CONGRESSMAN MORELLE TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT SURVIVORS, COMBAT RISE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), implementing critical protections and support to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. Rep. Morelle is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan legislation.
"Staying home has been critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19, but unfortunately, not everyone's home is a safe space—underscoring the urgent need to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and provide the life-saving support survivors need and deserve," said Congressman Joe Morelle. "We've seen an alarming rise of domestic abuse since the pandemic began, and every day that passes without this vital legislation puts the lives of thousands of women, men, and children at further risk. I'm proud to co-sponsor and vote to enact this long-overdue legislation and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join us."
"VAWA quite literally saves lives here in Rochester, throughout our region, and across the country," said Meaghan de Chateauvieux, President & CEO of Willow Domestic Violence Center. "The re-authorization of VAWA is imperative and directly impacts hundreds of thousands of survivors – of all genders – and children who have been subjected to domestic violence or sexual assault. The bipartisan reauthorization of VAWA invests critical funds in our community for multiple agencies who work together to protect survivors and provide life-saving services. We continue to stand together in support of survivors.
VAWA was initially signed into law in 1994, co-authored by Louise Slaughter, and has since been reauthorized numerous times with bipartisan support. However, the legislation lapsed at the start of the 2018 government shutdown.
The VAWA legislation passed today (H.R. 1620) is a long-term reauthorization that improves services available for victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking; expands housing protections for victims and survivors; expands firearms laws to prohibit persons convicted of dating violence, stalking, or subject to protective orders from possessing firearms; invests in tools and resources for law enforcement; and much more.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Willow Domestic Violence Center has reported an 18% increase in calls to its 24/7 hotline, which coincides with an 8.1% nation-wide increase of domestic (according to the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice), underscoring the need for this legislation as our nation recovers from COVID-19.
The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for its consideration.
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If you or anyone you know is unsafe in their home, please call 585-222-SAFE or text 585-348-SAFE.