March 2, 2022
Today, we’re joining The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) in releasing this letter in support of S.3623, the Violence Against Women Act of 2022, signed by 740 local, state, territorial, tribal, and national organizations dedicated to ending domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Thank you to all the Wisconsin advocacy organizations who signed on!
As President Biden said in his State of the Union address last night, it’s time to strengthen the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Reauthorizing VAWA is important not only for organizations working directly with victims and survivors, it is also a priority for an overwhelming percentage of Americans. A survey of American voters found that 93% of those polled believe VAWA should be reauthorized within the year, with little variation by political affiliation. Moreover, after hearing the contents of S.3623 described, 91% said that it should receive bipartisan support in Congress and be a legislative priority for both Democrats and Republicans, again with little variation by political affiliation. S.3623 is a triumph for bipartisanship and represents the will of the American people!
We join NAESV and the NTF in calling on the Senate to bring S.3623 to the Floor for a vote immediately!
Please take the following action today!
- Click here to automatically send an email to Senators Baldwin and Johnson.
Key Sexual Violence Related Provisions in VAWA:
- Improves the Rape Prevention & Education Program.
- Increases the authorization of the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) to $100 million (current authorization $40 million).
- Increases funding and access for culturally specific programs serving communities of color.
- Expands tribal jurisdiction to affirm tribal sovereignty to prosecute additional crimes of sexual violence, trafficking, child abuse and stalking by non-native offenders on their lands.
- Includes provisions to increase survivors’ access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs).
- Expands access to services for underserved survivors, including LGBTQI survivors.
Click here to access the NAESV fact sheet on VAWA