VAWA Reauthorization 2012

By Katy K -






2012 is THE year to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.


On November 30, 2011, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vermont) and Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). No action has been taken since the bill was introduced, but we hope the 2012 will be the year that VAWA will be reauthorized.

There needs to be discussion about the proposed changes. The bill includes such things as the creation of a sexual assault clearinghouse for American Indian and Alaskan Native women. Many of the changes are fiscal in nature, including an increase in funding for Legal Assistance for Victims to allow for a greater number of projects and to address the shortage of legal aid available to victims. 

Another proposed change for programs receiving VAWA money is to have it be matched by non-federal dollars. While it is important to encourage these programs and services to secure funding from many sources, requiring MANDATORY matching funds before an organization or service provider can receive support from VAWA is a hurdle/roadblock that VAWA sponsors never intended to erect. We know how devastating a match requirement would be on many programs and services, especially with emerging programs and those in small and low income communities. We know how devastating a match requirement would be on programs and we need to tell our representatives in Congress about the very real – and negative – impact that match requirements will have!

(from National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women)


Please encourage your representative in Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

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