Senator Collins Attends White House Ceremony for Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins attended a ceremony held at the White House today to commemorate the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act. Senator Collins was an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which was signed into law yesterday as part of the fiscal year 2022 omnibus funding package.
The law reauthorizes VAWA through 2027, preserves advancements made in previous reauthorizations, and makes a number of additional improvements to the current law. The legislation also includes language Senator Collins pushed for that expands the ability of Native American tribes in Maine to prosecute certain domestic violence and sexual violence crimes. The last time VAWA was reauthorized was 2013.
“In my work on this issue, I have learned that no state, no community, and no family is immune to the horrors of domestic violence. In Maine, domestic violence has historically been involved in approximately half of annual homicides,” said Senator Collins. “By reauthorizing and strengthening the Violence Against Women Act, this law will help prevent domestic violence and rescue survivors from the nightmare of abuse. Together, we can take a stand against violence and help make every home, for every person, a safe haven.”
“We are thrilled that the Violence Against Women Act has finally been reauthorized and are grateful for the leadership role Senator Collins played in co-sponsoring the Senate bill,” said Elizabeth Ward Saxl, Executive Director of the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA). “VAWA will continue to support critical services for victims of sexual violence in Maine.”
“The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence and our member programs are celebrating the passage of the Violence Against Women Act today,” said Francine Garland Stark, Executive Director of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV). “VAWA is foundational to Maine’s response to survivors of domestic abuse and violence and their children, and we are deeply grateful for Senator Collins’ continued support to ensure that survivors have access to VAWA’s vital resources and legal protections.”
Key provisions of the law:
- Provides services, protection, and justice for young victims of violence, including extending the Rape Prevention and Education grant program and improving grants focused on prevention education for students in institutions of higher education.
- Enhances judicial and law enforcement tools through reauthorization of the Justice Department’s STOP Violence Against Women Formula Program, known as the STOP Program, and expansion of the STOP Program to better support survivors who are 50 years of age or older and survivors with disabilities.
- Reauthorizes and updates the SMART Prevention Program to reduce dating violence, help children who have been exposed to domestic violence, and engage men in preventing violence.
- Provides economic security assistance for survivors by reauthorizing the National Resource Center on Workplace Response. Expands the program to support sexual harassment victims and ensure that the program’s resources are available to private-sector businesses with fewer than 20 employees in addition to public-sector entities.
- Improves the medical response to instances of domestic violence and sexual assault, including expanding access to medical forensic examinations after a sexual assault for survivors who live in rural communities.
The legislation was co-authored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). In addition to Senator Collins, the bill was co-sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Cornyn (R-TX), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS).
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