-MA) 

Waters (D-CA) 

DeLauro (D-CT) 

Martinez (D-CA) 

Watkins (R-OK) 

Deutsch (D-FL) 

Matsui (D-CA) 

Watt, M. (D-NC) 

Dunn (R-WA) 

McCarthy, C. (D-NY) 

Waxman (D-CA) 

Emerson, J. (R-MO) 

McDermott (D-WA) 

Weiner (D-NY) 

Eshoo (D-CA) 

McGovern (D-MA) 

Wexler (D-FL) 

Etheridge (D-NC) 

McKinney, C. (D-GA) 

Weygand (D-RI) 

Evans, L. (D-IL) 

McNulty, M. (D-NY) 

Wilson (R-NM) 

Faleomavaega (D-AS) 

Meek, C. (D-FL) 

Wise (D-WV) 

Farr (D-CA) 

Millender-McDonald (D-CA) 

Woolsey (D-CA) 

Filner (D-CA) 

Miller, George (D-CA) 

Wynn (D-MD) 

Foley, M. (R-FL) 

Mink (D-HI) 

 

Ford, H. Jr. (D-TN) 

Moore (D-KS)