WASHINGTON – Representative Sean Patrick Maloney called upon House Republican leadership to quickly pass the bipartisan Senate-passed Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Earlier today, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act by a bipartisan vote of 78 to 22. Representative Maloney is currently a co-sponsor of H.R. 11, the House version of the recently passed Senate VAWA bill. This bipartisan bill significantly strengthens the ability of states, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
“It's ridiculous that the last Congress failed to pass basic protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault - the safety of Hudson Valley women and children should not be a partisan issue,” said Representative Sean Patrick Maloney. “The bi-partisan Violence Against Women Act expired over 500 days ago - the House needs to act quickly and pass this crucial bill.”
"It needed to happen yesterday, and at this point we're really gambling with lives," said Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, Executive Director of Safe Homes of Orange County. "Every day we don't have a reauthorization, victims of domestic violence are at risk."
The Violence Against Women Act has a long track record of success and has demonstrably improved the criminal justice system’s ability to keep victims safe and hold perpetrators accountable. The annual incidence of domestic violence has dropped more than 50 percent since the law was originally enacted.
