Forty-six House Republicans are urging Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to advance a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) before it expires on Sept. 30.
The call from lawmakers came in a letter to the House leadership and was detailed in a report by Roll Call.
“Since being signed into law in 1994, VAWA has helped to protect and support millions of Americans who have faced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” the letter released by Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., said. “This landmark legislation has drastically improved our nation’s response to these crimes and has contributed to the overall declining rates of domestic abuse since its enactment.
“Programs authorized and funded under VAWA work to protect girls, boys, men and woman from these terrible crimes.”
Roll Call reported the law was first passed by Congress in 1993 and reauthorized in 2013.
“This is a bipartisan issue that affects every district in the country and we must act now to avoid any lapse in these critical services,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said.
Rep. Rodney Davis. R-Ill., said the issue was also brought to the attention of House leadership at a recent lunch.
“It's an issue that they know we feel is important and we felt sending a letter expressing that importance was the next best step,” he told The Hill
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