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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCJW Applauds House Passage of VAWA Reauthorization

April 4, 2019, Washington, DC – The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) hails the House of Representatives for passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 (HR 1585) to address gaps identified by survivors and direct service providers. NCJW CEO Nancy K. Kaufman, who was present for the historic vote today, released the following statement:

“The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is one of the pillars of the federal response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. After the last Congress allowed the law to expire in September 2018, we applaud the House of Representatives for renewing it today with modest, yet vital improvements.

“Importantly, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (HR 1585) offered by Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) maintains protections for all survivors, makes vital investments in sexual assault prevention, ensures sexual predators who prey on Native women can be held accountable, protects survivors of domestic violence from intimate partner homicide, and increases victims’ access to safe housing and economic stability. Survivors are clamoring for change and it is not the time to roll back important protections or even maintain the status quo.

“We know that while domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking have decreased significantly since 1994 when VAWA was first passed, rates of violence are still far too high: One in five women and one in 59 men are raped in their lifetimes; one in four women and one in seven men experience severe physical abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetimes; and one in six women and one in nineteen men experience stalking in their lifetimes. Each time VAWA has been reauthorized, it has been strengthened based on our increased understanding of gender-based violence.

“Today, the House took an important step to help end the scourge of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. We look to the Senate to immediately follow suit.”

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.