On February 10, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022 (S. 3623). Led by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Joni Ernst (R-IA), the bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the law through 2026. APA has been an ardent supporter of VAWA since the law’s inception in 1994. VAWA has been instrumental in utilizing psychological science to provide evidence-based strategies to help our nation coordinate community and legal responses to domestic violence, same sex dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and victim services.
VAWA‘s reauthorization would provide resources for survivors of intimate partner violence. The bill also updates and introduces new terms and amends existing definitions established in the 1994 VAWA statute and previous reauthorizations, including “abuse in later life,” “female genital mutilation or cutting,” “economic abuse,” “technological abuse,” “legal abuse,” and “court-based personnel.” It expands the eligibility for individuals and grantees, services that assist those over the age of 50, and individuals with disabilities. It broadens the authority of Native American tribes to include crimes committed by nontribal members.
The legislation had previously stalled over a gun safety provision termed the “boyfriend loophole,” which would add dating partners to the list of individuals who could be restricted from accessing firearms. As the law currently stands, in some cases, boyfriends and other partners charged with abuse do not face the same restrictions as convicted spousal abusers. The Senate version removed this provision in order for the bill to gain bipartisan support.
The bill would also:
- Strengthen VAWA’s rape prevention and education efforts and services for young survivors.
- Expand and authorize programs to ensure VAWA provides access to survivors in rural areas; LGBT survivors; survivors who seek voluntary, community-based restorative practice services; and survivors requiring culturally specific services.
- Provide grants to promote the training of sexual assault forensic examiners to improve response to sexual violence.
- Include support for legal services funding and trauma-informed law enforcement responses.
- Expand access to emergency housing support for survivors.
In a statement, President Biden—who introduced the original version of the VAWA in 1994—applauded the introduction of the bill and urged the Senate to pass the bill quickly.
APA Services will continue to advocate to secure the bill’s passage in the 117th Congress.
For more information, contact Angela L. Sharpe, MG.